PlayStation business brings in JPY 229 billion sales for Sony in Q1
17 per cent rise year-on-year due to decrease in hardware costs and improved software sales
Sony's PlayStation business has generated sales of JPY 229.6 billion (USD 2,166m) for the first quarter of 2008, ended June 30, an increase of 16.8 per cent year-on-year.
The division reported operating income of JPY 5.4 billion (USD 51m) for the three months, compared to an operating loss of JPY 29.2 billion for the same period last year.
The rise is primarily due to a reduction in the costs of PS3 hardware and increased sales for the console's software, as well as strong sales of the PSP. The company sold 1.56 million PlayStation 3 units worldwide during the period.
The PlayStation business was the best performer for the Sony Corporation as a whole during the first quarter, with sales for the entire group up marginally from JPY 1,976.5 billion in 2007 to JPY 1,979 billion (USD 18,670m) in 2008.
Operating income was down by 39.5 per cent year-on-year to JPY 73.4 billion (USD 693m), from JPY 121.3bn in 2007.