Sony's Networked Products & Services Division (the PlayStation and VAIO businesses) is reporting a 24.2 percent decrease in sales during the financial period ending September 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008.
"This decrease," states Sony, "was mainly due to lower VAIO PC and game sales." According to Sony, lower PS2 hardware and software sales as well as the appreciation of the yen negatively impacted business.
During the quarter, Sony sold 3 million PSP units, down from the 3.2 million units sold during the same period last year. PS2 sales dropped from 2.5 million units sold during this period in 2008 to 1.9 million units sold in the same period this year. PS3 sales, however, were up: 3.2 million units were sold during the period, compared with 2.4 million units some during the same time last year.
"An operating loss of ¥58.8 billion ($654 million) was recorded," states Sony, "a deterioration of ¥18.2 billion year-on-year, mainly due to a deterioration in profitability in VAIO PCs and the game business."