Stringer: PS3 To Capitalize On Wii Shortages

Sony chairman Howard Stringer has been commenting on what he believes is a recovery for the PlayStation 3, discussing the planned expansion of the PlayStation Network and claiming that the PlayStation 3's "infinitely more fun, demanding and exciting" games will place the console ahead of the Wii. Stringer said he expects the PlayStation 3 to continue recovering, bolstering sales for the company as a whole as the PlayStation Network expands to deliver content to other Sony devices, including mobile phones. Talking to the UK Guardian, he said, "We've some catching up to do, but at least we have the opportunity to connect the PS3 with the PlayStation Portable and beyond." Stringer also discussed how Nintendo's hardware constraints might translate into benefits for Sony: "I'm happy the Wii seems to be running a bit short of hardware," he said. "The PlayStation 3 will come into its own because its [high-end games] are infinitely more fun, demanding and exciting. The question people quite rightly asked was if the PS3 was going to get through this early cycle. I feel much more confident about that now." Stringer anticipates Sony will turn a 5 percent operating margin by the end of next March. As reported by U.S. sales tracker the NPD, the PS3 saw the largest month to month sales jump in November, and the console recently outsold the Wii in Japan for the first time.