PS4 won't generate 'anything like the losses' of PS3, says Sony exec

S3's turbulent launch was well documented for having cost Sony immense sums of money, with losses in 2007 and 2008 topping $3.5 billion. But Sony will avoid taking such losses this time around, according to House. "We will not generate anything like the losses we did for the PlayStation 3.

CFO Masaru Kato noted earlier in the call that "the amount of investment [in PS4] is much, much smaller."

Sony invested heavily in R&D for the PS3, having created its own proprietary microchip, the Cell processor, which sat at the heart of the console. Sony went on to take a loss on every console sold, despite its controversially high launch price of $599/£429, which in turn hurt sales when pitched next to the comparatively capable but significantly cheaper Xbox 360.