This year continues to prove just what would happen once Sony finally stabilized the supply for the PlayStation 5 and it met the fervent demand. After posting a record-setting quarter earlier this year, the PS5 continues to sell well through the third quarter of 2023. As a matter of fact, September was another slam dunk for the PS5 as it continued its streak as the undisputed leader in console sales despite the release of Starfield, which topped the sales charts in the same month and led to a marked increase in Xbox Series S/X console sales.
According to the Circana report (formerly The NPD Group), which reveals the PS5 was the best-selling console again in the US for the month, both in terms of units and dollar sales.
Elaborating on the specifics, Circana’s data encompasses the five-week period from August 27 to September 30. As part of their comprehensive assessment, the Xbox Series S/X did witness an increase in dollar sales, but only by a single-digit percentage. This growth paled in comparison to the PlayStation 5’s towering sales, which, as of 2023 year-to-date, sits atop the leaderboard in both units sold and dollar sales. Interestingly, the September performance of the Xbox Series X|S marked its best since 2016 in terms of units and since 2014 concerning dollar sales. However, this achievement did not outshine the PS5’s consistently dominant sales record throughout the year.
September 2023 US Video Game Market Highlights from Circana – U.S. consumer spending on video game content, hardware and accessories grew 10% compared to a year ago, totaling $4.5B. Growth in spending on video game content and accessories offset an 8% decline in hardware. pic.twitter.com/LjyIUjuBB9
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) October 18, 2023
While the console wars raged on, the overall video game industry enjoyed substantial prosperity. Consumer spending in September 2023 reached a staggering $4.5 billion, marking a 10% surge from the previous year. Spending on the video game industry rose by 13% to total $3.85 billion. Mat Piscatella, Circana’s Executive Director and Video Game Industry Analyst, attributed this growth primarily to digital premium download spending across console and PC platforms.
On the gaming front, several new releases jostled for the top spots in sales. Bethesda’s Starfield, despite being the best-selling game for the month, couldn’t propel the Xbox Series X|S beyond the PS5 in terms of hardware sales. Following closely, Mortal Kombat 1 and EA Sports FC 24 took the second and third spots respectively, bolstering sales for Sony’s platform. Other notable mentions include PAYDAY 3, NBA 2K24, and The Crew Motorfest, which secured fifth, sixth, and seventh positions in the charts.
Accessories also played a pivotal role, particularly attributed to the new PS5 DualSense controller inspired by Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This themed controller was the top-selling gaming accessory for the month, leading to a 15% surge in spending on gaming pads as compared to the previous year.
But what could be the reason for the PS5’s continued and unchallenged dominance? A significant factor lies in Sony and its commitment to quality. The brand itself resonates with a lot of gamers due to the consistent release of Sony’s first-party games that are crafted with unmatched dedication and detail. Even when compared to major AAA titles from the competitors, Sony’s offerings, such as Ghost of Tsushima, Returnal, Horizon Forbidden West, and God of War, are lauded for their impeccable gameplay mechanics and combat design.
Furthermore, Sony’s lead will likely continue through the holiday season. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which has received a “universal acclaim” status from critics ahead of its official launch on October 20, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which comes with its own PlayStation 5 bundle, are expected to bolster PS5 sales through the final quarter of the year.
At this rate, the PS5 will enjoy a much more financially fruitful generation the PS4 by the time that the PS6 comes out in 2028. The PS4, already the fifth best-selling video game console of all time, will have to make way for its successor in a few years. This is before we know about additional hardware plans outside of PlayStation Access, the PlayStation 5 Slim, and the PlayStation portal, among others.
With the PS5 Pro expected to come out by next year and a whole slew of upcoming PS5 exclusive titles from Insomniac Games, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Bluepoint Games, Santa Monica Studio, and Bend Studio, the future is bright for the PS5.
