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17
Sony United
Game: An Interview with Top Management
The worldwide launch of PLAYSTATION®3
(PS3), along with the success of LCD
televisions and digital cameras, has once
again demonstrated Sony’s vitality and
strength in the global market. In this
section, Kaz Hirai, who is in charge of
Sony’s Game business, summarizes the
Game business’s performance during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, and
talks about PS3’s potential in the network
era, as well as discussing growth
strategies going forward.
Kazuo (Kaz) Hirai
President and Group CEO, Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc.
Kaz Hirai joined CBS/Sony Inc. (currently Sony Music
Entertainment Inc.) in 1984. Initially, he worked on contracts
and external affairs and helped support the marketing of
Japanese artists overseas. In 1995, he moved to Sony
Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), becoming
President and COO in 1999. With responsibility for the
operational management of Sony’s game business in North
America, he oversaw the launch of the PlayStation® platform
there. In 2003, he was named Corporate Executive and COO
of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE), and in December
2006 he assumed the position of Representative Director,
President and Group COO of SCE. He became its Group
CEO in June 2007.
PS3 rewrites sales records for consumer
game systems in Europe
The fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, marked the debut
of PS3. Can you give us an overview of PS3 during the
period?
We introduced PS3 in Japan, North America and certain
Asian countries in November 2006 and then in Europe in
March 2007. By fiscal year-end, cumulative shipments had
reached 5.5 million units, and the platform continues to
expand steadily. In Europe, more than 500,000 units were
sold on the first day, which set a new sales record for
consumer game consoles in that market.
We have also seen remarkable progress in the expansion
of our software lineup for PS3. In the six months to June
2007, approximately 100 titles were released for sale
around the world. A steady stream of hit titles has been
released, including SCE World Wide Studios (SCE WWS)
titles, some of which have sold over 1 million units. Moreover,
as of June 2007, more than 1.8 million PS3 users had
registered for PLAYSTATION®Network (PSN), to enjoy a wide
array of game software available through this online service,
and, as a result, over 17 million units were downloaded.
In addition, “Game Archives,” where legacy PlayStation
titles can be downloaded to be enjoyed on PS3 and PSP®
(PlayStation®Portable), has also gained strong support from
PS3 users.