PS5 is Sony's 'Most Successful Generation to Date', According to Hideaki Nishino - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 October 2025 / 3,553 Views
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino during a keynote speech at Tokyo Game Show 2025 last week revealed the PlayStation division of Sony has generated $136 billion in revenue since the launch of the PS5 in 2020.
The PS4 generation, from 2013 to 2019, generated $107 billion in revenue, while the PS3 generation generated $71 billion, the PS2 generation $44 billion, and the PS1 generation $24 billion.
Nishino states PS5 is the "most successful generation to date."
It should be noted revenue generated from the PS4 after the PS5 launched and PlayStation games on other platforms like PC are included in the $136 billion figure. The previous generations also aren't adjusted for inflation.
The revenue figures are based on the average US dollar and yen exchange rate during each console generation, and accounting standards transitioned from US GAAP to IFRS after 2020.
"We think that PlayStation is not only the hardware, not only the games but the overall experience," said Nishino.
He stated PlayStation is an ecosystem that connects gamers and creators, and the PlayStation Store has evolved since it launched with the PS3 in 2006.
"With the evolution of the Store, we have continued to push the limits of play," Nishino stated. "We strive to be the best place for players to play, and for creators to publish."
Nishino added that the popularity of Japanese games is growing worldwide.
"I believe that the demand for Japanese games is on the rise worldwide," he said. "Japanese publishers have been essential to the PlayStation’s success since the very beginning, and we strongly believe that they will continue to be so. Going forward, we would like to continue to be a hub for disseminating excellent Japanese content to the world."
The PS5 has shipped 80.3 million units as of June 30, 2025, with an estimated 78.2 units sold to consumers, according to the VGChartz estimates through July 2025. The PS2 remains king in terms of units sold with over 160 million units sold lifetime.
Thanks, Yahoo! Tech.
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 follow the author on Bluesky.
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There's no denying that the PS5 is doing well, but the facts still need to be put into context.
- Increase in the price of games to $80/€80
- Access to online mode is paid (and more expensive than during the PS4 era)
- Increase in the price of the console over time (what a joke)
- Availability of games on PC and other consoles
- $10/€10 update for eligible PS4 games
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Inflation not taken into account.
This kind of statement is not worth much because the data comes from very different contexts.
Sony haven't raised their prices to $80. €80 has been like that since the start of the gen and includes VAT, it's the appropriate exchange rate.
Inflation has also risen like 25% since console launch, $70 should be $90 now, we are still paying $70.
Don't disagree with all the other points on why revenue is so high of course.
If simply increasing prices meant you made more revenue, then every company in the world would be doing that. They’re not charities, and prices are carefully chosen to maximise profits at all times.
I do think that comparing revenue across time is kind of worthless though. It’s especially weird since the PS5 is also the most successful generation for Sony, in terms of profit and even when you fully account for inflation. You’d think that’s what they’d be highlighting.
And don't forget the 30% of games and microtransactions, mostly on Call of/Fifa, which also bring in billions without doing anything.
Money go up = success I guess, and yet the sheer amount of units sold, the quality and diversity of games was far better on PS2.
"With the evolution of the Store, we have continued to push the limits of play" they need to make this more competitive, they keep getting attempted to be sued because how it's done and how prices appear "fixed" or controlled. Which based on the fact you can't buy digital codes for their online games means you have to buy credit and are therefore locked to their shop for digital purchases.
Same ass with nintendo store..
Subscriptions are probably bringing in a lot of money.
More than $1b a quarter
This is true but it's is also evident that the largest source of revenue to them by far is platforming fees on game/dlc.
You gotta imagine that their ratio of game to sub revenue is WAY higher than Microsoft's... but also probably lower than Nintendo
Content sales is still king and noe one has been able to substitute it with subscription sales yet.
Seems like high prices and fewer first party games actually worked out great for them. Weird.
Well Xbox didn't want to compete with them anymore and Nintendo doesn't try to compete on specs and power so, what console are people going to buy? It's only PlayStation left, so of course the PS5 was the most successful.
