Report: Sony profits will be up, game-unit losses down

By Alex Sassoon Coby, GameSpot UKPosted May 2, 2008 10:17 am PT

Enterbrain reports that the PSP outsold the DS 2-to-1 in Japan in April; Nikkei expects Sony's full-year profit to increase by a factor of five.

Sony's game division has had its fair share of financial woes, with losses "arising from the strategic pricing of [the PlayStation 3] at points lower than its production costs and PS3-related inventory write downs" being blamed as recently as last October. However, the worst may be over. Japan's Nikkei newspaper has credited Sony Computer Entertainment's performance for contributing to an expected boost of Sony's current profitability.

In the financial year ending March 2007, SCE posted an operating loss of ¥232 billion ($237 million at the time), but Nikkei is reporting that this year, that loss will have been trimmed by ¥100 billion ($967 million), helping the company post an overall operating profit of ¥380 billion ($3.6 billion). This is five times the profit of the previous year, with strong sales of digital cameras also credited by the Japanese business daily.

Though in the black, Sony's performance would be lower than analysts' expectations and the company's own forecast of ¥390 billion ($3.71 billion). Sony's shares were up 3 percent at ¥4,920 ($47.58) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange at time of writing, though this falls far short of their peak this time last year of ¥7,190 ($68.36).

There was other good news for Sony coming out of Japan today, with Reuters reporting that the PlayStation Portable outsold the Nintendo DS 2-to-1 in Japan in April, shipping 380,867 units to the DS's 169,911. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 led the way for Sony's handheld from the top of the software charts for a second successive month.

The PlayStation 3 didn't fare so well, according to the same report. It was outsold 5-to-1 by Nintendo's Wii, which shipped 187,121 units to the PS3's 37,676.

161 Comments

  • Vasot

    Posted Jul 27, 2008 6:51 am PT

    Fortunately Splinter Cell Conviction will pwn MGS4

    Splinter Cell Conviction is a XBOX360 exclusive and i hope it stays that way

  • gamerkiduri

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 2:58 am PT

    hope it satys a ps3 exclusive

  • Kitsukage

    Posted Jun 15, 2008 7:22 am PT

    @ lilazeonboa: The problem isn't within the console; its within the price, which is deterring people from buying it, despite the fact that its selling less than its released £400+ cost, from when I purchased my own. The technology is there, but the willing customers are not.

    As for the sales of the Wii, I'm not all impressed. I've seen and spoken to a number of people who have sold on their Wii console because they haven't enjoyed the experience with it. Not to sound rash, or anything, but I personally think that true enjoyment can only be brought out of the Wii from the more epic Nintendo fans. I went out of my way to purchase Twilight Princess for the Gamecube, because there just aren't enough games I'd enjoy on the Wii for me to warrant buying it; I didn't want to buy one, just because of Twilight Princess.

    We'll see what happens with the consoles, over the rest of the year; there's still a long way, until Christmas.. as well as seeing if MGS4 has improved Sony's console sales.

  • johnpombrio

    Posted Jun 12, 2008 4:24 pm PT

    The Wii is called a "virus" game system. Everyone buys one but the average number of games sold per console is like THREE even after a year.

  • 00Rambol00

    Posted Jun 10, 2008 2:29 pm PT

    "The PlayStation 3 didn't fare so well..." bla bla bla...

    I think everyone knows that the Wii's sales practically beat PS3 and Xbox 360 sales by a long shot. For starters its cheaper then both consoles! jeeez lol

  • Imagine09

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    OMG, obviously wii is than PS3 better due to its sales.
    Just like Honda is better than Ferrari. lol

  • lilazeonboa

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 4:55 pm PT

    wow that was pretty intresting..just hope that monster hunter 2nd g is coming to the US and mang Wii beats the ps3 really bad...hope the sony fines its way to improve ps3 lol

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 4:25 am PT

    @darkride66: "Sony seems to be hitting their stride again. I read elsewhere that they are looking to start turning a profit on the PS3 hardware 5 months ahead of schedule."

