1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

News Sony losing $260 on each PS3 sold?

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by CardJoe, 15 May 2008.

  1. CardJoe

    CardJoe Freelance Journalist

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2007
    Posts:
    11,346
    Likes Received:
    316
  2. Shielder

    Shielder Live long & prosper!

    Joined:
    26 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    596
    Likes Received:
    0
    It's alwasy been known that the console makers don't make a profit on the consoles themselves, it is the games licensing that brings the money in.

    Only when the component cost comes down significantly and R&D costs have been covered will they start to turn a profit on these systems.

    Andy
     
    Last edited: 15 May 2008
  3. cjoyce1980

    cjoyce1980 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    17 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would blame it on the blu-ray drive, but a 5x speed drive only cost around £85 (or $150 in the US, and that not at cost price) so where is the rest of the costs going???
     
  4. Tomm

    Tomm I also ride trials :¬)

    Joined:
    12 Apr 2004
    Posts:
    2,249
    Likes Received:
    0
    The question is - do Sony care?

    PS3 sales are (finally) on the way up, and - probably more importantly - millions of homes now have Blu-ray players. It's no longer game sales that recoup money for Sony as a company, it's the sale of BD films and players, too.
     
  5. lewchenko

    lewchenko Minimodder

    Joined:
    17 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    369
    Likes Received:
    5
    Im not sure 'The Guardian's interpretation of the balance sheet figures is correct. They are simply interpreting figures that could be expressed any number of different ways, and coming to a conclusion which suits the title of the story. At this stage of the game there is no reason to doubt Sony's own interpretation of losing $130 per console. What with all those europeans paying over $600 per console... I really doubt Sony is losing $260 on each one sold! That would mean it would cost Sony over $860 to make each console.

    I dont think so!
     
  6. TGImages

    TGImages Grandpa

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    163
    Likes Received:
    1
    This selling at a loss has to also affect the price of games. If they need to make up $260 per unit, that is a combination of a large markup on each game and a number of games in order to have a chance at profit.
     
  7. mrplow

    mrplow obey the fist!!

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2001
    Posts:
    2,615
    Likes Received:
    47
    except Nintendo, who clearly have brains in their heads.
     
  8. naokaji

    naokaji whatever

    Joined:
    8 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    1,879
    Likes Received:
    10
    wasn't there some statistic recently somewhere on bit-tech about how many games a console owner buys in average? I think it was something like 4.5 per year or close to that.
    so, 4.5 games each at 40£, lets assume sony gets 5£ each, (40£ - 5£ = price of a pc game which does not have to give money to sony) that would mean with sonys number each ps3 buyer would have to buy 12 games (which means every ps3 owner would have to meet the avg number of games bought for 3 years) or with the number mentioned here (260$) for almost 6 years for the ps3 to actually be a profitable product.

    no wonder sonys gaming division is making a huge loss every year.

    of course, my math is flawed since it does not include their real cash cow (better known as small yet horribly priced accessoires like cables).
     
    Last edited: 15 May 2008
  9. Darkedge

    Darkedge Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Nov 2004
    Posts:
    363
    Likes Received:
    0
    Microsoft stopped making a loss on the 360 before christmas - at least on manufacturing, though probably still do due to the RROD issues.
    I think the PS3 has the lowest game attach rate of any console in years of about an average of 2 due to most people buying it as a Blueray player - the 360 however has the highest attach rate - something like 8!
     
  10. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Minimodder

    Joined:
    3 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    2,031
    Likes Received:
    87
    Its ab interesting statistic, especcially with so many games bein bought pre-owned it must be hard to recoup even $130 dollars.
    and sony is an "entertainment" company as apposed to microsoft making more than enough else where in the computer market.
    buti suppose sony just has reeched the stage yet where they are making PS3's at a profit
     
  11. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Minimodder

    Joined:
    3 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    2,031
    Likes Received:
    87
    i mean hasnt reached
     
  12. ssj12

    ssj12 Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    689
    Likes Received:
    3
    I;m going to say the guardian sounds like a piss poor news service. They are losing only $130. The cut costs everywhere.
     
  13. RedDethX

    RedDethX What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    181
    Likes Received:
    1
    Most likely the Cell and XDR RAM.
     
  14. devdevil85

    devdevil85 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    29 Nov 2006
    Posts:
    924
    Likes Received:
    0
    In a 10 year lifespan even at 4.5 games per year they should be able to make up the cost on older SKU's.....it's the nature of the beast, right?....all the newest technology & R&D $'s going into creating new software development tools, newest interfaces, etc.....

    I would want to know if the 360 console itself has brought MS profit or not due to all the RRoD's......w/o issues such as those Sony should be able to catch up soon in terms of profitability.....hell what was the story like back in PS2 days?......
     
  15. LordPyrinc

    LordPyrinc Legomaniac

    Joined:
    7 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    599
    Likes Received:
    6
    Consoles? I haven't owned one of those since the days of Super Nintendo (though I did buy a used Nintendo 64 for my dad). If I had kids though, the Wii would be my console of choice. I have bought some handhelds in the last few years, a Gameboy Advance and a DS Lite, but the GBA was for traveling and the DS was for my girlfriend. I'm not a Nintendo fanboy, but I think they are doing a pretty darn good job at making money right now.

    Silly Rabbit... consoles are for kids. PCs are for serious gamers.
     
  16. bahgger

    bahgger Minimodder

    Joined:
    13 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    925
    Likes Received:
    10
    You probably haven't picked up a book in pricing strategies any time in the last 20 years have you?

    The captive pricing method used by Sony and Microsoft enable them to obtain a customer base that will have to buy software that only works on a single platform.

    Pricing strategies > You
     
Tags: Add Tags

Share This Page