Sony Expects PlayStation 4 to Ship 18 Million More by April 2018
No one can deny that Sony is the top dog this generation as the Japanese tech company celebrates an impressive 60 million units shipped for PlayStation 4. That represents PS4 shipments to retailers rather than sales through to customers, and it’s accounting for shipments from the console’s launch in November 2013 through March 2017, the end of Sony’s 2016 fiscal year. For the next one year, Sony is aiming for 18 million more units shipped to retailers, which is a ten percent drop from the year before.
With Switch and Scorpio in the mix, Sony has made a sensible forecast by predicting a slope in sales. Of course, one method of getting ahead in the market would be another price cut. The system launched on in 2013 at $399 and received its first major cut in 2016 with a hefty $100 price cut. GamingBolt interviewed Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, and asked if that 18 million units shipment is feasible for the company. He replies, ”Yes, if they price the PS4 correctly, they can sell another 18 million, and I think the forecast suggests that there is a price cut coming.”
If Sony is able to hit the 78 million units shipment, it would be on pace to eclipse PS3’s 80 million units shipped. 2017 marks the fourth year since PS4’s launch and is doing quite well compared to its older brother, PS3. Around the fourth year for PS3 in 2010, the system had 23.8 million units sold worldwide. Meanwhile, PS4 has sold an impressive 40 million units as of May 2017.
Kenichiro Yoshida, the company’s chief financial officer, said during a briefing regarding the PS4’s financial results that “some major software titles are scheduled to be launched” during the 2017 fiscal year. Lastly, Sony does not actually break out the sales for PSVR and PS4 Pro separately but Yoshida said in an earnings call that they were both selling in-line with expectations.