PS4 sales hit 6.4M last quarter, helps boost Sony's game division

Sony sold 6.4 million PlayStation 4 consoles in Q3 2014, a period that encompasses Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2014, the company revealed in a financial results briefing (PDF link) this week.

The PS4 accounted for the majority of Sony's 7.5 million console sales last quarter. The company cited the increase in PS4 hardware unit sales as having a positive financial impact, while a decrease in PlayStation 3 hardware and software sales had a negative impact.

In the same quarter of the prior year, 2013, Sony sold 4.5 million units of its latest console. The PS4 was released during that quarter, in November 2013. As of January 2015, Sony said PS4 sales reached 18.5 million worldwide.

Sales in Sony's Game & Network Services Segment (PDF link), where its PlayStation business lives, increased 16.8 percent year-over-year to 531.5 billion yen ($4.3 billion). According to Sony, the increase "was primarily due to an increase in PS4 hardware unit sales, the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates and a significant increase in network services revenue, partially offset by a decrease in PlayStation 3 ('PS3') hardware and PS3 software sales."

The same slide that revealed console sales also showed that the segment's operating income increased by 15.2 billion yen to 27.6 billion yen ($228 million). Previously mentioned in last year's Q3 statement, Sony recorded a 6.2 billion yen write-off for "certain PC software titles of Sony Online Entertainment LLC in Q3 FY13," a move the company now cites has having a positive impact. The slide also revealed an 11.2 billion yen ($93 million) "write-down of PS Vita and PS TV components."

Earlier this week, SOE announced its sale to Columbus Nova, an investment firm. The newly independent developer was rebranded Daybreak Game Company and will continue to work on games like DC Universe Online and H1Z1, as well as franchises like EverQuest and PlanetSide.