    Wow. Never say you are not a PS3 fanboy again, it is dishonest.

  • vivendidoom

    Posted May 28, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    hey gloveman, agentnoone has a point. i got both systems. i like both equally and respectfully. metal gear solid 4 just may surpass the xbox in sales for month or so, and pretty much, does it really matter who likes what system? stop complaining people and just start realizing we all have different views on the console situation. so everyone, seriously, just be a gamer. gamers are supposed to be tight and competitive, just shut up and be cool.

  • agentnoone

    Posted May 26, 2008 10:18 pm PT

    wow uh Gloveman08 your pretty stupid commenting about a system that no one really cares about atm so (how can i say this without swearing) SHUT UP!!!!

  • akiwak

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:07 pm PT

    Great reason to own a PS3 now, go get MGS4...... can't wait just paid for the pre-order.

  • PhoenixVenom

    Posted May 15, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    this is the only reason that could make me buy a ps3, i mean im not gunna but MGS4 is gunna be just plain out sick all of them have been. im def gunna play it cause im wont be able to resist

  • Otaku_son

    Posted May 13, 2008 9:36 am PT

    Well, of course the PSP is starting to gain momentum! Most people who want the DS already have it, so it's not like Nintendo can sell more. It's just like that idiotic GameStop policy of selling a certain amount of subscriptions per work day, but you can't sell something to people who already have it.

  • AbyssD

    Posted May 12, 2008 10:38 am PT

    Dam MGS4 omg its will be so dam good just a perfect game this game and others will beat 360 so badly dam from 2008 PS3 will be the grates system ever made

  • Gloveman08 posted May 9, 2008 5:23 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Gloveman08

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:23 am PT (hide)

    no people, 360 is just the best, deal with it mgs4 is not tight!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Donnyp

    Posted May 7, 2008 11:59 am PT

    darkride55 Said "Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I'm on console #4 now. I like that games but enough already. If it goes in a few months when the 3 year warranty is gone, I won't be replacing my 360. Sure I'll miss out on Fable 2 and Gears 2, but those are the only games I was looking forward to but they aren't enough to buy the console over again. Hopefully replacement console 4 will last that long.
    Sony seems to be hitting their stride again. I read elsewhere that they are looking to start turning a profit on the PS3 hardware 5 months ahead of schedule."

    Lol. I dont even own a Xbox360...yet. I got my PS3 and Wii but the thing that makes me giggle is how often the Xbox360 screws up. My friends at random started throwing out Random Graphical errors so he sent it in the get fixed came back worse lol. Im waiting for a solid Exclusive title to come out on the 360 befre i get mine. Probably gonna have to wait till Fable 2 comes out. But enough if this. Can't wait for MGS 4 to come out i know it'll boost Sales hardcore.

  • darkride66

    Posted May 7, 2008 6:44 am PT

    ctg867 said "when my 360 isn't broken. *Waiting 1-4 weeks for my console to be repaired*"
    Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I'm on console #4 now. I like that games but enough already. If it goes in a few months when the 3 year warranty is gone, I won't be replacing my 360. Sure I'll miss out on Fable 2 and Gears 2, but those are the only games I was looking forward to but they aren't enough to buy the console over again. Hopefully replacement console 4 will last that long.
    Sony seems to be hitting their stride again. I read elsewhere that they are looking to start turning a profit on the PS3 hardware 5 months ahead of schedule.

  • _guenter_26

    Posted May 6, 2008 4:12 pm PT

    ctg867
    Well when you got a bunch of other people sending in 360s your going to have slow service and the hardware isnt crap.

  • ctg867

    Posted May 6, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    Well I hope so. PS3 hardware and software sales are up. Same for the PSP. And both systems have huge years ahead of them. Glad to be a PS3/PSP owner. Glad to be a 360 owner also.... when my 360 isn't broken. *Waiting 1-4 weeks for my console to be repaired*

    Gotta love that slow ass customer service to fix that piece of crap hardware. Love the games and the online, but my god that hardware is crap.

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