PlayStation’s profits are climbing, but Sony’s own games are not doing the heavy lifting. The Game & Network Services segment posted its highest operating income ever for a second quarter in the July–September 2026 period. Revenue rose 9% to ¥1,208.5 billion.

Sony also raised its full-year gaming outlook. It now expects ¥4,830 billion in sales, ¥290 billion (6%) more than its July forecast. Operating income is now projected at ¥700 billion, up ¥40 billion (6%).

The reasons behind the upgrade matter for players. Sony credited the higher profit forecast to stronger third-party game sales, lower costs and growth in network services. Weaker first-party sales partly offset those gains. That weakness was tied mainly to one game’s release date moving.

Wolverine sells well, but trails Insomniac’s earlier pace

Marvel’s Wolverine had sold 2.4 million copies about 50 days after its September 15 launch. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 sold 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours. Wolverine needed weeks to approach what Insomniac’s previous hit did in a single day.

The game is not a flop by every measure. It was the best-selling game in the US in September by dollar sales. Its launch-month dollar sales were the highest for any Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 in February 2024, GameSpot reported.

The gap still raises questions about Sony’s approach. Its first-party plan is built on releasing single-player games every year while also developing a lineup of live service titles. God of War Laufey has now slipped as well. On November 4, PlayStation moved its launch from February 16 to May 20, 2027.

PS5 shipments slow as GTA 6 approaches

Hardware is cooling. Sony shipped 2.6 million PS5 units in the quarter, well below the 4 million it shipped a year earlier. Lifetime shipments now stand at 97.9 million, about 2.1 million units short of 100 million.

Memory costs are part of the hardware picture. Sony has absorbed rising memory prices by adjusting promotions and prices and cutting other costs. It expects hardware profitability this fiscal year to match last year. Memory prices remain one of the challenges management expects for hardware profitability next fiscal year.

He ain't no hero. He's Wolverine.

Get your claws on the Digital Deluxe Edition of Marvel's Wolverine during the PlayStation Black Friday event!

https://t.co/pOiauWWBoz pic.twitter.com/Z7xN8FHVe1

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) November 6, 2026

Sony has also agreed with suppliers on how much memory it needs for next fiscal year’s planned hardware sales. Work on the next-generation platform is on schedule.

The next test for the console arrives within weeks. Rockstar will release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026, with the PS5 heading into the holiday season with 100 million in sight.

Sources

  • Marvel's Wolverine Has Lost Its Momentum, And Sony's Numbers Show It (GameSpot)
  • Sony Group Corp – Form 6-K – FY2026 (Sony Group Corporation)
  • God of War Laufey pre-orders available starting September 29, editions detailed (PlayStation Blog)
  • TAKE TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE INC – Form 10-Q – FY2026 (Take-Two Interactive)

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