Sony Plans to Release a Mix of Single-Player and Live-Service Games; PlayStation 5 Sales Surpass 65.5 Million

Sony has revealed its financial report for the quarter ending September 30, showing steady growth in its Game and Network Services division. The company expects record operating profits for the fiscal year (April 2024 – March 2025), driven by strong third-party game sales and growing PlayStation Plus subscriptions. Moving forward, Sony plans to focus on a mix of single-player titles and live service games.

According to its latest financial report, Sony’s G&NS division posted ¥1,071.5 billion ($7.01 billion) in sales, a 12% year-on-year increase. Operating income rose significantly to ¥138.8 billion ($908 million), more than doubling from the same period last year. This growth was largely fueled by increased sales of third-party games, improved profitability in hardware, and higher network service revenue. Sony highlighted the success of titles like EA Sports FC 25 and Black Myth: Wukong as key contributors.

Sony shipped 3.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles during the quarter, down from 4.9 million during the same period last year. However, total PS5 shipments have now reached 65.5 million units, just a few million behind the PlayStation 4’s sales at a similar point in its timeline.

The company’s network services revenue, including PlayStation Plus and advertising, grew by 18% year-over-year, driven by higher subscription tiers and pricing adjustments. Monthly active users for PlayStation Network increased to 116 million, compared to 107 million a year ago.

Sony also acknowledged challenges in its live service strategy. While Helldivers 2 has been a massive success with 12 million copies sold, titles like Concord failed to perform, leading to the closure of Firewalk Studios. The company plans to use lessons learned from Helldivers 2 and Concord across its studios to improve its live service approach and focus on a mix of single-player and live service games.

Software sales for PS4 and PS5 jumped to 77.7 million units, up from 67.6 million last year. Digital sales accounted for 70% of total game sales, an increase from 67% a year ago. Astro Bot, which launched in September, has sold 1.5 million copies. Sony noted that 37% of its buyers were new to first-party games, a promising sign for its reach.

Sony forecasts continued growth for its G&NS division, with sales expected to reach ¥4,490 billion ($29.3 billion) for the fiscal year, up from an earlier estimate of ¥4,320 billion ($28.2 billion). Operating income projections have also risen to ¥355 billion ($2.3 billion).

Although hardware sales have slowed, Sony seems confident about the future. With highly awaited games like Grand Theft Auto VI set to release in Fall 2025, the company expects a strong year ahead.

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