GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Sony expects to immediately recoup PS4 hardware loss

A typical customer purchasing a PlayStation Plus subscription and one launch title will make the PlayStation 4 hardware profitable for Sony.

197 Comments

Sony expects to be able to immediately make up the loss it will incur when selling PlayStation 4 hardware, the company has said to Eurogamer.

No Caption Provided

Sony Japan executive Masayasu Ito said the loss, as Sony will sell the PlayStation 4 to customers for less than it costs to manufacture, will be recovered with typical users buying a subscription to PlayStation Plus and at least one launch title.

Eurogamer adds that Sony expects to make a $60 loss on each PlayStation 4 sold for $399, but Ito would not confirm the exact figure.

Ito also added that the losses Sony will make from selling PlayStation 4's will be less than the company incurred selling the PlayStation 3 at launch.

In August, Sony executive Andrew House said the PlayStation 4 "will not generate anything like the losses we did for the PlayStation 3."

One of the reasons Sony expects to save money is in its decision to use off-the-shelf computer parts. The PlayStation 4 features an APU developed with AMD, featuring an 8-core 64-bit processor and a custom Radeon GPU.

The PlayStation 4 will launch on November 15 in North America for $399, and on November 29 in Europe for €399/£349.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 197 comments about this story
197 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for tipton_bradley
tipton_bradley

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

ok Master PC race.. no one cares if your $2000 PC is better than this $400 PS4..

10 • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@tipton_bradley no matter cost of PC, it still cant play console exclusives

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By Anigmar

@Master_Overlord @tipton_bradley ...sorry that like saying "No matter cost of console, it still can't play PC exclusives". Is that really your argument?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@Anigmar @Master_Overlord @tipton_bradley Ive both, but best exclusives are on consoles.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 True. PC+console of your choice is the best solution. Sad I can't use consoles.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By bata619

@Anigmar @Master_Overlord @tipton_bradley hence why its better to own both than just act like a fanboy and claim your platform is better.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By bata619

@tipton_bradley thing is most of the time it wont be because a gaming console has a GPU,and most pc gamers that spill BS like that have no idea about the difference between a GPU and a CPU.they mostly think a 512mb pc is just as powerful as the 512mb ps3.it is obviously possible to buy a pc as powerful as the ps4,but i would guess that it would cost a lot more than 2000euros.so basicly let retards be retards.

5 • 
Avatar image for by-passer
by-passer

26

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @tipton_bradley And then there are other retards in general, that have totally zero knowledge regarding computing and what is a GPU... Clearly, these people thinks that a pc operates solely on a CPU for processing complex 3D frames, and the graphics card nothing but a decor... Now, please climb out of your mum's basement and whack some books before you turn into a complete brainless troll...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @by-passer @tipton_bradley Hahaha I can totally agree with you on that. I have this friend who I told to clean his computer of viruses and the guy sprayed hand sanitizer into the case. Real story.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@Anigmar @bata619 @by-passer @tipton_bradley that is true,but you would be surprised on how retarded some people that deal with computers daily(this includes kids that buy gaming computers with their parents money)are.maybe "extensive" is pushing it,but there are actually a lot fewer people who know enough about PCs to properly make a gaming one themselves than you might think.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @by-passer @tipton_bradley I was with you until "extensive hardware knowledge". Really? Buy a card (sites can help find the right one), install (open case, insert, screw, plug power connectors, close case), boot & install drivers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@by-passer @bata619 @tipton_bradley i am totally aware that you can expand a PC's normal graphics rendering prowess if you install a new graphics card but that also means spending extra cash.i have never said that it is impossible to make a PC more powerful than a ps4,it would just require either extensive hardware knowledge,which not everyone has or enough cash to buy an already-tuned-up PC yourself.and by the way,i am both a PC and PS gamer so dont think im trying to act like a fanboy.its just a bit annoying to see people running their mouths instead of just enjoying whatever kind of games they prefer.personally,i think there are genres that serve a PC better as well as genres that serve a console better.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for by-passer
by-passer

26

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @by-passer @tipton_bradley Seriously... You say your work involves computer hardwares, then could you please explain to me what is a graphics card and what is on a CPU?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By bata619

@by-passer @bata619 @tipton_bradley sure thing.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @tipton_bradley Your statement is wrong. You don't seem to know a thing about hardware but let's make it easy: you can buy a pc as powerful as the ps4 for $600. That PC can be upgraded when needed. Consoles are just cheaper and more intuitive to use. That's all, both platforms have pros and cons, but money is not a big issue if you know what you do.

