Sony game division turns a profit

[Gunslinger08]

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01...ivision-yields-profit/

Pretty crazy that Sony outsold Microsoft in that time period. Looks like 2008 is going to be a big year for every system.

 

[DaveSimmons]

VGChartz has the PS3 still outselling the 360 worldwide in January too, though only selling 2/3 as many in the US.

Blu-ray is still beating down MS & Toshiba's HD-DVD: for the 2 weeks after WB went blu disc sales were over 4-to-1 and player sales were 8-1 then 2-1 (not adding in PS3s).

"It's another nail in the coffin of PS3!"

 

[Fingolfin269]

Sony outsold Microsoft in relation of PS3 vs. 360? Or are you including PS2/PS3/PSP? I didn't even realize there was ever a month that the PS3 sold more than the 360 but I haven't really followed it that closely.

By the way, I'd be very interested in seeing just how much the PS3 contributed towards quarterly profitability.

*edit*
Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Sony outsold Microsoft in relation of PS3 vs. 360? Or are you including PS2/PS3/PSP? I didn't even realize there was ever a month that the PS3 sold more than the 360 but I haven't really followed it that closely.

By the way, I'd be very interested in seeing just how much the PS3 contributed towards quarterly profitability.

*edit*
Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

Reducing the cost of the PS3 helped greatly but it is because the PS2 and PSP sold more than expected. They've increased the expected financial year sales for the PS2 and PSP but have decreased the expected financial year sales for the PS3. Link

The PS3 is outselling the 360 in Japan but the number of units sold there isn't that great in contrast to Europe and NA. The PS3 is pulling even with the 360 in Europe but still trailing I believe. Both are getting trounced by the Wii but all are selling extremely well.

 

[tatteredpotato]

When was that quarter? All the numbers over the holidays (month to month) showed the 360 ahead by some sizable margins IIRC (may have been US only numbers though).

 

[DaveSimmons]

PS3 is outselling 360 5-to-1 in Japan and by a decent amount in the rest of the world, it's only in the US that the 360 is winning.

The PS3 is pulling even with the 360 in Europe but still trailing I believe.

According to VGChartz if you look at "Other" as everything except US & Japan the PS3 has been very slightly ahead of the 360 for awhile now.

Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

A lot of people have been sitting out the HD format wars until there was a clear winner. Now HD-DVD sales have tanked and stores (including at least some Wal-mart and Circuit City) are closing out their HD-DVD stock.

The PS3 is currently one of the best and most future-proof blu-ray players, so blu-ray winning the format war adds to the value of the console (so to its sales).

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
PS3 is outselling 360 5-to-1 in Japan and by a decent amount in the rest of the world, it's only in the US that the 360 is winning.

The PS3 is pulling even with the 360 in Europe but still trailing I believe.

According to VGChartz if you look at "Other" as everything except US & Japan the PS3 has been very slightly ahead of the 360 for awhile now.

Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

A lot of people have been sitting out the HD format wars until there was a clear winner. Now HD-DVD sales have tanked and stores (including at least some Wal-mart and Circuit City) are closing out their HD-DVD stock.

The PS3 is currently one of the best and most future-proof blu-ray players, so blu-ray winning the format war adds to the value of the console (so to its sales).

Therein lies the problem with the numbers... many PS3s are being sold as Blu Ray players only, some will never play a game. They still make the PS3 installed base grow, but the 360 has something like 7 games/ console and I'm willing to bet the PS3 has an attach rate drastically below that.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The PS3 is currently one of the best and most future-proof blu-ray players, so blu-ray winning the format war adds to the value of the console (so to its sales).

True but the fact that this statement is even made is another example that the format is really not ready for the masses. I'll buy a console and use it as a movie player but will random Joe Wal-Mart walk in and pick up a PS3 because it is one of the best and most future-proof? Nah. They need to get some set-top boxes out there that are a lot cheaper than the PS3 and just as future-proof for this to truly catch fire imho. I think it really says a lot about how immature the high-def market is when a blu-ray player that is supposedly a game machine first is also outperforming the majority of standalone players.

With that being said, as soon as they hit $299 I'm all over it. But that is because I'm a gamer....

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
Therein lies the problem with the numbers... many PS3s are being sold as Blu Ray players only, some will never play a game. They still make the PS3 installed base grow, but the 360 has something like 7 games/ console and I'm willing to bet the PS3 has an attach rate drastically below that.

Life time attach rates to this point:
360: 7
PS3: 4.26
Wii: 4.64

The 360's attach rate was at 5.3 last January.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
PS3 is outselling 360 5-to-1 in Japan and by a decent amount in the rest of the world, it's only in the US that the 360 is winning.

The PS3 is pulling even with the 360 in Europe but still trailing I believe.

According to VGChartz if you look at "Other" as everything except US & Japan the PS3 has been very slightly ahead of the 360 for awhile now.

Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

A lot of people have been sitting out the HD format wars until there was a clear winner. Now HD-DVD sales have tanked and stores (including at least some Wal-mart and Circuit City) are closing out their HD-DVD stock.

The PS3 is currently one of the best and most future-proof blu-ray players, so blu-ray winning the format war adds to the value of the console (so to its sales).

Therein lies the problem with the numbers... many PS3s are being sold as Blu Ray players only, some will never play a game. They still make the PS3 installed base grow, but the 360 has something like 7 games/ console and I'm willing to bet the PS3 has an attach rate drastically below that.

wait until 2008 ends to say that. More high-profile, AAA titles are releasing exclusive on the PS3 than on the 360, and many of these many people have been waiting for to purchase a console, as to also get the best possible price on the PS3. With rumors of the PS3 hitting 299 this year, and games like MGS4, FFXIII (SE just 'promised' FFXIII will be out in 2008), GT5, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Little Big Planet, Haze (maybe? and likely timed exclusive, also likely PC release), among others.. Sony looks to have a great year. I have a feeling many BD-only PS3's will also see a few games on them once the extremely high profile titles are released, especially if they review well.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: destrekor
SE just 'promised' FFXIII will be out in 2008l.

They actually just retracted that statement, but it's true PS3 has some nice titles coming out, but I haven't been looking at whats coming out closely enough to determine who has the better spring lineup atm.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: destrekor
wait until 2008 ends to say that. More high-profile, AAA titles are releasing exclusive on the PS3 than on the 360, and many of these many people have been waiting for to purchase a console, as to also get the best possible price on the PS3. With rumors of the PS3 hitting 299 this year, and games like MGS4, FFXIII (SE just 'promised' FFXIII will be out in 2008), GT5, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Little Big Planet, Haze (maybe? and likely timed exclusive, also likely PC release), among others.. Sony looks to have a great year. I have a feeling many BD-only PS3's will also see a few games on them once the extremely high profile titles are released, especially if they review well.

Link

Although information regarding the release date of FINAL FANTASY XIII has been reported by certain videogame websites, Square Enix itself has yet to make an official statement on this topic. Any reports of a confirmed release date are erroneous and should be disregarded.

Square Enix will make an official announcement in the future concerning the release date when it has been determined.

Link

One of the best jokes we've heard at the Kotaku offices in a long time was the one in which Final Fantasy game director Motomu Toriyama had "promised" the thirteenth chapter of the series in 2008. Hilarious! Square Enix, on the other hand, wasn't exactly filled with laughter when mistranslations of a recent Famitsu article made their way online. It issued a statement today on chatter that this year would see the release of the ambitious PlayStation 3 RPG, writing that reports on Final Fantasy XIII's ship date were "erroneous and should be disregarded."

As far as a playable FFXIII demo? We're not holding our collective breath on that one either, as the team was hoping for something playable last summer according to reports from Dengeki.

I thought only GT5 Prologue was coming this year. Not the full version?

edit: I know that many people seem to think that the 360 blew its wad with Halo 3 for 2007 but they've got many great games coming out for 2008 that have been announced and many more that will be announced at GDC. Remember, they were concentrating on their 2007 lineup for the holidays so they've been pretty mum about 2008 games unlike Sony who always pushes the huge games that are far off in development.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

Until GT5 and Resistance 2 are released I don't care lol.

 

[mlm]

It's pretty cool to see that the rest of the world can make up for the deficit in the US. What's up in the air though is if they can fill in the deficit left by the 360 launching a year earlier.

 

[Dacalo]

That's pretty impressive, considering there aren't that many AAA titles available for PS3. 2008 should be a great year for PS3.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mlm
It's pretty cool to see that the rest of the world can make up for the deficit in the US. What's up in the air though is if they can fill in the deficit left by the 360 launching a year earlier.

Nobody wants American electronics. Looks like Japan alone makes up the deficit in the US. Microsoft can't give the things away over there it seems.

 

[imported_Imp]

That's good news. I'm probably 1 of those 4.9 million. Too bad mines had to be a POS and break under a month.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
PS3 is outselling 360 5-to-1 in Japan and by a decent amount in the rest of the world, it's only in the US that the 360 is winning.

The PS3 is pulling even with the 360 in Europe but still trailing I believe.

According to VGChartz if you look at "Other" as everything except US & Japan the PS3 has been very slightly ahead of the 360 for awhile now.

Does Blu-Ray have anything to do with the games division at Sony, Dave?

A lot of people have been sitting out the HD format wars until there was a clear winner. Now HD-DVD sales have tanked and stores (including at least some Wal-mart and Circuit City) are closing out their HD-DVD stock.

The PS3 is currently one of the best and most future-proof blu-ray players, so blu-ray winning the format war adds to the value of the console (so to its sales).

Therein lies the problem with the numbers... many PS3s are being sold as Blu Ray players only, some will never play a game. They still make the PS3 installed base grow, but the 360 has something like 7 games/ console and I'm willing to bet the PS3 has an attach rate drastically below that.

