Sony is ramping up production of the PS5 and expanding its games portfolio

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) – Sony Group Corp announced plans to ramp up production of its PlayStation 5 console as the supply chain slackens and signaled a radical expansion of its games portfolio , including more titles on PC and mobile.

The PS5, which went on sale in November 2020, undersold its predecessor in its second year due to component shortages that rocked the electronics industry. But it’s expected to close the gap in year three and top the PS4 install base the following year.

Beyond the initial ramp-up “we expect further strong increases in console production, bringing us to production levels we have never reached before,” Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan said. , during an investor briefing.

As China’s COVID-19 lockdowns continue to create supply chain uncertainty, “things are definitely looking up,” he added.

Sony has forecast PS5 sales of 18 million units in the fiscal year to the end of March, up from 11.5 million a year earlier.

Describing a shift in PlayStation away from just focusing on platform-exclusive single-player games, Ryan said more PC and mobile titles will be offered in addition to live service games, which offer updated gameplay. continuously.

While PS4 and PS5 titles are expected to account for more than two-thirds of releases this year, PC and mobile titles will account for almost half of new games in 2025.

“Initiatives to expand our audience … will have a fundamental effect on the shape of our game portfolio,” Ryan said.

With this change, PlayStation aims to keep pace with the evolution of the industry which has seen cloud technology and the increased computing power of smartphones detach users from bulky hardware and more money spent by gamers in titles. free online.

Amid much speculation that the Metaverse, or the idea that users will spend more time in simulated environments, will upend industry business models, Ryan said many consumers will continue to play games as before. .

“There will be many, many individual gamers who prefer to enjoy games the way they have played them for the past 30 years or more,” he said.

Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina Gibbs

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