Sony Reports Strong Financial Results for the Nine-Month Period Ending December 31, 2024
Sony has released its financial results for the nine-month period ending on December 31, 2024, highlighting a robust performance driven mainly by strong holiday season sales. The Games and Network Services segment was one of the main drivers of this growth, with the PlayStation 5 recording its best quarter since launch.
During the nine months ending on December 31, 2024, Sony reported sales of 10.3 trillion yen (62.4 billion euros), an 8.2% increase from the previous year, while operating profit rose 22.9% to 1.2 trillion yen (7.3 billion euros). In the games and network services division, sales reached ¥3.6 trillion (€21.8 billion), a 13.8% increase, and operating profit surged 74.8% to ¥322.1 billion (€1.9 billion).
PlayStation 5 Performance and User Growth
The PS5 performed exceptionally well during the holiday period, with 9.5 million units sold in the third quarter, including the PlayStation Pro model launched in November 2024. A total of 15.7 million units were sold in the nine months to date, with the total number of units sold in 2024 reaching 20.2 million. Sony noted that the PS5’s performance is in line with that of the PlayStation 4 at the same point post-launch.
Another positive indicator was the growth in the number of monthly active users, which reached 129 million at the end of the quarter, up from 123 million in December 2023. This is the highest number in PlayStation history. Additionally, total gameplay time increased by 2% compared to the same period last year, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth in this metric.
Sales and Game Titles
Sony highlighted that over 40% of consumers who purchased a PS5 during the holiday period were new users of the console, significantly contributing to the increase in monthly active users. In terms of game sales, 95.9 million units were sold in the third quarter, with 11.6 million being original titles. While total game sales increased year-on-year, sales of titles from the company itself decreased from 16.2 million to 11.6 million.
Two of Sony’s own releases stood out: Astro Bot, which sold 1.5 million units in 58 days, and Helldivers 2, which reached 12 million units sold (including sales on PS and PC) in 87 days. Sony stated that the success of these titles in terms of awards and industry events represents an important step forward in diversifying its game portfolio, including titles for families and live service games.
Future Outlook and Revised Forecasts
The company also mentioned positive expectations for the next fiscal year, with the launch of Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, expected to boost results. Additionally, Sony revised its forecasts for the current fiscal year, projecting sales of ¥4.6 trillion (€27.9 billion) in the Games & Network Services segment, a 3% increase from the previous forecast.
In the third quarter, digital game and additional content sales grew by 13.6% to 718.2 billion yen (4.3 billion euros), while hardware sales increased by almost 10.7% (€4.4 billion). Network service revenues rose by 29%, driven by a 20% increase in PlayStation Plus subscriptions, reflecting a shift to more expensive plans and price adjustments.
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