25 Years Later, PlayStation 2 Still Reigns as the Best-Selling Console Ever
New research from TechGaged.com confirms that the PlayStation 2 (PS2) remains the world’s best-selling video game console in 2025, nearly a quarter century after its launch. With 160.01 million lifetime units sold, Sony’s iconic system continues to hold the top position in global hardware rankings, outpacing every legacy and modern console by a significant margin.
According to the TechGaged research, the PS2’s enduring popularity reflects a unique combination of timing, technology, affordability, and global appeal. Its unmatched reach across multiple generations continues to influence hardware trends well into 2025.
PS5 Momentum Builds as Black Friday Approaches
While the PS2 remains in a category of its own, TechGaged's new analysis highlights the PlayStation 5 (PS5) as the most dynamic performer of the current market. The PS5 has now reached 82.53 million lifetime sales, making it one of Sony’s fastest-growing platforms and currently the company’s fifth best-selling PlayStation console.
The system now trails just behind the PlayStation Portable and is gaining steadily on the PlayStation 3. With major holiday promotions underway, Black Friday 2025 is projected to be a pivotal turning point, potentially pushing the PS5 into Sony’s top three over the next two years. Analysts at TechGaged believe this year’s seasonal surge could significantly close the gap and set the console on a trajectory to become Sony’s second-most-successful home console after the PS2.
A Hardware Landscape Dominated by Three Giants
TechGaged’s 2025 ranking also highlights a rare milestone in gaming history: only three consoles have ever surpassed 150 million sales - the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Switch. Despite the Switch's remarkable longevity at 152.34 million, the PS2 remains the clear leader, maintaining a margin that underscores its long-standing cultural and commercial dominance.
“The PlayStation 2’s staying power is something the industry may never see again,” said Rokas B., lead analyst and author at TechGaged. “What’s equally impressive is how the PS5 is carving out its own place in this story. Its momentum in 2025 shows that Sony is not just preserving a legacy - it’s actively building a new one.”
As the year concludes, TechGaged’s report shows a hardware market defined by legacy excellence and modern competition. The PS2’s record remains firmly intact, while the PS5’s rapid ascent suggests the next chapter of Sony’s hardware milestones is still being written.