Kaz Hirai: PS3 Platform Profitable Since Last Year

Kaz Hirai, head of Sony Computer Entertainment, has been discussing the profitability of the PlayStation business. Hirai noted that the Playstation 3 still isn't profitable. He was quick to justify that, however, saying, "That makes good headlines, but I don't actually know that that's the true nature of the business that we're all in, whether it's Playstation, Xbox or the Wii."

With the eyes of analysts the world over watching every word, Kaz wasn't, however, going to let this one disappear into a fog of fiscal failure. The PS3, you see, as a platform has been profitable. Here's how:

"I think the better indicator is to look at the business as a whole platform, to ask: are you profitable in terms of the hardware, software and peripherals. And the answer to that question is yes on a gross profit level since the last fiscal year."

'Gross profit'. That'll be profit before all the costs are deducted then.

In terms of new product, he also announced that the PS3 motion controller will be available in sometime next Spring.

"We are slating it for spring of next year", he told The Times. Sony doesn't want to just bung it on to the market, however - "We need a great software that supports the controller at launch", he went on. Predictably, there was no mention of how that applies to specific territories.

More in that interview through here.