<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[GameUP24]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[William A.]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com/author/louzwate/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[PS4 Success From Spider-Man, Fortnite Raises Sony&#8217;s Profit&nbsp;Forecast]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div><img src='https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_medium/1585/15855271/3457188-3434847-3434151-whaddup_im_spidermen.jpg' style='max-width:600px;' /></p>
<div>
<div><img src="https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/1585/15855271/3457188-3434847-3434151-whaddup_im_spidermen.jpg" title="PS4 Success From Spider-Man, Fortnite Raises Sony's Profit Forecast - GameSpot" /></p>
<div>
<div>
<p>Sony has raised its earnings outlook, thanks largely to the success of its PlayStation business. The company raised its profit outlook for the current fiscal year to 870 billion yen ($7.72 billion), an increase from the prior forecast of 670 billion yen ($5.9 billion). It also raised its revenue forecast to 8.7 trillion yen, from 8.6 trillion.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-30/sony-raises-outlook-again-as-playstation-heads-for-record-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a> reports that the revised forecasts are largely the result of success in the PlayStation division. Between the record success of <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/marvels-spider-man/">Spider-Man</a> and several third-party games, PS4 is helping stabilize the company as its smartphone business faces uncertainty. This comes just after Sony previously lifted its forecast in July due to the success of<a href="https://www.gamespot.com/god-of-war/"> God of War</a>.</p>
<p>Analysts predict sales of third-party games like <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/red-dead-redemption-2/">Red Dead Redemption 2</a> and <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-4/">Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 </a>will help bolster it as well. Rockstar&#8217;s own <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/red-dead-redemption-2-boasts-huge-launch-but-gta-5/1100-6462873/">sales figures</a> announced today suggest Red Dead 2 is the hit they expect. <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/fortnite/">Fortnite</a> also helped boost the brand, since spending on in-game items increased over the summer while kids were home from school, and that revenue is shared with Sony.</p>
<p>Damian Thong, an analyst with Macquarie Group said this will be &#8220;the best year for the PlayStation for first party games and overall profitability of the platform.&#8221;</p>
<p>Game and network service sales were up 116.9 billion yen ($1 billion), and the company has now reached a total of 34.3 million PlayStation Plus users as of the end of the quarter on September 30. Operating profit for PlayStation alone rose 65% from a year ago, and sales for the September quarter rose 27%. PlayStation isn&#8217;t the only part of the business helping Sony&#8217;s bottom line, though. Roughly half of the increase is reportedly due to Sony&#8217;s purchase of EMI Music Publishing.</p>
</p></div>
<div>
<p><i>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com?subject=Hi%20GameSpot!%20I%20have%20a%20news%20tip%20for%20you!">news@gamespot.com</a></i></p>
</p></div>
</p></div>
</div>
<p><em>Source: <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-success-from-spider-man-fortnite-raises-sonys-/1100-6462880/">GameSpot</a></em></div>
</div>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i0.wp.com/static.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_medium/1585/15855271/3457188-3434847-3434151-whaddup_im_spidermen.jpg?fit=440%2C330&ssl=1]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>