Sony says next PlayStation is on track as game sales climb

Sony's gaming division posted higher revenue and profit in the July-September quarter even as PS5 console shipments fell, Engadget reported. Game sales and PlayStation Network services pushed the segment's revenue up 9 percent and profit up 83 percent year over year, while PS5 unit sales dropped to 2.6 million from 4 million a year earlier. CFO Lin Tao said PS5 units are "gradually declining as expected at this stage of the console life cycle," according to Shattered. The Associated Press said strong demand for PlayStation consoles helped Sony Group Corp. report a 44 percent profit surge to 449.6 billion yen ($2.8 billion), with quarterly sales up 10 percent to 3.4 trillion yen, though that gain was driven largely by the movie "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

Software unit sales increased by 9.8 million units in the quarter, with digital downloads making up 78 percent of full-game sales, up from 72 percent a year earlier. Software revenue reached 708.5 billion yen ($4.48 billion), versus 629.3 billion yen a year before. Network services revenue grew 19.5 percent to 218.3 billion yen ($1.38 billion). Engadget also reported Marvel's Wolverine sold 2.4 million copies as of November 4, about 50 days after release, while Ghost of Yotei moved 3.3 million units since its October 2, 2025 launch.

During the earnings call, Sony CFO Lin Tao said the company's next-generation console work is on track. Eurogamer reported development is "progressing as scheduled," according to Shattered, which noted Sony itself does not call the machine PlayStation 6, instead saying "next-generation platform" or "new platform." Shattered, citing Video Games Chronicle, reported Lin Tao said, "We also intend to make solid progress in preparing for the next-generation platform," and "From next fiscal year onward, there will be investment in the new platform." No release date, launch window, price, or specifications were given.

Engadget reported cumulative PS5 sales reached 97.9 million since the console's June 2020 launch. Shattered said Sony's official data page lists more than 95 million units sold as of June 30, 2026, and called the 97.9 million figure reported but unconfirmed.

Engadget said the quarterly console decline likely reflected supply limitations rather than soft demand. Sony previously said it had enough memory for expected PS5 sales this year, but more recently told distribution partners that "temporary market supply constraints and high demand" would continue to limit retailer stock into next year, according to Engadget. Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; Engadget reported pre-orders are supposedly already at $750 million, with 74 percent on PS5, citing GamesRadar.

The Associated Press also reported Sony faces a computer chip shortage because of the artificial intelligence boom, and it has benefited from a weaker yen, with the U.S. dollar trading at about 158 yen, up from 154 yen a year ago. Sony raised its full-year profit forecast through March 2027 to 1.3 trillion yen from 1.2 trillion yen, and shares closed 7 percent higher in Tokyo trading before the results were announced.