PS5 Surpasses PS3 Sales in the U.S. in Under Five Years

Sony has reason to celebrate once again, as the PlayStation 5 has surpassed the aging PlayStation 3 in total sales in the United States. The newer console achieved this milestone in less than five years, outpacing its predecessor, which was released back in 2006.

The information was shared by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on the Bluesky platform. According to him, in September 2025, the PS5 officially outperformed the PS3 in terms of units sold. While he didn’t disclose specific figures—since Circana‘s reports are subscription-based—he noted that PS5 sales also exceed those of the PS4 when comparing sales over the same time frame after launch. Currently, the PS5 leads by approximately 4.6 percent.

For context, official data from Sony reveals that the PlayStation 3 sold over 87 million units worldwide, the PS4 over 113 million, while the PlayStation 2 remains the all-time champion with around 160 million units sold.

In August, Sony announced that total PS5 sales had reached 80.3 million consoles. This pace is roughly aligned with the PS4’s figures at a comparable point in its lifecycle. The company is expected to release its next financial report on November 11.

However, Sony is already forecasting a slowdown in sales. The company believes the console has peaked in popularity, with ongoing economic challenges and rising prices hindering further growth. Today’s consoles are more expensive for consumers than ever.

Meanwhile, rival Microsoft is actively supporting the Japanese corporation in the gaming sector. Recently, Microsoft raised prices on the Xbox Series, and even developer kits have become $500 more expensive. It seems that Sony‘s dominance in the console market isn’t likely to end anytime soon.