Number of PlayStation Network users 2014-2023

First launched in November 2006, PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital entertainment service associated with Sony’s PlayStation series of consoles. It has since been expanded to run on smartphones, tablets, and HD televisions. As of December 2023, the network had approximately 123 million monthly active users, an increase from the 112 million users in December 2022.

PSN perks

PSN has a dedicated store where gamers can buy the latest releases, as well as a subscription service, PlayStation Plus, which allows users to not only play online with their friends, but also gain access to exclusive content and early releases. PlayStation Plus had an estimated 47.4 million users in spring 2023, illustrating that gamers are willing to pay a little bit extra to connect with the wider gaming world. Moreover, those who are willing to pay for PlayStation Plus Essential are handsomely rewarded in the form of free games - subscribers were offered a cumulative total of 1,304 U.S. dollars' worth of free video games in 2022..  

King of the consoles?

Sony's PlayStation 5 was released in November 2020 and is the company's current flagship console. Sony’s previous console, the PlayStation 4, was released back in late-2013, but is still going strong many years later. The console has surpassed 100 million units sold worldwide, an impressive increase on the 10 million units sold within the first year. The best-selling game of all time on the PS4 is Marvel's Spider-Man at approximately 20 million PS4 game sales. With Microsoft’s Xbox One sales falling short of 50 million units, it appears that Sony is staking its claim as the king of the consoles.