http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=178794

Sony Computer Entertainment chief exec Kaz Hirai is "shooting for" turning over a profit from the PS3 in its next fiscal year, which start from April.

At the moment, Sony loses money on every PS3 that it sells. However, speaking at the CES show currently underway in Las Vegas, Hirai noted falling production costs and a strong software line-up as key factors to help SCE turn over a profit on the high-end console.

"The next fiscal year starts in April and if we can try to achieve that in the next fiscal year that would be a great thing. We are going through the budgets right now. That (profitability) is not a definite commitment, but that is what I would like to try to shoot for," said a confident Hirai.

Ongoing revisions made to the hardware, including the latest 40GB SKU, will help Sony achieve Hirai's aim. "Component costs are coming down, and the number of components ... we are seeing a reduction," said Hirai.

"The 40 gigabyte PlayStation 3 obviously has fewer components (than more powerful models), and uses less power, which means that components required to dissipate heat, for example, can be smaller, so there is some cost reduction there," he explained, according to Reuters.

Hopefully that means we'll be seeing more price drops later this year, too.

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Things sound good for SONY.

Now what part of that comment says "Turn a Profit Soon"??

Actually you should redo this whole post and the topic should be called.. "PS3 won't be profitable till Fiscal 09"

What is hard to understand? Isn't april soon? That is when the SONY exe says they will start to hopefully make a profit. Also I think he means in general the PS3 will turn a profit including games etc. If a mod wants to remake this post by all means do so. Just pointing out what the exec is saying.

What he said, in fact, it sounds more like he is saying that they probably won't, but they are going to get close, or try to

@elnino: i'm pretty sure he is saying that they will try to become profitable within the next fiscal year, ie. April08->09, not 'soon after April 08'

I guess some people can't help themselves with being negative towards anything Sony related... Is sad really :rolleyes:

As much as I think that would be great for Sony, I'm just not quite sure if they'll hit that mark XD Granted, their friggin great at reducing hardware costs, but that seems a little soon :P Who knows, maybe we'll be seeing the PS3 slim next year XD

@Squall_leonhart: If you are referring to me.. the reason i said what i said was because, when a company PR says  "Profitability is not a definite commitment", it is generally not going to happen within the suggested timeframe.. since their job is to make themselves sound better than what they are (this is not only for Sony, but all companies.. so don't think i'm taking a cheap shot at Sony PRs)

No, it wasn't you :P

Don't see what's so hard to understand unless people are simply anti-Sony fanboys.  All the article is saying is that they're going to "shoot for" profitability over the next year.  The encouraging factors are the win of BD as that MAY drive BD component costs down to a level to help make the PS3 at least closer to profitability as well as the hope that sales will continue to build momentum.  Both factors would help.  The article makes it clear that this is not a commitment.  Sony knows for example, that they may have to reduce price again in response to MS or other market pressures, all of which would obviously effect that march towards profitability.

 If you're at all open minded, I would suggest that this article DOES tell us that Sony is much closer to being profitable with the PS3 than they have been in the past.  As far as I'm aware, no one knows right now just how much they're losing per console on the new 80GB units, nor the new 40's.  All we know for certain was how much they were losing on the initial round of consoles last year, the 20 and 60GB units.  And that was before millions in sales and the reductions in component costs as Blu-ray started moving past HD-DVD as the media of choice for high def.  While there's no question Sony is still losing money on each PS3 sold, the actual amount is unknown, so who's to say they CAN'T be profitable over the next year?  Anyone in a position to know (e.g. you work for Sony in the Finance dept?) :)