6 • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @Anigmar @tipton_bradley Hi 5 man.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By bata619

@Anigmar @bata619 @tipton_bradley i agree,i just think acting like a fanboy is stupid,whatever side youre on.just play whatever games you like and let other people be.

2 • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@Master_Overlord @Anigmar @bata619 @tipton_bradley I don't need to, for what?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@Anigmar @bata619 @tipton_bradley u cant buy PC with custom APU or GDDR5 ram

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anigmar
Anigmar

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@bata619 @Anigmar @tipton_bradley I didn't say they were free, it seems you didn't understand me. As for where to buy, other users have post detailed setups with prices in every next-gen console article, so go look for one cause I'm not making you a shopping list. You're right about one thing though, the systems difference in functionalities. Clock speed is clock speed, the problem is pc's cpus are running a lot of tasks simultaneously and still they outperform consoles by far. Again, each product has a target user, it's not a competition.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bata619
bata619

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@Anigmar @bata619 @tipton_bradley yes because the parts needed for upgrading a PC are free right?and i would really like to know where did you find a computer as powerful as the ps4 for that ammount of cash.computers are made for,well,everything.consoles are made primarily to run games.therefore their processing unit will be more powerful at running games than a PC processing unit with equal clock speed.and yes,i have no idea how hardware works except my job revolves around this sort of stuff.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Queuingreturns
Queuingreturns

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

YEAH!

Sony will make some money over the next year.

THEN we'll see how Microsoft go about dangling the golden carrot in front of third party devs and securing dlc exclusivity.

KARMA'S A B*TCH!!! : D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@Queuingreturns dont remember when I last time cared about DLC's

Upvote • 
Avatar image for howiex89
howiex89

96

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Queuingreturns what?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for KelboDelta
KelboDelta

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Wow! over a million preorders, customers that WILL buy even more on launch window, and they still haven't met their balance point of sales? using a hardware that doesn't necessarily scream next gen..... what are they doing, building it with gold or something?

A million (at least) preorders, at $400 dollars each, do the math, it should have been enough to cover their bases, specially when they are using hardware that is already on the market to build the new console.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Edited By Master_Overlord

@KelboDelta u clearly dont know what ur talking about.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shingui5
shingui5

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By shingui5

@KelboDelta

You have to realise that almost all console makers sell their products at a loss This means they can get it at a lower price point, meaning it's more accessible for people to buy. The profit comes later fro subscriptions, game purchases, and other stuff.

The Hardware never drives profits for these companies, it's what's put onto the platform to sell that reaps the money in.

12 • 
Avatar image for likitb4ustikit
likitb4ustikit

27

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

More Bang for your Buck.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for solid_snake1461
solid_snake1461

557

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Personally, I wouldn't concern myself about the PS+ cuz I'm not getting it by any means. But MGS v is a MUST for me along with FF XV as the next in line of consideration. Plus if PS4 is compatible with the PS3 then MGS Legacy is the second MUST here. Therefore I believe that I've given Sony enough to profit there for their work. So, everything is fair and square.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DMND
DMND

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@solid_snake1461 You'll have to get PS+ at some point.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for neowarrior121
neowarrior121

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@DMND @solid_snake1461 he won't if he only plays single player games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Mar_Sama
Mar_Sama

93

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@neowarrior121 @DMND @solid_snake1461 Even though it is publicity and good one too. Even if you play On PS4 and love it, your friend or family member will eventually consider buying one. Never underestimate the power of the spoken publicity. Like somebody said "a good product will always sell"

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DMND
DMND

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By DMND

@neowarrior121 @DMND @solid_snake1461 buying 100% of a console and 100% of a game to enjoy 10% of both is not a good deal.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dordledum
Dordledum

1754

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Dordledum

399 Dollar is significantly less than 399 Euro, so no surprise that they have less of a winst percentage on the American consoles. surprising that it amounts to a loss though. but it's fair to expect each console buyer to buy a few games, so interesting economic tactical play.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for NoYouRights
NoYouRights

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Dordledum your math is wrong: avery price in UE is with VAT.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dordledum
Dordledum

1754

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Dordledum

@NoYouRights Of course it is, you mean the US$ 399 isn't?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dordledum
Dordledum

1754

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Lhomity Baffled. We Dutch pay about 30-50% income tax (depending on how much you earn) and a 21% sales tax on most goods (6% on some selected item categories). We've got a pretty expensive system of social securities though.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Lhomity
Lhomity

508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

Edited By Lhomity

@Dordledum @Lhomity Interesting note: New Hampshire doesn't have a broad income tax either.

