Sony's gaming division posts a loss, expects lower sales of PS3 and Vita

The PlayStation division hasn't performed up to Sony's expectations. In its latest quarterly earnings report, the electronics giant reported lower sales of hardware and software of the PSP and PS3, causing a sales decrease of 14.5% year-on-year.

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The PlayStation division hasn't performed up to Sony's expectations. In its latest quarterly earnings report, the electronics giant reported lower sales of hardware and software of the PSP and PS3, causing a sales decrease of 14.5% year-on-year.

As such, the gaming division of Sony posted an operating loss of 3.5 billion yen ($45 million), compared to an operating income of 4.1 billion yen in the same quarter last year. In addition to lower sales, "unfavorable foreign exchange rates" have also contributed to the loss.

Things aren't looking up for Sony, either. According to their sales forecast, annual sales are expected to be "significantly lower." Sony anticipates to sell 16 million PS3/PS2 systems, dropping from the 18 million sold last fiscal year. Their portable electronics forecast, which includes both PSP and Vita, has dropped from 16 million to 12 million, likely reflecting slower than anticipated demand for Sony's handheld offerings.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 2, 2012 10:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Sony's gaming division posts a loss, expects lower sales of PS3 and Vita.

    The PlayStation division hasn't performed up to Sony's expectations. In its latest quarterly earnings report, the electronics giant reported lower sales of hardware and software of the PSP and PS3, causing a sales decrease of 14.5% year-on-year.

    • reply
      August 2, 2012 10:04 AM

      Vita needs games. No games, no hardware sales. Which is a damn shame, because the hardware is excellent.

      • reply
        August 2, 2012 10:09 AM

        Sony hardware is always really nice, they just cant seem to get the software side right.

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        August 2, 2012 10:41 AM

        It really does.

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        August 2, 2012 10:48 AM

        The Vita needs to accept my UMD's from my PSP and it'll get ONE more sale.

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          August 2, 2012 11:05 AM

          Or at least the ability to download digital versions of UMD games you already own.

          • reply
            August 2, 2012 3:49 PM

            Seriously. If I already own a UMD of a game, don't charge me twice for a digital version. Damn.

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          August 2, 2012 12:30 PM

          Two, that'd be enough to bring me over.

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          August 2, 2012 1:31 PM

          While the Vita needs more games, I really like not having to deal with UMD's. For portable systems, all digital is the way to go for me

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        August 2, 2012 11:51 AM

        Have any notable RPGs come out for the Vita yet?

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          August 2, 2012 12:00 PM

          None :(

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          August 2, 2012 12:40 PM

          In Japanese there are very few (Ciel no Surge comes to mind). Quite a few good action/adventure games though like Time Travelers by Level 5 and a new Ys game.

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      August 2, 2012 11:29 AM

      The enthusiasm is waning - been a bit of a lull in good ps3 titles, I don't think I've bought anything since last November

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        August 2, 2012 12:34 PM

        Well 2011 was a phenomenal year for game releases. This year we have seen a bit more dead time, so I wouldn't be surprised if all platforms saw a decline, coupled with being at the tail end of a hardware cycle.

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      August 2, 2012 12:36 PM

      Take THAT Sony. That will teach you to delay the Planetside 2 beta!

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      August 2, 2012 12:39 PM

      Sony needs to redesign their entire PSN Store, and have some Steam Sales.

      There is no way to know anything about anything on the PSN store. No screen shots, no reviews, no videos, nothing. I'm supposed to buy games based on their icons and a star rating. Its terrible and it forces me to look elsewhere to see whats new. Steam might not be perfect, but at least I can browse whats on sale or whats new and actually find stuff that I might like, PSN just makes it too much effort, I hate the whole experience.

      It doesn't help that it feels like everything on PSN is a plug for PSN+ or whatever it is. Are there new demos? nope, but there are a million trials of full games for PSN+ users, a service I have seen no incentive to purchase other than to play trials of games I could grab for bargain bin prices on craigslist.

      • Ebu legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        August 2, 2012 3:47 PM

        I've been on about this for awhile.

        They did recently add videos to *most* of their games, but it's still just marketing.
        - They don't allow user reviews (just the vague star rating)
        - They don't have (100+) screenshots
        - They don't have good gameplay videos, maybe even user-submitted
        - They don't have a demo for every game, day 1

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      August 2, 2012 1:40 PM

      What Sony REALLY needs to do is develop they're own tablet that has 1920x1080 screen and plays PS1, 2, & 3 games with a built-in blu-ray player.

      Sony knows they need to do something: http://www.develop-online.net/news/41580/Sony-aiming-to-make-the-PS3-more-open-for-devs

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