
As reported earlier today, Sony shipped 8.2 million PS5 consoles during the three-month period ending 31st December, 2023 – a very good number which contributed to record-breaking revenue, but not enough to help it reach its forecast of 25 million units for the current financial year. Thus far, it’s sold 16.4 million units, and subsequently it’s revised its forecast down to 21 million.
That means it needs to sell 4.6 million units during the three-month period ending 31st March, 2024, which is still a lot but achievable.
Obviously, this will be reported as a massive misfire from Sony, but it’s perhaps worth remembering that the target was always incredibly ambitious to begin with. If it achieves its revised 21 million units target, that’ll still be a huge achievement for the PS5 – although it’s clear now that the stock shortages following the pandemic have impacted PlayStation’s ability to improve on the PS4.
The bigger concern for the Japanese giant at this point will be its razor-thin margins, which don’t give it much flexibility at all. While the division is generating record-breaking revenue, it’s spending exorbitantly to get there, and one minor hiccup could plunge it into the red. It’s something the organisation will need to address moving forwards.
[source sony.com]
Comments 36
Looks like they’re not going for the kill lol
In case anyone hasn't read between the lines: Addressing high costs = Major layoffs coming.
Also, they pretty much confirming that we won't have any "major" title within the next 14 months is kinda sad to read. I just hope they finally announce the games that everyone wants to know about (Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Santa Monica, etc.) later this year.
Sony has also just announced there won't be any first party games until after March 2025.....
https://www.gematsu.com/2024/02/sony-interactive-entertainment-will-not-release-any-new-major-existing-franchise-titles-before-march-31-2025
@ED_209 this financial year ends march 31 2024, not in 14 months. I expect they wait for announcements after the inevitable Nintendo direct that announces the next console. Seeing Nintendo is the biggest competition they might want to take as much thunder away from that.
It feels like if forecasts are being cut they had a major release planned for this feb or march that they have to delay out of the window. Perhaps Rebirth preorder numbers are softer than expected too, although i do expect it to sell well and shift consoles this month
@UltimateOtaku91 For Sony that is quite staggering given the past 15 years. That said if they are saying no major existing franchise releases that doesnt rule out new ip or smaller titles similar to uncharted lost legacy. Wouldnt be surprised to see that rumoured Atreus god of war game for example.
@Rob_230 That's true as it's strange they say "Existing IP" specifically. I'd wager Concord will also release this year.
They are not even hitting that. They are currently at 16,4 million during fiscal year so they need to sell 4,6 million PlayStation 5 consoles during january-march to hit 21 million.
FY Q4 (january-march) is historically worst period for console sales (last year was an exception because it was first quarter when PS5 supply addressed demand) and even with slashed prices I really doubt will hit that number.
They also fell behind PS4. And without major first-party games until march 2025 I really doubt that PS5 will sell as good as PS4. Which is kinda big problem.
@UltimateOtaku91 That's not what it says, it says no "new major existing franchise titles". It rules out, for example, Ghost of Tsushima 2 before then, but there are a number of studios that we know have been working on new IP for a while now, like Bend Studio, Bluepoint and even Naughty Dog.
A reduction of the goals, just 2 months before the end of the period, by 16 % seems bad management to me. I know there would roll heads in the company I work at. Of course you can make yourself ambitious goals and miss them, but then you must reduce the goals in the moment you anticipate it. Not February, but October or November.
Lmao... Capitalists thinking it's only logical that every household should at least have two ps5s.
Beyond unrealistic CEO and shareholder expectations this is really not surprising. It is the most disappointing and uninspired generational jump in the history of playstation. There's not a huge incentive of upgrading from a PS4 and how Sony is handling things I'm turning more and more back to pc after 25 years.
@UltimateOtaku91 Yeah i agree, and possibly that fair games title from haven studios. It doesnt count, but they are also positioning the likes of FF7, Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade and Silent Hill 2 like they are first party titles.
I do think Sony will get away with the gap in 'major' releases (also bolstered by the likes of spiderman 2 dlc, which will be treated as a big deal) as they have wisely sewn up alot of 3rd party deals, but they will need to sort out their slate to avoid it happening again. And they need to do a big show this year to hype fans about what is coming up to encourage people to keep buying into the ecosystem, particularly with a new switch around the corner.
This just goes to show how expensive and time intensive game development has become unfortunately. Developers are going to have to start thinking outside the box if they want to maintain a steady flow of releases (personally i'd be happy if the industry pivoted to more smaller scale releases, with the odd massive game here and there - currently games are too big and there isnt anywhere near enough time or money to play everything i want to)
The release of GTA 6 will likely buy developers a few months breathing space next year mind - as that thing will be a juggernaut that completely takes over the gaming space and column inches. Developers will likely want to completely clear out on either side of that to avoid being lost in the hype
There could have been a AAA game released this year from Naughty Dog. Sadly the studio wasted 3+ years post- Last of Us Part 2 for a canned multiplayer game.
@UltimateOtaku91 The wording says existing franchise titles not "any first party games".
They sold 6.3 million in Q4 2022 so 4.6 million for Q4 2023 seems very conservative. Would expect them to easily hit that 21 million even without a first party release. They have third party titles like FF7 Rebirth.
