Sony in Financial Trouble

[SpoonySage]

Since April, it has been apparent that Sony is having financial difficulties. They announced that they were cutting 10,000 jobs in 2012 and are doing most of this in low sales areas such as the Japanese branch in Gifu. Europe will also be losing 2,000 Sony jobs. While many of these are from factories not associated with gaming, I am worried for the future of Sony's gaming legacy.

They recently reported a loss of $312 million (a $2 billion loss was reported shortly before the announcement of letting go 10,000 workers) so they are still losing money after restructuring. Most ominous are the rants from recently laid off Sony PR member Will Powers, who said that a large portion of Sony's PR staff was being cut even though they were already working at half the normal staff. This meant that this holiday season Sony plans on "sending titles out to die" such as the highly anticipated Little Big Planet Karting and Harry Potter Wonderbook (which you may have forgotten about since neither have gotten much marketing at all since their announcement at E3).

If Sony indeed lets the holiday season flop, then they will be hard pressed to make the comeback they need to keep employees. Less exclusives and the new Wii U will also hurt sales.

What do you think Sony can do to rekindle interest and drum up sales?

Source: Sony Announces Major Layoffs
Ex-Sony PR

 

[Yoshi64Mario]

I kinda figured this when I learned that some new upcoming games (Playstation All Stars Battle Royale as an example), when pre-ordered on the PS3, you get a download code for the Vita version. The full game. For free. It's also happening to a few other games, the next in the Sly Raccoon and Ratchet and Clank series respectively.

Which makes me wonder what will happen to those two (and the Jak series) when Sony dies, as they have not appeared on other consoles. The developers will either have to suck it up, or get out. If they get out, that's another three series of games that where popular and have lost out.

Sony never did have the market this generation and with no good games for the Vita (except for one game, Little Big Planet) and lost out to the Wii and the 360, so....

 

[ebstiv23]

This worries me because of the implications it may have for the gaming industry, though Nintendo seems to be doing pretty well. Maybe this would just mean less competition for Nintendo... but that doesn't mean I want Sony to close.

 

[Moclon]

Too bad, the PS2 was the best console I've had by far, Sony just might aswell quit now before it gets any worse.

 

[NintenDan]

To see Sony go down would be a pretty big loss. I mean, they were pretty up there. I would not want to see this happening to Microsoft anytime soon and I really hope Sony can get out of this mess.

Nintendo needs the competition. If they don't have it, and nobody else steps in, the home console industry is dead and computers will soon replace them probably.

 

[ebstiv23]

To see Sony go down would be a pretty big loss. I mean, they were pretty up there. I would not want to see this happening to Microsoft anytime soon and I really hope Sony can get out of this mess.

Nintendo needs the competition. If they don't have it, and nobody else steps in, the home console industry is dead and computers will soon replace them probably.

If the home console industry dies... I will die. I do realise the implications of one of the Big Three going under, but it has happened before. There is always 3 industry leaders in the console race. In the 90s it was Sega vs. Nintendo vs. Sony. When Sega dropped out of the race, Microsoft stepped in as the new console maker.

 

[re11ding]

I was hoping the Xbox 360 onward (but not microsoft itself) would die before something like this would happen. I never liked Sony much after the PS3 came out, but they still hold a vaulable spot in my heart for their younger years. The PS1 and PS2 were great. The PS3... not so much. If only Sony could rewire into their past and bring what the people actually want. Maybe then they could save themselves from the rut they're in.

 

[NintenDan]

To see Sony go down would be a pretty big loss. I mean, they were pretty up there. I would not want to see this happening to Microsoft anytime soon and I really hope Sony can get out of this mess.

Nintendo needs the competition. If they don't have it, and nobody else steps in, the home console industry is dead and computers will soon replace them probably.

If the home console industry dies... I will die. I do realise the implications of one of the Big Three going under, but it has happened before. There is always 3 industry leaders in the console race. In the 90s it was Sega vs. Nintendo vs. Sony. When Sega dropped out of the race, Microsoft stepped in as the new console maker.

I wonder who could step in to replace a company that went down. Rovio Games, anyone? (rofl)

 

[Moclon]

I can see it already:

iConsole

 

[Snapcha]

To see Sony go down would be a pretty big loss. I mean, they were pretty up there. I would not want to see this happening to Microsoft anytime soon and I really hope Sony can get out of this mess.

Nintendo needs the competition. If they don't have it, and nobody else steps in, the home console industry is dead and computers will soon replace them probably.

If the home console industry dies... I will die. I do realise the implications of one of the Big Three going under, but it has happened before. There is always 3 industry leaders in the console race. In the 90s it was Sega vs. Nintendo vs. Sony. When Sega dropped out of the race, Microsoft stepped in as the new console maker.

I wonder who could step in to replace a company that went down. Rovio Games, anyone? (rofl)

As Moclon suggested, Apple could be a player in this. But since there company policy does not seem to work towards such a development I would higly doubt it. No actually think that a company amongst the likes of google will try to develop such a device. With the triving community and Googles financial power. The Android OS has a good chance to power a console. Also Google could step in right after the WII U and before the new Playstation or XBOX with verry good hardware. The only thing they don't have is game developers, which can be easily solved if they throw some money at it.

