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PS5 Sells Over 2M, NS and XS Sales Drop - Worldwide Hardware Estimates for March 2023

PS5 Sells Over 2M, NS and XS Sales Drop - Worldwide Hardware Estimates for March 2023 - Sales

by William D'Angelo , posted on 20 April 2023 / 20,824 Views

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console worldwide with 2,012,787 units sold for March 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 35.80 million units lifetime worldwide.

The Nintendo Switch sold an estimated 1,135,507 units to bring its lifetime sales to 123.91 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 556,014 units to bring their lifetime sales to 21.35 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 19,482 units to bring its lifetime sales to 117.02 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by over 927,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by nearly 86,000 units. PS4 sold 1,085,421 units for the month of March 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 470,161 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 1,285,713 (+176.8%). Nintendo Switch sales are down by 450,340 units (-28.4%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 343,537 units (-38.2%). The PlayStation 4 is down 25,350 units (-56.5%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, the PlayStation 5 sales are up by nearly 74,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 35,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by nearly 197,000 units. It should be noted March is a five week month, while February is a four week month.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 5.28 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 3.21 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 1.52 million units.

Check out the breakdown of the Americas sales here, the Europe sales here, and the Japan sales here.

VGChartz Worldwide Hardware Estimates - PS5, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch

Monthly Sales:

Global hardware estimates for March 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

  1. PlayStation 5 - 2,012,787 (35,804,643)
  2. Switch - 1,135,507 (123,911,268)
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 556,014 (21,351,543)
  4. PlayStation 4 - 19,482 (117,020,546)
Americas (US, Canada, Latin America) hardware estimates for March 2023:
  1. PlayStation 5 - 811,288
  2. Switch - 392,078
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 367,728
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,666
Europe hardware estimates for March 2023:
  1. PlayStation 5 - 597,455
  2. Switch - 273,576
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 133,983
  4. PlayStation 4 - 5,506
Asia (Japan, mainland Asia, Middle East) hardware estimates for March 2023:
  1. PlayStation 5 - 532,201
  2. Switch - 435,010
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 21,639
  4. PlayStation 4 - 10,027
Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) hardware estimates for March 2023:
  1. PlayStation 5 - 71,843
  2. Switch - 34,843
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 32,664
  4. PlayStation 4 - 283

Weekly Sales:

Global March 4, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 436,317
  2. Switch - 233,178
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 98,649
  4. PlayStation 4 - 4,904

Global March 11, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 410,774
  2. Switch - 222,565
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 106,497
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,874

Global March 18, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 378,024
  2. Switch - 219,528
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 103,072
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,242

Global March 25, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 417,803
  2. Switch - 224,084
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 128,869
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,758

Global April 1, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 369,869
  2. Switch - 236,152
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 118,927
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,704

VGChartz Methodology: Hardware estimates are based on retail sampling and trends in individual countries, which are then extrapolated to represent the wider region. This typically allows us to produce figures that end up being within 10% of the actual totals.

This data is regularly compared against official shipment figures released by the console manufacturers and figures estimated by regional trackers with greater market coverage than ourselves. We then update our own estimates to bring them into line with those figures. This can result in frequent changes often within a short space of time, but we feel it's important to prioritise accuracy over consistency.

Note that our estimates are based on sell-through data (units sold to consumers). In almost all cases the figures released by console manufacturers are based on shipment data (sell-in), where as soon as a device has left the factory and entered the supply chain for delivery it is considered a sale. This is why there is always a difference between the companies’ figures (sell-in) and VGChartz estimates (sell-through), even after we’ve made adjustments. The one exception to that is when a console has been discontinued and the remaining stock has finally sold out – at that point the figures will match.


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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40 Comments
loy310 (on 20 April 2023)

PS5 on another level.

  • +19
AJNShelton (on 20 April 2023)

So the 6 million shippment is a reality

  • +10
darthv72 (on 20 April 2023)

Damn Xbox... (pokes stick) do something.

  • +9
xgamerx darthv72 (on 20 April 2023)

this time last year was their best couple of months by far, I dont think they will see those numbers evr again outside of holidays.

  • +3
Qwark darthv72 (on 20 April 2023)

Xbox proceeds to say fuck all and buys Playstation

  • +2
CGI-Quality Qwark (on 20 April 2023)

As much as I know some folks would love it to happen, even as a joke, it's pointless to psyche yourself out.

  • +2
Brimac19 CGI-Quality (on 21 April 2023)

😢

  • -1
badnewsforthem Qwark (on 20 April 2023)

i think the "money solve everything" was already debunked by how Amazon and Google failed in this industry, so Microsoft just using money to buy other companies won't help them that much

  • +12
xXMatapuercas3000Xx (on 20 April 2023)

My guess Nintendo Switch is selling 15M this Year, and PS5 over 20M

And thanks for the update you guys are the best

  • +5
COKTOE (on 20 April 2023)

The following comment is petty, and unbecoming of someone in the top 100 world rankings of Tennis In The Face, but, as John Holmes once said "I always put pettiness first, and my status as a role model second".......I remember listening to the drivel of a member here, who would post again and again, for months, that the demand for PS5 wasn't there among customers, that a significant portion of it's sales were attributable to scalpers, and in the absence of said scalpers, the sales numbers would be lower. I remember trying to explain to him why this was incorrect, and also, suggest to him that he get a brain scan for cautionary purposes. I was on my way out around this time, so likely didn't bear witness to the full brunt of the spamming, but did see a staff member here finally shut down that utter nonsense. It's difficult to put into words, both what a terrible concept he had formulated, and how frustrating it was trying to engage in discourse with this person on his theory. It was literally worse than debating a flat-earther. If asked to, I may take the time to do so, but a more likely scenario is that I don't, as I have other more important matters to attend to, like rearranging my sock drawer for no reason whatsoever.

