PlayStation player base and monthly active users reached record high in September despite declining hardware sales, Sony reports 

Sony Group held a financial results briefing for the second quarter of the fiscal year on November 5, sharing information on PlayStation’s performance between April and September 2026, and outlining its plans for the console. 

As GameBiz reports, monthly active users (MAU) on PlayStation (4 and 5) reached 127 million accounts in September, marking 7% growth year-on-year and a new record high. Total playtime during the second quarter also increased by 4% year-on-year. The company stated that this trend indicates a steady rise in baseline player engagement compared to the first quarter. Sony’s Game & Network Services (G&NS) sector saw revenue grow by 9% year-on-year, and operating profit rise by 83% year-on-year (Marvel’s Wolverine is highlighted for contributing to earnings).

On the other hand, PS5 hardware sales continued to gradually decline, and Sony expects this trend to continue given the console’s position in its lifecycle. In place of hardware sales, Sony intends to further encourage player engagement across its approximately 100 million installed PS5 units and 127 million PlayStation accounts. 

Meanwhile, research and development for Sony’s next-generation console is progressing as scheduled, according to the company. 

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