Quarter ending September 30th brings mixed fortunes for PlayStation platform holder
Sony has confirmed that operating losses for its games division have more than doubled for the quarter ending September 30th, hitting YEN 96.7 billion compared to YEN 53.2 billion in the same period last year.
However, across the whole business Sony posted a quarterly operating profit of YEN 90.5 billion, up from the YEN 20.83 billion loss in the same period last year. The results were credited to strong sales of LCD TVs, cameras and camcorders.
In the period Sony sold 1.31 million PS3s and 10.3 million PS3 games globally, whilst PS2 shifted 3.28 million units and 38 million games. The PSP fared well, too, selling 2.58 million units and 12.6 million games.
A company statement read: “In the game segment, operating loss increased primarily due to the loss arising from strategic pricing of PS3 at points lower than its production cost and the increase in PS3-related inventory write-downs recorded during the current quarter compared to the same quarter of the previous year.”
The company added that it aims for its game business to break even or better in the half fiscal year ending March 2008.
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Sales expectations for the full financial year have been revised, with Sony now expecting to shift 10 million PSPs and 12 million PS2s. Sony says that it still expects to sell 11 million PS3s during the current year.
Comments
How times have changed
Will Sony ever build PS4?
The analysts have been predicting that PS3 will finish first this generation yet the way that developers and publishers are deserting it they currently look dead certain to finish last.
Sony would be much more powerful if they leveraged the IP from their music and film divisions. They certainly don't look like a joined up company.
Re: How times have changed
@ Bruce Everiss:
You're right about developer desertion. Mnay games are being announced but when the release time comes, publishers are delaying it or saying it will come out after the X360/PC version.
Exclusives are quite rare while timed exclusive's windows seem to be narrowing down.
Take UT-III as a prime example of that, while Warhawk has had modest reviews and Lair has been lambasted.
The 'big' hitters (GTA4, GT5, MGS4) will not be around until next year. And if anyone is thinking about a simultaneous release for the Japanese and US/UK market for the latter two, is deluding themselves.
Sony has shot itself in the foot. Made many UK/Euro gamers unhappy with pricing and the removal of backwards compatibility and slow-dripped games to release, let alone shocked everyone by reintroducing the rumble feature in DualShock3 controllers.
I could go on...
Re: How times have changed
In 5 years time, PS3 will be more understood and developers will have a larger user base than now, so will consider it more worthwhile. At the moment the userbase is growing slower than 360 or Wii and is around 30% of the others installed base now. PS3 may well win in this generation - by that I mean sell most consoles. I think this is a distinct possibility because its got to last 10 years. Once ( IF ) the PS3 gets to be a threat to the 360 dominance, Microsoft will release the next generation, which will be well within the 10 years the PS3 has to last. It will then be in the same position as PS2 is now. Thats still selling. Even though it is outdated.
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