Sony Gaming Forecast Update
Sony has raised its sales forecast for its gaming business, while announcing an official sales figure for Marvel’s Wolverine for the first time.
Sony said it had raised the sales forecast for its Game & Network Services Segment, which includes PlayStation, by 6% due to an increase in sales of non-first-party game software titles. Similarly, Sony raised the profit forecast for its gaming business by 6%, citing the impact of increased non-first-party game sales, cost improvements, and network services revenue.
The Impact of GTA 6
Sony’s partnership with Rockstar Games for GTA 6 has positioned the PS5 at the center of the game’s marketing. Gameplay footage has been showcased primarily on PS5, with marketing materials highlighting that the title plays best on the console.
Profitability for the current financial year, ending March 31, 2027, has been impacted by the delay of Sony Santa Monica’s God of War Laufey from February to May. However, the company remains optimistic about the upcoming launch of GTA 6.
Marvel's Wolverine Sales Performance
Sony reported that Marvel’s Wolverine has exceeded 2.4 million units sold as of November 4, approximately 50 days after its launch. For comparison, Ghost of Yotei reached 3.3 million units in 32 days, while Astro Bot sold 1.5 million copies in 58 days.
Marvel’s Wolverine trails the performance of Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which sold 2.5 million units on its first day and reached 10 million units within 107 days. The title's long-term success will depend on its performance during the upcoming holiday season.
Regarding first-party titles, cumulative sales of Marvel’s Wolverine, released in September, exceeded 2.4 million units, contributing to the improved results of the entire segment for the quarter. The company noted that users have praised the title for its immersive action and storytelling.
“Regarding first-party titles, cumulative sales of Marvel’s Wolverine, released in September, exceeded 2.4 million units, contributing to the improved results of the entire segment for the quarter. We leveraged our expertise building the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise to create a differentiated action game experience for Marvel’s Wolverine. Users have praised the new title for its highly immersive action, high-quality production, and richly layered storytelling.”
Platform Growth and Future Hardware
While PS5 hardware sales continue to decline as the console matures, Sony stated that the PlayStation platform continues to expand in a stable manner.
Looking toward the next fiscal year, Sony aims to enhance user engagement and monetization through new titles and service expansion. The company also confirmed it is making progress on its next-generation platform.
Monthly active users (MAUs) on the PlayStation platform reached a record 127 million in September, a 7% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Hardware Profitability and Memory Costs
Sony noted that it has offset rising memory prices, driven by the AI sector, through pricing adjustments and cost-reduction measures. The company expects hardware profitability for the current fiscal year to remain consistent with the previous year.
For the next fiscal year, Sony has aligned with suppliers on the necessary memory quantities to support its projected hardware sales.
