Sony closed 2025 with a stronger-than-expected holiday quarter, driven by PlayStation 5 momentum and the breakout success of Ghost of Yotei.
Sony reported 8.1 million PS5 units sold-in during the three months ending December 31, 2025, slightly below the PS4’s performance at the same point in its lifecycle but still impressive given the PS5’s higher price. The console currently retails around $550 USD, compared to the PS4’s sub‑$300 price at the same stage.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 sold 7.01 million units in the same period, meaning PS5 outpaced its newer competitor despite being five years into its lifecycle. This pushed total PS5 sell‑in to 92.2 million units worldwide, keeping it nearly aligned with PS4’s historical trajectory.
Economic pressure and last year’s price increases did soften year‑over‑year holiday sales, but Sony still delivered a quarter that exceeded expectations thanks to strong software performance and selective Black Friday discounts.
Ghost of Yotei’s Impact
Ghost of Yotei became a major contributor to Sony’s quarterly results. The game surpassed 3.3 million units sold as of early November—roughly one month after launch—and has outperformed Ghost of Tsushima on a release‑aligned basis. While Tsushima sold 2.4 million units in its first three days and reached around five million in four months, Yotei is tracking ahead despite the PS5’s smaller install base compared to PS4 at the time of Tsushima’s release.
Circana data placed Ghost of Yotei as the third‑best‑selling PlayStation title in the U.S. for 2025 and the 11th best‑selling game across all platforms, reinforcing its strong commercial footprint.
Market Context
Sony’s gaming division continues to generate robust revenue even as hardware growth stabilizes. The company shipped 97.2 million combined PS4/PS5 software units during the quarter, and PlayStation Network engagement remained high. These factors helped offset the decline in hardware shipments compared to the previous year.
PlayStation Highlights
PlayStation enters 2026 with PS5 maintaining competitive momentum, Ghost of Yotei outperforming expectations, and software sales driving profitability. The platform remains a central pillar of Sony’s financial strength, supported by a growing global user base and consistent first‑party performance.
Sony’s Earnings as a Conglomerate
Sony’s latest available full‑year and trailing‑twelve‑month (TTM) figures indicate that the company continues to generate substantial profit across its diversified portfolio. According to consolidated financial data, Sony’s earnings for 2025 (TTM) reached approximately $10.02 billion USD, reflecting a 6.34% year‑over‑year increase. In the prior fiscal year, 2024 earnings were $9.43 billion USD, which itself represented an 18.31% increase over 2023.
These earnings figures represent Sony’s pretax income, a metric that captures the performance of the entire conglomerate—including PlayStation, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Imaging & Sensing Solutions, and the broader electronics business.
Sony’s investor relations updates also confirm that the company continues to report steady revenue and profit growth across multiple quarters. For example, Sony’s Q1 2026 earnings report showed $17.79 billion USD in quarterly revenue, with earnings per share beating analyst expectations.
What This Means for Sony as a Whole
Sony’s earnings trajectory highlights the strength of its multi‑segment strategy. Even as individual divisions experience cyclical fluctuations, the company’s diversified structure allows it to maintain consistent profitability.
- PlayStation remains the largest revenue driver, supported by hardware sales, digital software, and network services.
- Sony Pictures continues to benefit from theatrical releases and streaming licensing.
- Sony Music maintains strong recurring revenue through publishing, streaming, and artist management.
- Imaging & Sensing Solutions—particularly Sony’s leadership in camera sensors—remains a high‑margin business with global demand.
- Electronics (TVs, audio, mobile, and professional equipment) contributes steady revenue, especially in premium categories.
