PlayStation 3 sales up as losses widen at Sony
Home console sells 3.2m in second quarter, PSP sales down marginally and PS2 hardware plummets
Sales of PlayStation 3 hardware have grown during the second quarter to 3.2 million, compared to 2.4 million in the previous year.
However, losses grew in Sony's Network Products & Services Division – the group responsible for PlayStation products – to JPY 58.8 billion, from JPY 40.6 billion in 2008. Sales were down 24.2 per cent to JPY 352.6 billion.
"In the game business, the deterioration in profitability was mainly due to a decrease in PS2 hardware and software unit sales, and the impact of the appreciation of the yen," said the company.
Sales of the handheld PlayStation Portable were down marginally from 3.2 million to 3 million, while PlayStation 2 sales fell from 2.5 million to 1.9 million.
Sony sold 23.9 million PlayStation 3 games during the period, up from the 21.2 million in 2008, while PSP sales were also up to 12.9 million, compared to 11.8 million.
Sales of PlayStation 2 software dropped drastically, from 23.2 million in 2008 to 11.1 million.
The entire Sony business posted a loss for the fourth consecutive quarter of JPY 32.6 billion from July to September, compared to a profit of JPY 11.05 billion in 2008.