Sony Focuses on Affordability as PS5 Sales Decline

Sony's latest earnings report showed a drop in PS5 shipments, with 1.6 million units sold in the most recent quarter, down from 2.5 million a year earlier. The company said 82% of its game sales were digital, reflecting a strategy to rely more on its PlayStation Store as physical discs are phased out by 2028.

Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao told analysts that Sony will "cautiously move [the end of game discs] forward" and acknowledged the strong opinions surrounding the shift. She added that the firm wants to continue exploring how to engage gamers in a digital-only ecosystem.

Sony highlighted that it has secured sufficient RAM supplies to meet its fiscal-year 2026 sales targets, despite higher console prices—$650 for the standard PS5 with an optical drive and $900 for the upcoming PS5 Pro. The company expects the November launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, a digital-only title, to boost sales.

Revenue from the Game and Network segment remained flat year over year, while hardware sales fell, partly due to ongoing research and development for a next-generation platform expected around 2027. Tao noted that, compared with high-end gaming PCs, Sony's consoles are "more affordable" and that disc format is not a major differentiator. The firm also cited a positive impact from tariff refunds following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.