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Sony Sells 8.4 Million PS4s in 3rd Quarter

Sony's latest quarterly financial report revealed on Friday that the company sold 8.4 million PlayStation 4 units during the quarter, which lasted from October 1 to December 31. Sony announced earlier this month that the console's total number of units sold worldwide reached 35.9 million after the holiday season.

During the third quarter, the company's profits rose to 120.1 billion yen (about US$992 million), compared to a 90.0 billion yen (US$743 million) profit in the same period in 2014. Sony's profits for the April to December period also rose to 263.1 billion yen (US$2.17 billion), contrasting the 19.2 billion yen (US$159 million) loss during the same period the previous year.

Sony attributed the rise mainly "to the significant increase in sales in the game and network services segment and the impact of foreign exchange rates, substantially offset by the significant decrease in sales in the mobile communications segment.” The company stated in November that the PS4 console "continues to demonstrate the fastest and strongest growth in PlayStation hardware history."

The PlayStation 4 console first launched in the U.S. and Canada in November 2013 and in Japan in February 2014. Sony sold 7.5 million PS4 units in fiscal year 2013, 14.8 million units in fiscal year 2014, 3 million units in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, and 4 million units in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. The system is now available in 124 countries and regions.

Sony also announced on Monday that it is merging its Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International subsidiaries into a new company named Sony Interactive Entertainment. The reorganization will take effect on April 1.

Andrew House, current president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, will serve in the same capacity and titles in Sony Interactive Entertainment. Kazuo Miura and John (Tsuyoshi) Kodera will serve as the company's deputy directors. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai and Sony Chief Financial Officer Kenichiro Yoshida will also be on the company's board of directors. Sony Interactive Entertainment will be headquartered in San Mateo, California. The new company will also establish business operations in Tokyo and London.

Sony Computer Entertainment manages Sony's PlayStation line of game and entertainment consoles, including the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, as well as the PlayStation Vita handheld system. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Sony Network Entertainment International manages Sony's online content, including the PlayStation Network, PlayStation Store, Sony Entertainment Network, PlayStation Plus, and PlayStation Vue. It is headquartered in San Mateo, California.

Source: The Japan Times