In a groundbreaking update, Sony confirmed during their annual investor presentation that, for the first time, monthly active users on the PS5 have surpassed those on the PS4. 
As of March 31, 2025, PlayStation users on the newer console now dominate the platform’s monthly active user base, marking a significant shift in the console generation’s trajectory.
Just one year ago, during Sony’s May 2024 presentation, the player split between the PS5 and PS4 was still evenly split, with both consoles sharing the user base. For various reasons, players had been hesitant to abandon their PS4s, even years into the PS5’s lifecycle. However, recent data shows that this trend has finally changed. Sony now reports a new high of 124 million active monthly users across its platform, up from 123 million the previous year.
Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, shared the exciting news, emphasizing how the platform’s player base continues to grow. ‘Our platform is stronger than ever,’ Nishino stated
. ‘These players are more engaged than ever, which has resulted in record-high gameplay hours. The PlayStation 5 provides the best way for players to experience our content, and that’s why we’ve seen such growth.’
Despite this milestone, Nishino reassured fans that the PlayStation 4 is still a vital part of Sony’s ecosystem. ‘While we are seeing PS5 growth, the PS4 remains an important access point for players to enjoy our content, and we remain committed to supporting those users,’ he said.
At the time of the PS5’s launch, there was much talk about PlayStation’s belief in generations, with promises of exclusive content for the next-gen console. However, many big titles were later confirmed to be cross-generational, available on both PS4 and PS5. Now, it seems that Sony has found the balance between transitioning to next-gen and maintaining its legacy support for PS4 players.
It’s also clear that the competition, including Microsoft, has been pushing towards similar goals, with an increasing focus on multiplatform services. But Sony’s success with the PS5 indicates a growing dominance of the current console generation, with players gradually moving towards the next step in their gaming experience.