wraggster
May 25th, 2014, 19:57
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2013/10/ps4-1381952942.jpg (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/sony-ceo-kaz-hirai-ps4-likely-to-exceed-ps2-profits/)
While Sony as a whole is predicting (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/14/sony-forecasts-fifth-annual-loss-in-six-years/) losses to the tune of almost half a billion this fiscal year, company CEO Kazuo Hirai is looking to the future - specifically, the PlayStation 4's future. During a corporate strategy meeting reported (http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140522_649764.html) by Japanese website Impress Watch and translated (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-22-sony-ps4-likely-to-exceed-profits-earned-from-ps2) by Eurogamer, Hirai said he believes that "it is likely that PS4 will become the platform which exceeds the profits earned with PS2."
The PlayStation 2 sold more than 155 million units in its 13-year lifespan, having finally been discontinued (http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/playstation-2-is-now-discontinued-worldwide-confirms-sony/) at the beginning of last year. The PS4, in its six months on the market, has sold (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/16/playstation-4-sales-exceed-7-million-so-far/) more than 7 million units. While that trend would need to remain relatively stable to beat the PS2 in sheer numbers within the same span of time, bear in mind that a straight-up comparison of unit sales isn't looking at the whole picture.
Hirai cited the growing popularity of digital distribution and services - things which didn't factor into the PS2's success - as the keys that will allow Sony increased profitability, even if they don't move as many units.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/sony-ceo-kaz-hirai-ps4-likely-to-exceed-ps2-profits/
While Sony as a whole is predicting (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/14/sony-forecasts-fifth-annual-loss-in-six-years/) losses to the tune of almost half a billion this fiscal year, company CEO Kazuo Hirai is looking to the future - specifically, the PlayStation 4's future. During a corporate strategy meeting reported (http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140522_649764.html) by Japanese website Impress Watch and translated (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-22-sony-ps4-likely-to-exceed-profits-earned-from-ps2) by Eurogamer, Hirai said he believes that "it is likely that PS4 will become the platform which exceeds the profits earned with PS2."
The PlayStation 2 sold more than 155 million units in its 13-year lifespan, having finally been discontinued (http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/playstation-2-is-now-discontinued-worldwide-confirms-sony/) at the beginning of last year. The PS4, in its six months on the market, has sold (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/16/playstation-4-sales-exceed-7-million-so-far/) more than 7 million units. While that trend would need to remain relatively stable to beat the PS2 in sheer numbers within the same span of time, bear in mind that a straight-up comparison of unit sales isn't looking at the whole picture.
Hirai cited the growing popularity of digital distribution and services - things which didn't factor into the PS2's success - as the keys that will allow Sony increased profitability, even if they don't move as many units.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/sony-ceo-kaz-hirai-ps4-likely-to-exceed-ps2-profits/