PlayStation 5 UK sales in January 2023 doubled January 2022
Throughout 2022, PlayStation 5 consoles were becoming more and more steadily available as the availability of parts became much simpler. This has led to the beginning of 2023- where it is now infinitely easier to get your hands on Sony’s next gen console. This is perhaps best evidenced when looking at sales figures of January 2023. Reports point to nearly double (a 98% increase) PS5s being sold this January in the UK compared to last- which shows just how bad it was to get your hands on the console in an opening couple of years of the PS5’s launch.
Now that supply has caught up with demand, sales have increased dramatically- which is likely a trend we’ll see continue throughout the rest of 2023. Now that the consoles are readily available, people are finally able to purchase them. No more scalpers hoarding all of the stock- no more waiting up for hours refreshing a page just to be disappointed that the Twitter rumor was a lie. If you want a Playstation 5, you can buy one from almost any online vendor- be it Amazon or directly from Sony. This news is clearly a good omen, as it will allow all those missing out to finally experience exclusive PS5 games like Demons Souls and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.
However, with this increase of readily available consoles, some have speculated that the PlayStation 4 may be left behind as a result. Last month, Sony revealed a trailer showing off exclusively PS5 games- pointing to a new policy of phasing out the last generation. This is especially evident when looking at recent next-gen exclusive DLCs like Final Fantasy VII Remake’s ‘Intermission’ and the upcoming Burning Shores expansion for Horizon: Forbidden West. It makes sense from a business standpoint, especially considering how the same thing happened between the PS3 and PS4 transition, but it does sting for those who can’t afford the latest console. However, considering how its been over two years since the console launched (and how it has only just become widely available), I’d wager its been enough time to make the move to purely exclusive PS5 titles.
Whether you’ve only been able to acquire a PS5 recently or have been enjoying it since launch, this is a perfect time to be excited for upcoming Sony projects. With the recent launch of God of War: Ragnarök and the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI in June, PlayStation continue to rule when it comes to some of the best exclusives of the generation. Considering that there’s probably over 5 years on the console’s lifespan, if it keeps up like this, the PS5 may just be Sony’s greatest console ever- and the increase in sales certainly seem to back that up.
