The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Sony estimated that 49 million PS4 consoles and 49 million PS5 consoles were monthly active as of April 30, 2024. The figures show the two generations at parity in that dated snapshot—but they count consoles, not necessarily distinct people playing games.
What Sony’s 49M figure measures
Sony’s May 2024 Game & Network Services presentation labels the figures “Monthly Active Consoles.” The company defined the measure as an estimated total of unique PS4 and PS5 consoles used during the period to play games or use PlayStation Network services. Sony said the estimate was based on company research and could be updated. Sony’s presentation dates the comparison to April 30, 2024.
That distinction matters: 49 million active consoles is not proof that 49 million distinct people played games on each system. A console qualifies through either game play or PlayStation Network service use, and the figure is attached to devices, not a deduplicated count of individual people. The “49M people” phrasing used in the original Ars Technica headline is looser than Sony’s stated unit.
Why newer PlayStation totals do not update the comparison
Sony’s later reports give larger, platform-wide audience measures, but they do not provide a newer PS4-versus-PS5 active-console split in the cited material.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- "Suspend mode" eliminates the load time on your saved game and allows you to immediately return to where you left off by pressing the power button.
- Enables the greatest game developers in the world to unlock their creativity and push the boundaries of play through a platform that is tuned specifically to their needs.
- Engage in endless personal challenges between you and your community, and share your epic moments for the world to see.
- Gamers can share their epic triumphs by hitting the "SHARE button" on the controller, scan through the last few minutes of gameplay, tag it and return to the game.
| Report | Reported figure | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Sony, May 2024 presentation | 49M PS4 and 49M PS5 | Estimated monthly active consoles as of April 30, 2024 |
| Sony, FY2025 presentation | 124M | PlayStation monthly active users as of March 31, 2025; no updated console split stated in the reviewed presentation |
| Sony, Q1 FY2026 results | 125 million | PlayStation monthly active accounts in June 2026, up 2% year over year and a June record; platform-wide, not a PS4-specific count |
The units differ: the April 2024 figure is a per-console estimate, while the later totals describe PlayStation-wide users or accounts. They establish the scale of Sony’s broader ecosystem at those later dates, but cannot show whether the PS4 and PS5 remained tied at 49 million.
What the figures say about the PS4’s staying power
The April 2024 snapshot showed substantial PS4 activity alongside PS5 activity, despite the PS4 having launched in 2013. It is evidence that the older console remained in use within Sony’s ecosystem at that time—not a current count, a measure of game ownership, or a forecast of how quickly players would move to PS5.
Rank #2
- Incredible games; Endless entertainment.
- All new lighter slimmer PS4
- 1 TB hard drive
- Blu-ray technology, delivers exceptional video quality.
- Redefine your gaming expectations and immerse yourself in moments so intense your intuition takes over.
Sony’s 2025 presentation also describes a multi-generational PlayStation ecosystem, and its PS4 segment includes other unique active accounts that played games or used PlayStation Network services. That framing is another reason not to treat ecosystem activity as a simple count of individual people using one specific console.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the gameplay-hour figures
The 2024 Sony slide also displays 2.4 billion PS5 gameplay hours and 1.4 billion PS4 gameplay hours. The period covered by those totals is unclear in the contemporaneous reporting, so they should not be described as monthly or annual totals or directly compared as a rate.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Playstation SONY 4, 500GB Slim System [CUH-2215AB01], Black, 3003347 (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31aelHds6gL._SL160_.jpg)
- Includes a slim 500GB PlayStation4 system, a matching DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, Power Cord and HDMI Cable.
- Play online with your friends, get free games, save games online and more with PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately).
- All the greatest, games, TV, music and more. Connect with your friends to broadcast and celebrate your epic moments at the press of the Share button to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Rank #4
- Incredible games. Endless entertainment.
- All new lighter slimmer PS4
- 1TB hard drive
- All the greatest, games, TV, music and more
Rank #3
- Includes a new slim 1TB PlayStation 4 system, a matching DualShock 4 Wireless Controller.
- Play online with your friends, save games online and more with PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately).
- All the greatest, games, TV, music and more. Connect with your friends to broadcast and celebrate your epic moments at the press of the Share button to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
- Mount is not included
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
