PlayStation 5 continues its victorious path in the global gaming market. According to the latest data from the analytics agency VGChartz, Sony’s console far exceeded the performance of the old PlayStation 3 after the same lifespan. In November 2025, which marked the 61st month of the PS5 on the market, the modern console had already sold an impressive 86.12 million units worldwide. This number places the equipment about 28 million units ahead of the PS3, which sold 58 million in the same period. This comparison gains even more relevance at the beginning of 2026, as it shows the continued strength of the PlayStation brand and fuels expectations about the console’s future.
How this leadership was consolidated involves a very different launch and market context. While the PS3 arrived in stores in 2006 facing strong price competition and development complexity, the PS5 landed in 2020 in an already mature ecosystem with a smoother generational transition. However, the current console’s journey also had its obstacles, such as the global semiconductor crisis that limited its initial production. Still, the numbers show a robust recovery and growth, thanks to a strong game catalog and pent-up demand. Thus, the question remains: will the PS5 be able to reach the legendary mark of 117 million units, established by the PS4?
The path to the record and the challenges ahead
The projection for the PS5 to reach or even surpass PS4 sales seems solid but is not without challenges. William D’Angelo, an analyst at VGChartz, commented that “117 million seems almost a foregone conclusion,” given the current large advantage over the PS3’s trajectory. In other words, the current console would need a very sharp slowdown not to reach this level. The PS3, for example, sold about 12 million units in 2012 and 8 million in 2013. For the PS5, sales in 2026 are expected to easily exceed the 12 million mark, maintaining the necessary pace.
On the other hand, experts point out that the market may face a slowdown in this year of 2026, with sales heavily dependent on performance in Europe. The global economic scenario and the eventual approach of a new console cycle are factors that could influence. Despite this, the accumulated advantage of 28 million units is a significant cushion. Therefore, even with possible declines, the math favors the PS5. Thus, the story unfolding is no longer about surpassing the PS3, which is already in the past, but about writing a new chapter of success for Sony, possibly matching or surpassing the feat of its more immediate predecessor and consolidating the current generation as one of the most successful.
