Sony’s latest financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2026 reveal a drop in PlayStation 5 (PS5) sales, marking a 15.7% decline in unit shipments during the holiday period. Despite the dip, Sony’s overall operating income increased by 21%, largely driven by the success of its Game & Network Services (G&NS) segment, which saw a 27% rise in operating income to ¥409.1 billion ($2.6 billion).
PS5 sales during the quarter amounted to 8 million units, down from 9.5 million in the same period the previous year. This decline contributed to an 8.5% year-on-year decrease in hardware revenue, amounting to ¥1.18 trillion ($7.5 billion). The total number of PS5 units shipped for the nine-month period was 14.4 million, a drop from 15.7 million in 2024.
On a more positive note, Sony saw an increase in full game sales, reaching 97.2 million units during the quarter. Notably, first-party titles such as Ghost of Yōtei contributed significantly, with the game selling 3.3 million copies since its October 2025 launch. This boost in software sales helped offset the challenges faced by hardware sales.
Sony has raised its full-year revenue outlook, forecasting G&NS revenue to reach ¥4.6 trillion ($29.2 billion), a 4% increase from previous guidance. Despite the decline in hardware sales, the company remains optimistic about the continued strength of its gaming and network services business.