Alaska is another state that has no sales tax.

But that's all I know anyway.

Here in Australia, we pay 10% GST on most things. But we also have very high wages (minimum and average). If anything, the GST will either need to be reworked, or increased though, as it isn't generating enough revenue for the states.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dordledum
Dordledum

1754

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Lhomity learn something every day. Imagine that, no sales tax. Life must be cheap in New Hampshire. As a Dutchman this seems very odd.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Lhomity
Lhomity

508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Dordledum Sales tax is applied after. But then, not every state has sales tax. New Hampshire comes to mind.


Upvote • 
Avatar image for shingui5
shingui5

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Sony being in the situation it's in right now, they need this to definitely be the case. It would hurt them a lot to incur losses immediately, for it then only to be made up much later in the lifespan of the console.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Breyant
Breyant

256

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I almost find this hard to believe, but if it's true, good job Sony.

4 • 
Avatar image for neowarrior121
neowarrior121

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

people chew out the psn+ but to live the psn+ its so much better i mean so far iv had saints row the third, AC 3, need for speed, payday the heist already and far cry 3 is coming to it as well for FREE. if you're a poor person and you can only afford a console and online this is a really REALLy worthy idea to get psn+. no matter who you are you must agree the free games are good ones that everyone likes to play. yet live gives you 2 free games that tbh are somewhat mediocre at best, ok you don't get to keep the games unless you subscribe again but i highly doubt you need to take a year or 3 months to complete any game. all the new psn network needs to do is be is more social which they probably already done. pay wall and price are also important the the fact that your not blocked like MS to use netflix or lovefilm or the internet also make the ps4 better unlike MS that forces live to do like 80% of its features (which is somewhat criminal when you already pay for the services)and its cheaper than live. no offense to MS fanboys but there much more positive to negative for psn to live.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for NoYouRights
NoYouRights

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By NoYouRights

Let's see:

PS4: 400 $ for powerfull console without camera - loss ~60$

F2P, some MMO, Netflix, Internet Broswer, media services (like YT, Hulu) and game recording/streaming - no PS+ required

Xbox One: 500 $ with Kinect - no loss (Y. Mehdi from MS confirm).

All behind Paywall

MS, this is just stupid:

Knowingthat they have aweakerhardware andbeing able toafford toreducepricesthey still willpushhigher price, because "F%$^ you, give us money".


Like Surface tablets and Lumias, where you pay ~150-200$ just for licence to use they OS on device.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jsmoke03
jsmoke03

13719

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Edited By jsmoke03

damn thats like the wii u figures. good move on sonys part. now how about that eyetoy...bet they are losing there 2

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BlendThree
BlendThree

181

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

That's extremely rare- generally it takes half of a hardware's lifespan to recoup the hardware manufacturing cost. Hoping gamers see these savings in the form of price reductions fairly early on.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for everson_rm
everson_rm

1677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By everson_rm

I was hoping that they use the ps+ money to improve the PSN, not to cover the loss of selling the ps4...

3 • 
Avatar image for tdkmillsy
tdkmillsy

6617

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@everson_rm Same old PSN it is then. While Xbox Live is massively improving.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jttwister99
jttwister99

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@everson_rm Which is why you shouldn't pay for that garbage when xbox live is a hundred times better

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Master_Overlord
Master_Overlord

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@jttwister99 @everson_rm ROFL? xbox live offers hundred times less value!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for neowarrior121
neowarrior121

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jttwister99 @everson_rm yet you dont get free games every month to play you know if you were really poor making the psn better.

2 • 
Avatar image for neowarrior121
neowarrior121

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@arqe @neowarrior121 @jttwister99 @everson_rm lol you get 2 free games psn 16 free games you really wanna make this a contest?

7 • 
Avatar image for arqe
arqe

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By arqe

@neowarrior121 @jttwister99 @everson_rm Yes you are. already 2 or 3 month ago it did come as a feature also. So PSN still suckz ballz.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DrRockso87
DrRockso87

2647

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@everson_rm Can't it be both?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for everson_rm
everson_rm

1677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By everson_rm

@DrRockso87 @everson_rm I really hope it can be used to both!

Upvote •