Razor thin margins, i can’t believe Media Molecule is still around after 10 years on Dream which probably created barely and revenue and no new game in sight. Also if they kill Bungie, can they recoup any of that money. Complete waster of funds at this point as will be haven and firesprite
@tho_mi probably because Xbox is already dead.
I have found this German article: https://www.golem.de/news/sony-playstation-5-kommt-in-die-letzte-phase-ihres-lebenszyklus-2402-182201.html
Sony manager Naomi Matsuoka told investors that „Playstation 5 enters last phase of its lifecycle“, in which Sony will create a new balance between profatibility and revenue. And it would be hard to cut manufacturing costs and therefore prices, much harder than with PS4.
My interpretation: No more price cuts, successor maybe in 2026.
In its 4th year, the PS4 really hit its stride and cleared 76 million units. The PS5 might not be able to keep pace with its dad if current price and lacklustre release schedules continue.
And potentially worst of all, Nintendo have a new console waiting in the wings which no doubt won't cost £500...
Those margins are tiny. PlayStation is on the precipice of a financial distaster.
You can have the high revenue, but if your margins are this low, you are one small step from entering the red and finding yourself very close to game over territory.
Worrying that they haven’t got that margin bigger.
That GAAS gamble could easily plunge them into the red…and it probably will.
There are some rampant reading comprehension issues here. That is more sad to see than anything Sony just reported. There will still be first party releases, just not from "major existing IP." I'll repeat that: "major existing IP." Everything else will be new franchises or perhaps existing IP that is not considered major.
Sony considers games they fund and publish, like Helldivers 2, Rise of the Ronin, and Stellar Blade, first party, so I am not sure how that factors into their statements. In any case, PlayStation fans are eating good.
@Martijn87 the flip side is that maybe they should get sales whilst they don’t have any competition. Nintendo when it’s hitting its stride is a force to be reckoned with….
@ED_209 layoffs have already mostly happened for sony, just not as heavily reported. Sony's biggest issue is them not releasing as many games as they use to in a year. Relying heavily on third parties to fill the release schedule. If it wasn't for these margins we probably wouldn't even see pc releases. That is where we are at the moment.
That being said I'm not sure where you're getting 14mos from. Sony has 3 titles lined up as a possible game to have out later this year. Right now ff7 rebirth and rise of the Ronin are their current focus. Not releasing anything this year would be problematic and they know it.
Combination of reasons lead to this. The first being they started off the year with a hardware drought. Not a bad one, but it was still slowing down sales. Then there was another dip around November for the redesign. If memory serves this unit made it possible for the Xbox for the first time in Japan's history to outsell a playstation or at least the ps5. We also didn't see any price reductions in December to help with holiday shopping. 3 years at the same price point makes consumers use to regular price drops concerned. Xbox managed to get the series x down to 350 and in some places as low as 250 with stores just trying to move inventory taking up space. This might have put a few people off from buying playstation 5, in order to hold themselves over a bit longer till a ps5 drop does happen.
So sony did kind of hurt their forecast a bit, but ff7 rebirth is less than a month a way, there is a good chance in 2 weeks time, ff7 rebirth could see a sudden influx of ps5 purchases. Gamers that waited till rebirth was available in order to get their hands on a ps5. That could make the cut off. 3mil is a razor thin margin for a company that has managed to sell as much as 2m in one months time of its other platforms. I think they are just being overly cautious, thinking rebirth fans like myself have mostly purchased a ps5 already, as I have at launch.
The biggest thing that will hurt PS5 software/hardware sales will be the new Nintendo console
@ED_209 There was never going to be a big Sony game before Ghost of Tsushima 2 and that's definitely not coming before mid 2025. But.. probably comes out with the movie.
@rockodoodle Good point, but both Nintendo and Sony are at their best when they really need to.
It's a very strange thing for them to be so far out of sales projections and have to cut the forecast by such a big percentage this close to the end of the financial year.
@sanderson72 lol @ lackluster release schedule? Are we living in the same start of 2024? I can’t literally find time to play half of what I strictly consider must play on ps5
Jesus, according to some folks in here and over on pure xbox all consoles will be dead by the end of the year.
Cheer up, enjoy your games, it will all be just fine.
@ED_209
Not that it was an unusual strategy from Sony when you look at PlayStation's history, but there was a reason they were beefing up the 2nd/3rd party exclusive and timed-exclusive lineup. Sucks there won't be Ghost of Tsushima 2 or a new game from Bend, Santa Monica, Naughty Dog, etc, but it is what it is.
@Weebleman
Yeah, 'consoles are dead' might be an overreaction, but you have to admit, the news hasn't been good lately.
@Gamer83 no, it has not and its easy to get swept up in the doom and gloom of it all. But we got some good games to get stuck into and thats the best way to shift the mood.
@Weebleman
Agree. I've been enjoying Tekken 8 and look forward to starting up Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth soon.
@Gamer83 Helldivers is eating my time at the mo (its far more fun than i anticipated) but Yakuza 8 is definitely on my list next. Hearing a lot of good things about it.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...