PS5 vs PS4 Sales Comparison - January 2026 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 06 March 2026 / 6,352 Views
The VGChartz sales comparison series of articles are updated monthly and each one focuses on a different sales comparison using our estimated video game hardware figures. The charts include comparisons between the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, as well as with older platforms. There are articles based on our worldwide estimates, as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.
This monthly series compares the aligned worldwide sales of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
The PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020, while the PlayStation 4 launched in November 2013. This does mean the holiday periods for the two consoles do lineup.
PS5 Vs. PS4 Worldwide:
Gap change in latest month: 311,986 - PS4
Gap change over last 12 months: 638,390 - PS4
Total Lead: 2,588,736 - PS4
PlayStation 5 Total Sales: 90,200,369
PlayStation 4 Total Sales: 92,789,105
January 2026 is the 63rd month the PlayStation 5 has been available for. In the latest month, the gap grew in favor of the PlayStation 4 when compared to the aligned launch of the PlayStation 5 by 0.31 million units.
In the last 12 months, the PS4 has outsold the PS5 by 0.64 million units. The PS4 is currently ahead of the PS5 by 2.59 million units.
The PS5 has sold 90.20 million units in 63 months, while the PS4 sold 92.79 million units. Month 63 for the PS5 is January 2026 and for the PS4 is January 2019.
The PS4 crossed 95 million in month 66, 100 million in month 72, and 105 million in month 74. The PS4 sold 117.20 million units lifetime. The PS5 is 27.00 million units behind lifetime PS4 sales.
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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And the gap is back over 2.5 million.
Yeah, the PS5 needs GTA VI to do some hardcore carrying in order to catch the PS4.
Especially if the latest rumors are true that the PS6 is releasing in late 2027-early 2028 after all.
we shall the shipment numbers from sony, that's the only thing that matters. The crazy part is that they still havent sold out the fornite holiday bundles, so shipments may be way down???
Sony historically over ships in the last quarter of the year. I wouldn't be shocked if their shipments this quarter isn't as high as people think it will be.
Sony's shipment for Jan-Mar for the PS5 has been a bit over the place. Last year they shipped 2.8M, while the year before they shipped 4.5M and 6.3M the year before that. Though, some of that was due to the end of the shortages and Sony trying their best to meet the pent-up demand.
https://sonyinteractive.com/en/our-company/business-data-sales/
In your opinion, Does Sony historically over ship in the last quarter of the year? Not fiscal but calendar? Because you're right that it was all over place from 2023 on because of the shortages and I remember one year in the PS4 gen that Sony may have over shipped one Christmas holiday but that's about it as far as I can remember. You usually keep a constant sold through/shipped difference between the two that is consistent as well. So do you think they over ship at that time?