  • +3
Kyuu COKTOE (on 20 April 2023)

He's a legend who's been dooming the PS5 literal years before it was announced.

  • +2
Kakadu18 COKTOE (on 22 April 2023)

Have you heard of the bet that PS5 and XBS would not reach 56mil combined before the end of 2023? The user who came up with this was convinced that the PS5 would crater this year as soon as the stock issues are gone with the so called argument that nobody actually wants the PS5.

  • +1
BINARYGOD Kakadu18 (on 26 April 2023)

that would also requires that the XBS be worse than the One in terms of performance - so, just who does that person worship? PC?

  • 0
Kakadu18 BINARYGOD (on 26 April 2023)

The Switch. He think that both PS5 and XBS will crater and the Switch will become the best selling console ever. He even made a prediction that the Switch would sell over 200mil units lifetime.

  • 0
only777 (on 20 April 2023)

The reality is that from here on out, really it's just red vs blue.

  • +2
badnewsforthem only777 (on 20 April 2023)

always has been. shot

i mean green never had a chance and probably never will.

  • +1
Lavamelon (on 20 April 2023)

With PS5 sales numbers like these, regulators would have to silly to think Microsoft would be a monopoly just by buying Activision.

  • +1
CourageTCD (on 20 April 2023)

Switch is selling +1M per month up to now. So I expect that by October it will have passed the 130 million unit sold mark. With the holliday sales it can manage to sell something aroun 136M by the end of the year. The road to the most selling systemm is still ongoing

  • +1
SanAndreasX CourageTCD (on 21 April 2023)

It'll be interesting to see the Zelda bump in May.

  • -1
CourageTCD SanAndreasX (on 21 April 2023)

Yeah, I round everything to 1M per month thinking about possible months below 1M being compessated by Zelda's launch in May

  • +4
Zeruda-Hime CourageTCD (on 21 April 2023)

Why so many dislikes?👀
Anyway it's amazing, NS over 125mlns.😱

  • +6
2zosteven (on 20 April 2023)

the only thing that Microsoft could do to even the sales numbers would be some kind of GTA6 exclusivity or timed exclusivity.

  • 0
CGI-Quality 2zosteven (on 20 April 2023)

There is no "evening" out of the sales numbers. Timed exclusivity, particularly of one game, even GTA, isn't going to shift that kind of marketshare. It's okay for them to be where they are. There will always be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and Xbox still rakes in plenty of revenue. Things aren't as dire as forum dwellers like to tell themselves.

A need to get the software chips in order? Sure. It could use some work, but overall, Xbox is absolutely fine.

  • +1
2zosteven CGI-Quality (on 20 April 2023)

Sure GTA could shift market share, almost every gamer has a copy

  • -1
CGI-Quality 2zosteven (on 20 April 2023)

Shift marketshare? Yes. Of course it would. THAT kind of marketshare (totally wiping out PlayStation's weekly/monthly/yearly leads)? Who knows, but I think they'd need more.

"Almost every gamer has a copy". Well, not really quantifiable since many people who game don't even have a PlayStation or Xbox. It's a pointless statement to make anyway since it would never happen. Take Two wouldn't be that stupid (and that's no matter which platform gained it as an exclusive).

Bottom line is Microsoft doesn't need to match PlayStation. They're doing fine. They just need some stronger software (in my eyes), but otherwise, the Series consoles are fine.

  • 0
Brimac19 CGI-Quality (on 21 April 2023)

So doing fine is ok with you? I would be yelling at them to do better and they shouldn’t have to buy everything up to achieve that!!!!

  • +1
CGI-Quality Brimac19 (on 21 April 2023)

Go give them a holler then. Let me know the outcome. :P

  • +1
Kyuu 2zosteven (on 20 April 2023)

GTA6 would have to be a full exclusive that is also not available on PC, and even then, it could only help it beat the PS5 in the US and UK among key markets. Timed exclusivity for a game that will probably keep selling forever would barely move the needle.

Xbox is doing fine for a platform that has no exclusive selling points

  • -3
Darwinianevolution (on 20 April 2023)

How are the shortages of PS5 going? The sales have increased allright, but I still don't see the console in stores, you have to order it before they bring the system. Is everywhere else like that?

  • 0
xgamerx Darwinianevolution (on 20 April 2023)

ps5 was easy to find in my area the first 3 months but Im seeing fewer in april.

  • 0
AJNShelton Darwinianevolution (on 20 April 2023)

Nope here in Europe it's pretty easy to find

  • +2
Chicho Darwinianevolution (on 20 April 2023)

Easy to find around here.

  • +2
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CloudxTifa Darwinianevolution (on 20 April 2023)

Easy to find where I am too.

  • +1
AJNShelton CloudxTifa (on 20 April 2023)

Are you in China ?

  • +2
CloudxTifa AJNShelton (on 20 April 2023)

No in France.

  • +1
BINARYGOD Darwinianevolution (on 26 April 2023)

there are no shortages, Sony said as much,a nd they are selling a lot more... so, I mean, are you not happy with this performance? do you need to believe this is also being held back by supply?

  • 0
Zyphe (on 21 April 2023)
  • -15
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