1060°

PS4 is doing great - but it's a different story for Sony

Amid the doom and gloom, PlayStation is doing well. During the quarter ending 31st December 2013 the Game business made a profit of $172m off the back of an impressive 64.6 per cent rise in sales year on year.

Sony will announce its financial results for the year ending 31st March 2014 on 14th May.

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eurogamer.net
3640d ago Replies(30)
lifeisgamesok3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

Uh oh Sony's financial loss is almost 20% worse than expected

Seeing things like this must give Microsoft even more confidence as MS has billions upon billions more than Sony

If Sony keeps going down this road it will indeed hit the games division too

pedrof933640d ago

The thing is if Sony goes bankrupt the PlayStation division will be eventually ( since its profitable ) bought by another company, if you think a little the potential buyers could be Apple, Samsung and even perhaps Google, the PlayStation division wouldn't go down as you hope.

hollabox3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

I said that a couple of months ago with my bet being on Samsung or Amazon buying the PlayStation brand. I hope Sony some how manage to stay afloat, I like audio editing software, their AV Receivers, and the PlayStation brand.

bleedsoe9mm3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

the amount of money sony is losing is disturbing

Dark_matter3640d ago

I hope the playstation division doesn't go down because god dammit the playstation brand is apart of my childhood and I love the games they released over the generations for the brand. I'd hate to see them go because it'd be like them taking a part of me which would be horrible. If it does come to that dire situation (dread to think the thought of it), I hope that a big electronics company does buy them out because they deserve to stay in this market (I'd buy them in a heartbeat, if I had the money). without them, microsoft wouldn't be learning from their mistakes and I thankyou sony for it, they are a big part of the gaming market and I want it to stay that way.

randomass1713640d ago

Completely agreed. I think Sony will figure out how to recover as a company, but the Playstation brand will remain absolutely integral to the game industry for decades to come at the very least. No way that brand is going anywhere.

Talidan3639d ago

If it's making enough money, they could shutter down to almost nothing and build back up, if they wanted to, from Playstation.

Do consoles and games and nothing else, like Nintendo.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3639d ago
3640d ago Replies(3)
GameDev13640d ago

@Notorious

Still losing millions though

kenshiro1003640d ago

I know you want Sony to fail but your hopes won't come true.

I'm sorry.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3639d ago
nope1113640d ago

Sony should stick to games only. It seems to be the most profitable division for them.

3640d ago Replies(1)
Inception3640d ago

Cmiiw, aren't their movies, music, and mobile division are making good profits too?

Never follow this kind of news though...

iceman063640d ago

Insurance, medical imaging, cameras, mobile phones, movies, and music still manage to give Sony profits outside of video games. However, being stubborn and resistant to changing (mostly inflated prices) has pretty much killed off their PC market. IF they don't change something soon, TV's will probably be next. Other TV manufacturers are just offering more for less than Sony has been willing to offer at this point.

Moe-Gunz3640d ago

Yea it's the TV division that they really need to change. Take a cue from Samsung on that one.

ThatOneGuyThere3640d ago

PC market is dying anyways. Almost nobody will even care about PCs in the near future. Mobile will completely replace the desktop in the coming years. And no, other TV manufacturers are offering less for less, but nobody really cares about that in the TV market. People want big and 1080, which everyone offers for cheaper. People have switched focus to spending a ton of money on phones and tablets, TVs are no longer the centerpiece of the home. Thats what hurting Sony. They dont have a low end for cheapskates like me who would rather buy someone's used Panasonic than a new display because its "good enough", or an LG or Samsung because its shiny enough and will impress your in-laws.

LiQuiZoN3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

wrong reply. whoops

SquidBuck3640d ago

Sony should just make PlayStation related products and cameras. The tv and phone markets are already dominated by other brands.

Joe9133640d ago

They should just make cheaper devices that is why LG and Samsung has taken over the TV market kinda the phone market.

ramiuk13640d ago

sont tvs are the best for gaming on imo.
lowest lag and there new range is solid with excellent black lvls etc

JeffGUNZ3640d ago

@ramiuk1

What? I know it's your personal opinion, but Samsung and LG tower over Sony TV's. My Samsung has 250HZ and at 55 inch display, LED 1080p. I've never seen anything crisper and smoother on the gaming front. Sonys TV's are not bad at the end of the day, but they are not good enough for the price they charge. I've had Sony TV's before, also Vizio and Panasonic and Samsung blows them away.

BlackTar1873640d ago

JeffGunz,

All i have to disagree with you on is Vizio blowing them away. That's not true. The rest okay.

ThatOneGuyThere3640d ago

JeffGUNZ,

Your opinion is wrong. Flat out. Overly saturated != better. Watching a Samsung or Vizio is like dropping acid than going to Disneyland. They tune them all crazy to stand out at Best Buy. But compare them to actual life, and its not even close. Sony and Panasonic offer the most LIFE LIKE images. For an experiment, pick a bright pink flower and take a picture of it. Then put the picture on your precious Samsung, then holding the real flower, compare the two. "whoa, the TV looks better than real life!" will likely be your reaction. That's how you know you've been duped. The entire point of a display is to give you a clear, life-like picture. Samsung fails hard. Especially their phones.

LiQuiZoN3640d ago

@ThatOneGuy

This is actually a very correct statement. Sony is known for their "True to life" color reproduction. Samsung's and LG's have always been oversaturated.

Most uneducated consumers think that is good at first glance, but in reality it is a distortion of what the picture "should" look like.

- Well said "TheOne" Bubble Up.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3640d ago
ThatOneGuyThere3640d ago

Sony's latest phones outclass every other phone on the market, with ease. Their TVs are just too pricey. People are settling for less and convincing themselves its more. Sony will make a huge electronics comeback in the coming years, just like the PS4 did. Its just cool to hate Sony TVs right now. It makes people feel smart to buy cheaper displays. This is a side effect of the economic down turn. It taught people to buy cheaper.

LiQuiZoN3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

I messed up my reply like 3x's. :(

Klad3640d ago (Edited 3640d ago )

The camera market is already dominated by Canon & Nikon. i know a few Photographers & videographers & none of them use Sony cameras. Its all about Canon DSLR's for Video & Nikon DSLR's for Photography now!

3640d ago Replies(3)
Show all comments (243)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies14d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken13d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga13d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken13d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6413d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long13d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197213d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
DivineHand12513d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91313d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer13d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91313d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit13d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
Christopher13d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6913d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit13d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher13d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken13d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197213d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2313d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218313d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder13d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades19d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken19d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades19d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii19d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit21d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

21d ago
Profchaos21d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9521d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia21d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

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