An official document published by Sony in these hours has further explored the topics discussed during the meeting with shareholders held last Wednesday 14 February. He also figures among these the selling price of PlayStation 5which apparently will not undergo any substantial cuts during what remains of the current generation.
Interim President and CEO Hiroki Totoki and senior Sony executives revealed that Profit margins from hardware sales have decreased compared to the past. In order to guarantee adequate earnings for the rest of the current generational cycle, they have therefore explained to their shareholders that future plans do not include substantial discounts or price cuts for PlayStation 5.
In the financial report for the third quarter of Fiscake Year 2023 we read the following: “Coming to PS5, there is one challenge that distinguishes the current console cycle from PlayStation 4 and other generations, namely we find it difficult to reduce our costs over the cycle. Unlike high-end PCs, PlayStation consoles allow us to bring an immersive experience to many people in a safe environment at an affordable price. To deliver this type of experience, with the costs of components such as chips rising, the The key will be to continue selling the consoles without substantial discounts [nel corso del loro ciclo produttivo] engaging in product planning that ensures convenience for players.”
The words of Sony management do not totally exclude the implementation of discounts or price cuts between now and the end of the current generation, however they suggest that, in the event, they will not prove substantial. The scenario imagined by analysts, according to which the PS5 could maintain its current price even following the launch of the PS5 Pro, therefore appears even more plausible.
As part of the same report, Sony said it is also focusing on PlayStation IPs (and their growth on other platforms) to maximize profit margins.