PlayStation division posts $889m loss

Sony’s Network Product and Services Division, the home of its PlayStation operations, has reported a $889m loss for the year ending March 31st 2010, a year-on-year decrease of 10.2 per cent.

PS3 sales hit a total of 13m units, up from the 10.3m seen in the same period the year before.

However, sales of both the PSP and PS2 suffered annual falls, hitting 9.9m (down 4.2m) and 7.9m (down 600k) respectively. These losses were partially offset, though, by decreased PS3 manufacturing costs and strong sales of the Sony Walkman.

PS3 software sales climbed 11.6m units to reach a total of 115.3m. PSP games sales fell to 44.4m (from 50.3) while PS2 game sales tumbled to 35.7m (from 83.5m). Sony predicts those numbers to hold firm next year, despite expected increases in PS3 console sales.

Overall the company suffered a $437m loss – its second in succession – though this was less than half the loss it suffered in 2009. Profitability is expected for the year ahead, thanks in part to strong sales predictions for its new 3D TVs.