TOKYO: Sony said global sales of its newest PlayStation have surged past the 10 million mark in less than a year, a record for the Japanese electronics giant.
The PlayStation 4 console, released in November, has been a bright spot for the struggling firm, which launched a sweeping restructuring in a bid to claw its way back to profitability.
The release of the PS4 in the United States and other markets has helped to improve Sony's fortunes after a disappointing response to the console's predecessor, the PS3.
Nintendo's Wii U, launched in late 2012, took more than a year to sell just under six million units.
"The responses we have received for the PS4 system's unique gameplay experiences... along with its vast game portfolio, has been phenomenal," Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement.
The PS4 is locked in a battle for dominance of the digital home entertainment market with Microsoft's Xbox One and the Wii U at a time when consoles are under intense pressure to prove their worth in a world where many now play downloadable games on smartphones and tablets.
Sony launched the console in Japan in February, about four months after it debuted in the US and well behind many other markets.
The company said it had wanted to give developers more time to exploit the potential of the console in the Japanese gaming market, where top-selling titles are often markedly different from popular offerings in the US and Europe.
Software sales for the console have also been strong, with more than 30 million copies sold in retail stores globally and through digital downloads as of this week, the company said.
It added that there were plans to release a slate of major titles, including Final Fantasy XV and Bloodborne, while it was also adding new system features to expand players' gaming experience.
Among the new functions was "Share Play", which would allow users to play games with their friends as if they are in the same room, such as letting a player remotely take over another person's controls to help them through tricky sections of a game.
Last month, Sony posted a quarterly profit that it attributed largely to strong demand for the PS4 and a sharp decline in the value of the yen.
Sony's gaming division has emerged as a potential saviour for the company, which is struggling to reinvent itself in the digital age, having been left in the dust by nimbler rivals including South Korea's Samsung.
Sony PS4 sales surge past record 10 million mark
Sony PS4 sales surge past record 10 million mark
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,917
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Monday, gaining 4.86 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 10,917.04.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR3.95 billion ($1.05 billion), as 102 of the listed stocks advanced, while 147 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index increased, up 0.54 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 1,467.06.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 85.41 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 23,357.50. This comes as 19 of the listed stocks advanced, while 46 retreated.
The best-performing stock was Tourism Enterprise Co., with its share price surging by 10 percent to SR13.53.
Other top performers included Al Yamamah Steel Industries Co., which saw its share price rise by 8.64 percent to SR39.22, and Anaam International Holding Group, which saw a 4.05 percent increase to SR12.59.
Alramz Real Estate Co. saw its share price rising by 3.95 percent to close at SR61.85, while Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. closed at SR18.08, marking a 3.67 percent increase in share price.
On the downside, the worst performer of the day was Saudi Industrial Export Co., whose share price fell by 3.72 percent to SR2.59.
ACWA Power Co. saw its share price fall 3.54 percent to SR177.20, while Naseej International Trading Co. declined 3.08 percent to SR29.56.
Moreover, the share price of Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. dropped 2.95 percent to close at SR6.57, while Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing Co. saw its share price dropping 2.65 percent to SR17.97.
On the announcement front, Alinma Capital has declared a cash dividend distribution totaling SR6.55 million for unitholders of the Alinma Saudi Government Sukuk ETF Fund.
The dividend, covering the period from July to December, amounts to SR0.162 per unit and represents approximately 1.56 percent of the fund’s net asset value as of Jan. 15.
Its share price closed at SR10.42 on the main market, marking a 0.1 percent increase.
Also, Itmam Consultancy Co. has been awarded a significant project by the Digital Government Authority to develop digital investment skills within the public sector.
The contract, officially granted on Jan. 19, is valued at more than 5 percent of the company’s total 2024 revenue.
According to a statement, the program aims to equip government employees with the expertise needed to enhance digital government investment efficiency, focusing on software license development aligned with legal and technical standards.
Its share price remained unchanged on Nomu at SR16.40.