It doesn't matter. look at how many Wiis sell to people who buy one game. They still get credit for a sale.

How many 360s sold because someone was replacing a broken one?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: destrekor
wait until 2008 ends to say that. More high-profile, AAA titles are releasing exclusive on the PS3 than on the 360, and many of these many people have been waiting for to purchase a console, as to also get the best possible price on the PS3. With rumors of the PS3 hitting 299 this year, and games like MGS4, FFXIII (SE just 'promised' FFXIII will be out in 2008), GT5, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Little Big Planet, Haze (maybe? and likely timed exclusive, also likely PC release), among others.. Sony looks to have a great year. I have a feeling many BD-only PS3's will also see a few games on them once the extremely high profile titles are released, especially if they review well.

Link

Although information regarding the release date of FINAL FANTASY XIII has been reported by certain videogame websites, Square Enix itself has yet to make an official statement on this topic. Any reports of a confirmed release date are erroneous and should be disregarded.

Square Enix will make an official announcement in the future concerning the release date when it has been determined.

Link

One of the best jokes we've heard at the Kotaku offices in a long time was the one in which Final Fantasy game director Motomu Toriyama had "promised" the thirteenth chapter of the series in 2008. Hilarious! Square Enix, on the other hand, wasn't exactly filled with laughter when mistranslations of a recent Famitsu article made their way online. It issued a statement today on chatter that this year would see the release of the ambitious PlayStation 3 RPG, writing that reports on Final Fantasy XIII's ship date were "erroneous and should be disregarded."

As far as a playable FFXIII demo? We're not holding our collective breath on that one either, as the team was hoping for something playable last summer according to reports from Dengeki.

I thought only GT5 Prologue was coming this year. Not the full version?

edit: I know that many people seem to think that the 360 blew its wad with Halo 3 for 2007 but they've got many great games coming out for 2008 that have been announced and many more that will be announced at GDC. Remember, they were concentrating on their 2007 lineup for the holidays so they've been pretty mum about 2008 games unlike Sony who always pushes the huge games that are far off in development.

There isn't one exclusive 360 game I'm looking forward to. Not one. Shooters don't count anymore. Halo was junk after I played through it. Not excited for more FPS games, they all feel the same.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
There isn't one exclusive 360 game I'm looking forward to. Not one. Shooters don't count anymore. Halo was junk after I played through it. Not excited for more FPS games, they all feel the same.

Here is a list of upcoming 360 exclusives that are known.

Lost Odyssey
Too Human
Ninja Gaiden 2
Halo Wars
Gears of War 2
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Fable 2
Banjo Kazooie 3
Alan Wake
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements
Warhammer: Battle March
World in Conflict
Universe at War: Earth Assault
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Age of Pirates: Captain Blood
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
Huxley
Left 4 Dead
Mobile Ops: The One Year War


I see only two or three shooters here. More games will be announced at GDC.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
There isn't one exclusive 360 game I'm looking forward to. Not one. Shooters don't count anymore. Halo was junk after I played through it. Not excited for more FPS games, they all feel the same.

Here is a list of upcoming 360 exclusives that are known.

Lost Odyssey
Too Human
Ninja Gaiden 2
Halo Wars
Gears of War 2
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Fable 2
Banjo Kazooie 3
Alan Wake
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements
Warhammer: Battle March
World in Conflict
Universe at War: Earth Assault
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Age of Pirates: Captain Blood
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
Huxley
Left 4 Dead
Mobile Ops: The One Year War


I see only two or three shooters here. More games will be announced at GDC.

I don't really consider PC/360 games to be exclusive. Several (if not most) on your list fit into that category.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I don't really consider PC/360 games to be exclusive. Several (if not most) on your list fit into that category.

Considering how much better games are selling on consoles than PCs nowadays, might as well be.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I don't really consider PC/360 games to be exclusive. Several (if not most) on your list fit into that category.

Considering how much better games are selling on consoles than PCs nowadays, might as well be.

Ha yeah really. Plus for the vast majority (assumed based upon total sales) PC doesn't even come into the equation. It really is just 360 vs. PS3 when looking at exclusivity.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I don't really consider PC/360 games to be exclusive. Several (if not most) on your list fit into that category.

Considering how much better games are selling on consoles than PCs nowadays, might as well be.

Ha yeah really. Plus for the vast majority (assumed based upon total sales) PC doesn't even come into the equation. It really is just 360 vs. PS3 when looking at exclusivity.

Someone posted a list sometime last year of the top 10 selling PC games for the year or something to that effect. I think it was 8 out of the 10 on the list were WoW, WoW expansions, and The Sims series of games. Bravo, PC gaming. Bravo. For some people, PC games are a viable alternative to console games. But for most of us here, "exclusive" and "console exclusive" might as well be synonymous.

 

[tfinch2]

When the PS3 hits $299, I'm in.