But, and this is a big but, Sony is a large company, and with large I mean really large. I sincerly hope that they will use there power and greatness to bring out something epic. The tides on this market can turn with a new console. Because don't forget about the pickle the XBOX has been in on the first years of launch.

Just my thoughts on it

.

 

[ebstiv23]

I can see it already:

iConsole

I wish there was a dislike button right now. I would use it.

To see Sony go down would be a pretty big loss. I mean, they were pretty up there. I would not want to see this happening to Microsoft anytime soon and I really hope Sony can get out of this mess.

Nintendo needs the competition. If they don't have it, and nobody else steps in, the home console industry is dead and computers will soon replace them probably.

If the home console industry dies... I will die. I do realise the implications of one of the Big Three going under, but it has happened before. There is always 3 industry leaders in the console race. In the 90s it was Sega vs. Nintendo vs. Sony. When Sega dropped out of the race, Microsoft stepped in as the new console maker.

I wonder who could step in to replace a company that went down. Rovio Games, anyone? (rofl)

Angry Birds Console? Oh wait, that console is already in development...

 

[SpoonySage]

No one has given any suggestions for my question though: what can they do better to save sales? Well, Y64M mentioned something negative in his eyes that I actually think is a great idea.

I kinda figured this when I learned that some new upcoming games (Playstation All Stars Battle Royale as an example), when pre-ordered on the PS3, you get a download code for the Vita version. The full game. For free. It's also happening to a few other games, the next in the Sly Raccoon and Ratchet and Clank series respectively.

While you see giving away a free copy of a game as a terrible idea, it DOES help spread the word about a series if you give out free digital copies of the sequel (like Portal 2 did or the Sly and Ratchet and Clank games). Also, if they give out a digital code for the Vita, it might boost Vita sales, as even I would buy one if I suddenly had 3 free games for it that I knew I would enjoy.

I think the Wonderbook is another example of Sony stealing Nintendo ideas and actually doing them RIGHT. Which is something they need to think about when making PS Move games instead of just making Wii rip-offs. The Wonderbook takes the AR stuff the 3DS has and the idea of a game/book (like in Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir) and uses them in an amazing way. If only it had marketing, this game would sell millions (most Harry Potter fans don't even know about it, but those who do freak out).

Any other ideas that might help them? I, too, REALLY don't want to see them go.

 

[Shy Guy]

AWWW YEAH SONY OUT NINTENDO #1

 

[Zeloscota]

What can they do? Not really much of anything. They need to just wait it out and see what happens. The Vita sales will pick up if the games continue to get better. The PS3 is still an incredible system. They have the PS4 coming out within the year most likely and that will have high compatibility with the Vita (supposedly). I doubt Sony will really go under. Their products are just too good. I don't care whether anyone likes the games on the Vita or not, the system is one powerful machine. The PS3 is also a very powerful home console. I would hate to see them go down. I love my Nintendo handhelds just as much as the next guy, but when I want some crystal clear graphics and to be awed by the definition of a portable game then I go to my Vita. I only own portable devices, and I would really hate to see them go out of business. I am sure someone would buy them out though. Heck, maybe Nintendo haha. That may come as their only option inevitably, to sell the company.

Whether they do or not I just hope they continue producing what they do. If not, then I really hope Microsoft gets into the hand-held industry. I want all of the portable gaming devices I can get.

 

[KirbyZ]

Actually Nintendo NEEDS the handheld competition. If there was no really contender out there we would still be playing with the Original Gameboy or GBC., since no competition means no need to improve.

 

[RobDaCool]

My PS3 has been nothing more then a Blu-Ray player ever sense that "PSN Hack" fiasco about a year and a half ago. I was never a fan of PS3 exclusives anyway so I guess it doesn't matter.

My wife has had a PS Vita since launch, she's a hand-held fan

and have probably put as many hours of play on it as I have my 3ds which I opened about 5 1/2 hours ago lol

 

[Bloody Gallade]

Actually Nintendo NEEDS the handheld competition. If there was no really contender out there we would still be playing with the Original Gameboy or GBC., since no competition means no need to improve.

You should know that that's not true. Not only was the GBA made to succeed the GBC, but it also had tons of awesome games. No competition made it better, not worse.

 

[CM30]

There's always been competition. Remember how back in the old days they had consoles like the Game Gear, Lynx and Wonderswan?

If Sony fails, ideally someone steps in to take their place. And that's probably what's going to happen.

 

[ebstiv23]

There's always been competition. Remember how back in the old days they had consoles like the Game Gear, Lynx and Wonderswan?

If Sony fails, ideally someone steps in to take their place. And that's probably what's going to happen.

Those systems failed so hard. They were technically superior in every way to the Ninty systems. They did not cause Nintendo to try harder. Nintendo always marched to their own beat, and that is even evident now with the Vita. THe consumer is really the one who causes the companies to improve their tech.