Sony is targeting strong sales growth from its game and network services segment, which includes its PlayStation 4 console, along with its devices segment over the next few years, unveiling its financial targets for its electronics businesses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.Sony expects game and network services sales will rise to 1.4-1.6 trillion yen (around $13.82-$15.80 billion) by 2018, up from forecast sales of 1.29 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.
In its devices segment, which includes its image sensors business, Sony expects sales of 1.3-1.5 trillion yen in 2018, up from 890 billion yen in 2015.
Sony has advised its 2018 financial targets for the mobile communications segment will be announced by the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.
The forecasts come following Sony last month reporting a second quarter net loss of 136 billion yen.
Upon release of the results, Sony stated smartphone sales were expected to be below its previous July forecast “primarily due to an expected decrease in the annual unit sales of smartphones, mainly in China”.
Sony had already previously cut its forecast from 50 million to 43 million units in July, stating at the time it had made a downward revision in unit sales of mid-range smartphones which had been expected to significantly grow, mainly in emerging market countries.
Meanwhile, Sony expects slight sales declines in its home entertainment and sound, and imaging products and solutions segments through to 2018.
Sony expects sales of 1-1.1 trillion yen for the home entertainment and sound segment in 2018, down from 1.2 trillion yen in 2015, and 650-700 billion yen for the imaging products and solutions segment, down from 710 billion yen.
