It is indeed impossible to calculate exactly the probability of a company going bankrupt, but it is not impossible to estimate that probability. That's what the number reflects, and it is meant for investors as part of analysing the risk  of a certain stock. The number is not something this website has made up, it's based of a formula that has been used by investors for many decades to quantify the risk for losing their investment in a bankrupcy. Also, from what I understand, a single data point like this is less important than the current trend. Perhaps Sony's probability of going bankrupt is decreasing right now for all I know, and that would be a good sign. Still though, the core finacial data according to this way of looking at them look like Sony is what is considered to be a company in severe distress.

As hilarious as a Sony bankrupcy would be here on these forums, I hope it doesn't happen both for gaming in general and for the people who would be affected. Perhaps if Microsoft or Nintendo bought the gaming devision in a bankrupcy the meltdown would be worth it though?

Step 1 of the Wii U's road to recovery http://nintendoenthusiast.com/news/wii-fit-u-coming-retail-next-week/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I get what you're saying about the numbers being estimations, but I still feel it's worth very little in the grand scheme of things. There are simply too many factors to consider in order to make a decent estimation. And just because I don't like the WiiU doesn't mean I want Nintendo to go bankrupt. WIth Nintendo gone I wouldn't be able to play Pokemon or Metroid anymore. And that is a very dark future. 

WiiU has been out for over a year, which has included 2 holiday seasons, and you still think the casuals will get on board? They're long gone.

There's that broken marketing term again. It never existed. Neither does hardcore.

Let's just see how Nintendo markets this and how people who play games responds to it before we make rash judgement calls.

I have been reading about "Sony going bankrupt next year" since 2006 or so based on the same logic used by these analysts.

This reminds me so much of Toyota in 2009 or 2010. The analysts looked into their crystal balls and predicted bankrupcy, doomed, out of business. Damn, it was not 79% chance but pretty much a certainty.

It is not an exact science, I agree. Yes, there is a chance Sony can go bankrupt but that outcome is more in Sony's hands than the analysts.

Sure. They became junk status under kaz. And financials had to be shielded by selling buildings. But hey baby steps I guess. I've no dog in the fight. 

Oh it very much exists, it's just very fluid. To put everyone under the same umbrella as 'gamer's is just ridiculous.

Me

Your entire comment was very wise and I fully agree with you. Actually, that's what I've been saying for months. But most of people don't get it. Money at Sony's/Microsoft's hands turns into high-tech consoles and more games for us. Money at Nintendo's hands just goes to the pockets of the investors (I know that some small part of it goes for the development of more consoles and games too).

I like to come to VGChartz and see the numbers because I want PlayStation and Xbox to sell well (both at hardware and software levels). I like the idea of those products to be as disseminated as possible to the point that they become very relevant to the industry. I believe that's the feeling of anyone who cheers for a specific console here at the site. But when I say that Wii didn't win the 7th generation (it's already 3rd at software numbers and may become 2nd at hardware), its fans deny it and start talking about how much more money Nintendo has made. Well, I don't care (and I think no gamer should care), that's not the focus of the discussion. This site is not about revenues or profits, it's about sales. And we don't see in the charts the labels "Nintendo", "Sony" or "Microsoft". We see "Wii", "PlayStation" and "Xbox". Why don't people do predictions about Nintendo's profits for the next 5 years if that's so interesting and it's what really counts?

Therefore, I understand when people want the WiiU to be the best selling console of the generation (they are cheering for what they like the most). But I don't get it when they proudly say Nintendo was the 1st in profits. Don't they know that means wealth out of the market? That's bad news for any gamer. My focus is on consoles' and games' sales, that's what motivates me (and I believe it's the same for most of people). But when I occasionally think about the companies behind and their profits, I just want Sony and Microsoft to make it the most, not Nintendo (that's what any gamer should whish for).

I predict that Nintendo will sell 10 mil Nintendo Wii U's in 2014, making LTS of 15 mil end of 2014.