PS4 becomes the second best-selling console of all time, surpassing Nintendo and PlayStation 1

The PlayStation 4 helped Sony regain its footing after a slow start from the previous generation PlayStation 3, which quickly overwhelmed the console market.

And now, before the next generation consoles come out, PS4 takes second place, becoming the second best-selling console of all time with 102.8 million units sold. PS4 surpassed Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 1, currently only behind its older brother, PlayStation 2.

Thanks to the ownership of exclusive Nintendo games, with designs that appeal to the general user market, the Wii sold 101.63 million units.

Meanwhile, PlayStation 1 sold 102.49 million units.

PS4 tends to be like the Wii, selling well right after the promotional campaign, along with a series of exclusive titles by Sony studios. Games like Infamous Second Son and The Last of Us Remastered helped generate traction, but it wasn’t until 2016 that sales exploded.

After Bloodborne (2015), Sony launches a series of games that are highly appreciated by experts every year, pushing sales of the console more than Xbox One. Games like Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, and Spider-Man quickly became successful.

With The Last of Us 2 delayed until mid-2020, it’s highly likely we won’t see a big PS4 breakthrough, as the PS5 launch time is near. But Sony is in a good position to prepare for its next generation of consoles as it has sold more than double its main rival Microsoft – the Xbox One is estimated to have sold 41 million units.

The only mainstream console that sold more was the PS2, at more than 155 million units. It is very difficult for any console to reach that number.

The Nintendo DS is close to achieving, selling 154.02 million, but it’s only a mobile device, so it can’t be compared with mainstream consoles. Similarly, the Game Boy and Game Boy Color sold a combined 118.69 million units, putting Nintendo in second and third place on the list if you include these mobile devices.