Sony FY13: PS3 sales down, Vita flat, gaming division down
Sony's Fiscal Year 2013 results are out, painting a picture of a company that is happily coasting with decreased profitability as it looks towards the start of the next generation.
The PlayStation maker saw sales decrease 12.2% overall year-on-year to 707.1 billion yen. Sony pins much of the decrease on a decrease in PS3 and PSP unit sales as the machines age. Vita hardware was also cited as an issue with continued sales struggles and February's Japanese price cut both impacting the company's bottom line. The losses in sales were partially offset by foreign exchange rates that favoured the Japanese company.
The console business - PS3 and PS2 - shifted 16.5 million units through the year. PSP and Vita moved 7 million units between them during the fiscal year. All told, Sony's gaming division saw profit down to 1.7 billion Yen, down from 29.3 billion last Fiscal Year.
With the company spending vast amounts on PS4 such a drop isn't a surprise, and it has to be pointed out that the PS3's numbers are actually solid. Vita's numbers leave a lot to be desired, though - for comparison the 3DS shifted nearly double in the same fiscal year.
Sony paints a picture of a much stronger year ahead for the 2014 Fiscal Year, with much of that resting on their hopes for success for the PS4.
"Sales are expected to increase significantly primarily due to the planned introduction of the PlayStation®4 (“PS4TM”) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014," the company states. "Operating income is expected to be essentially flat year-on-year primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses and marketing expenses related to the introduction of the PS4, offset by the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales."
Estimates for Vita were much less confident, with Sony predicting that they will sell only 5 million units of PSP and Vita combined in the next fiscal year. PS3 and PS2 are expected to move 10 million, and numbered predictions were not offered for PS4.
The full figures can be found on Sony's website for your reading pleasure.