PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch 2023 Worldwide Sales Comparison Charts Through February

Here we see data representing the sales through to consumers and change in sales performance of the three current platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch) and two legacy platforms (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) over comparable periods for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Also shown is the market share for each of the consoles over the same periods.

[Jin_Sakai]

2023 - Marketshare

PS5 - 49.6%
S/X - 16.2%
Switch - 34.1%

Great numbers from Sony and Nintendo.

[The Wood]

Normally vgc inflate xbox numbers. Now it
would look even more suspect to continue. Until MS release their actual s/x sales data these sites are just speculating. Plot twist...... Imagine they could be even lower. MS's reluctance to give sales data is a red flag

[EvertonFC]

It says on the Vgchartz site it's estimates, they've never claimed to be 100% accurate.
I've never understood why gamers get there knickers in a twist when it says estimated sales.

[Aloymetal]

@EvertonFC
''I've never understood why gamers get there knickers in a twist when it says estimated sales.''

That's because last gen in Nov 2018 AMD released their official and actual total chip sales to each company and at the same time VGc had the xbone at 4 million over the the real data from AMD. That's a BIG ESTIMATE.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Mighty impressive that the Switch can be at ~34% six years into the console's lifecycle, and it'll grow once Tears of the Kingdom is out.

[darthv72]

Great numbers for Sony, not so much Nintendo or MS... PS doubled their market share from the same time last year while XB lost 30% and NS lost 40%.

[Jin_Sakai]

Those numbers are great for Nintendo considering Switch is nearing the end of its lifespan.

Xbox not so much as this generation is just getting started. And that includes the cheaper $299 Series S which has already been on sale quite a few times.

[SullysCigar]

All hopes of a tight-run generation were dashed once the supply issues were over for PS5. Microsoft held them down for as long as they could with their dealings during the chip shortage, but quality always shines through.

[Einhander1971]

Exactly, couldn't of said it better myself.

[S2Killinit]

COVID helped xbox save face, but as supplies get better we are seeing what people really want.

[ChasterMies]

With this kind of marketshare, I don’t see how how Microsoft’s GamePass strategy will work unless Microsoft has a plan to introduce GamePass on PlayStation and Nintendo.

[AmUnRa]

Do you realy believe that Sony let GP on Playstation? Keep dreaming.

[S2Killinit]

They wouldn’t, Playstation already has Plus/Extra.

[andy85]

MS clearly don't care too much about consoles they care about their gamepass subs. Think of how many they would have if it was on PS. May be a pipedream but they would triple their subs. Probably never happen but it's be interesting to see

[Aloymetal]

@andy85
''MS clearly don't care too much about consoles they care about their gamepass subs.''
Please, don't fall for that, MS cares a lot about hardware sales, they have made 2 consoles for this gen. MS/Phil are just pretending it's not important and they're doing a great job at it convincing all their fanbase that console sales are not their primary objective. MS know they can't beat Sony and Ninty and that's why they're trying to move the goalpost.

[StormSnooper]

MS wants everyone to think they don't care, but they care a lot, that is why they don't share their numbers. Remember how they were talking at the beginning of the 360 era? There is never been anything like that from a console manufacturer.

[crazyCoconuts]

@andy where are they going to get those subs other than console gamers?
PC Game Pass is the only other avenue.
I'm assuming the number of people signing up on TVs is a rounding error at this point

[crazyCoconuts]

Does MS need to beat Sony for GamePass to be successful? While the cost of exclusives goes up with a smaller base, the cost of putting a third party game on the service should scale down with the user base. So they don't technically need to be number one...

[Christopher]

Their plan is to introduce GamePass everywhere, the issue is currently that they lack the backing to make it happen how they want and Microsoft is hoping that by holding IPs like CoD they can force them to go with what Microsoft wants rather than more in line with what we've had with EAPlay. GamePass, IMHO, wants to vastly reduce profit potentials from the platform holders and a part of DLC/MTX profits from Sony/Nintendo platforms for games that are available on GamePass. They want a much larger slice of the pie, essentially.

[Thundercat77]

Xbox plan, and only way, is to buy all publishers and keep PlayStation locked away.

Fair and square, Xbox has no chance against Nintendo or Sony.

[Christopher]

What is fair and square, though? Other than the laws dictating what is allowed and what isn't, isn't anything that abides by those laws fair and square?

[Elda]

Not surprising at all. Every gen it's the same ole story, nothing will change. It is what it is. PS5 is available everywhere & folks are buying them up.

[anast]

I remember people arguing that Xbox's high number weren't about scarcity.

[darkrider]

The scary part is that Microsoft numbers decrease and Sony didn't launched any big game in 2023. Just scary stuff.

All the Activision news is being also used to hide the reality of a very bad gen for Microsoft. While before it started so many news about how thing will change.

The question is:
Microsoft got the cheaper console available, by a huge margin.

Microsoft got the most powerful console on paper

Microsoft gave away gp for the last 6 or 7 years, it true it stoped now the one dollar deal.

Results: last and losing market share.

They spent 80 billions, got to spent million and millions each month because of 40+ studios they will have and marketing, salaries, budgets. All this for 15% of the market..

The only path is going 3rd party all the away.

[SonyStyled]

Not sure they’ll head down that road just yet, but lots of studios + Gamepass, Gamepass and Gamepass, the box becomes a bit obsolete aside from a disc player. There will be another physical ‘Xbox’ next gen

[Thundercat77]

Microsoft will rather sell its soul to the devil than admit defeat. They will rather swallow more and more Windows money to sustain their damaged ego.

[darkrider]

They can't. There must be some kind of strategy after spending 80 billions in publishers and talking about more publishers.

When will the console gaming division of Microsoft ever do 80 billions on profit. Again, not revenue profit? How? Just to recover this investment?

[Aloymetal]

''Microsoft will rather sell its soul to the devil than admit defeat.''
You nailed it. That's why they're gonna keep riding that 6 yr old service aka gamepass horse all the way til the horse's legs fall off because there's nothing else they could do. Stuck between a rock and a hard place because there's no chance in hell they will go back to the normal way of selling their games. Imagine the backlash from their fanbase. Either MS/xbox buy the majority of the gaming industry or they pack their bags and go.