In a significant milestone for Sony’s current-generation hardware, the PlayStation 5 has officially surpassed the PlayStation 4 in monthly active users, more than four years after its launch. The news was shared as part of a report presented during Sony’s latest business segment meeting, held in June 2025, where company executives outlined the latest performance insights across the PlayStation ecosystem.
While Sony did not disclose specific user counts for each console, a visual from the presentation confirmed that the PS5 now commands the majority share of the platform’s combined 124 million monthly active users —up from 97 million reported the previous year. In May 2024, the user distribution between PS4 and PS5 was split evenly, with both consoles logging approximately 49 million monthly users.
The shift is attributed to the broader availability of the PS5 hardware, a growing catalogue of PS5-exclusive titles, and increased user engagement. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Hideaki Nishino, “The PlayStation 5 offers the best way for players to experience our content, and as such, its player base has continued to grow. These players are highly engaged, spending more on content and services than in prior generations.”
As previously stated, the report also shed light on emerging trends within its player base, with PS5 players driving a notable increase in overall platform spend. Internal data indicates that PS5 users spend 21% more on content, 63% more on services, and 27% more on peripherals compared to PS4 users. Despite the changing dynamics, Sony reaffirmed its ongoing support for PS4 players. “The PlayStation 4 remains an important access point for existing players to experience our content and services, and we remain committed to serving them,” Nishino added, reinforcing the company’s multi-generational platform strategy.
Looking ahead, Sony executives acknowledged rising anticipation around its next-generation console strategy. While specifics remain under wraps, Nishino stated: “We now have a large ecosystem of highly engaged players across both the PS5 and the PS4 generations, so naturally, there’s a huge interest in our next-generation console strategy.”
“While we cannot share further details at this stage, the future of the platform is top of mind. We are committed to exploring a new and enhanced way for players to engage with our content and services.” As the PS5 takes the lead in user engagement, it solidifies its position at the core of Sony’s gaming future, marking a decisive turning point in the PlayStation timeline.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
Stay ahead with the latest in gaming trends, console updates, and industry insights. Follow Indiependent on X @indie_pendent, and explore more on indiependent.co.uk.
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.