If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Sony hardware sales on the decline

PS3 games on the up, though.

Sony's third quarter financial report has revealed hardware sales for all its consoles were down compared to the previous year.

For the three months ending 31st December 2008, the games division recorded sales and operating revenue of JPY 393.8 billion (USD 4328 million). That figure is down 32.2 per cent year-on-year.

PS3 sales fell by 44,000 units to reach 4.46 million. Game sales were up by 14.8 million units, reaching 40.8 million in total.

The PSP also proved a little less popular, with sales falling by 68,000 units to hit 5.08 million. Sales of games for the handheld fell by 2.8 million to 15.5 million.

Old faithful the PS2 also saw a decline, with hardware sales dropping from 2.88 million to 2.52 million. Game sales were down by a whopping 31.2 million, amounting to a still rather respectable 29.7 million.

Sony also saw a 97 per cent decrease in operating income to JPY 0.4 billion (USD 4 million). The company blamed the appreciation of the yen against the euro, along with the decline in hardware and software sales.