PlayStation hardware sales lull as PS4 storm brews

It's very much the calm before the storm for Sony as it prepares for the launch of PlayStation 4 this Christmas.

According to Sony's latest financial results, fewer PS3s, PS2s and PSPs were sold in the quarter ending 30th June 2013 than they were during the same period last year. Vita wasn't mentioned.

Combined PS3 and PS2 sales were 1.1 million, and last year they were 2.8 million. Combined Vita and PSP sales were 0.6 million, and last year they were 1.4 million.

This was offset by a rise in game sales (no doubt boosted by The Last of Us), numbers rising from 43 million last year to 64 million this year.

As such, Sony's Game segment performance was pretty much flat year-on-year, raking in $1.2 billion.

However, operating income for the segment plummeted 322 per cent down to -$149 million, which means the PlayStation business continues to make a loss. Sony attributed this to "an increase in research and development expenses related to the upcoming introduction of the PlayStation 4".

Sony also noted that it "received accolades" when it showed PlayStation 4 at E3 this year, and we all know that means.

Next quarter, ending 30th September, Sony expects Game segment sales to "increase significantly". It's a busier quarter in general, but could Sony also be alluding to some kind of PS3 price cut or deal to come? Gamescom is just around the corner after all, as is PS4.

Broadly, business was good for Sony. All-in-all a net loss of -$2.5 billion this time last year was turned into a $35 million profit this year.