Starting a console is always a bitch.

Losses incurred through R&D, marketing, and manufacturing are normal and manufacturers tend to recoup costs via software and peripherals — it’s a costly business. For the Playstation 3? It’s even more costly. Unless you’re using readily available and affordable parts (like the Nintendo Wii), you’re going to rack up a lot of expenses. Couple that with a below cost pricing strategy and you’ve got a recipe for major losses.

$3.31 billion worth of major losses.

Ouch. They could improve the situation, but it’s going to take a monumental shift in hardware and software numbers. I don’t see it happening anytime soon, though. Not with the current economic situation anyways.

For Sony’s sake, I sure hope winning that high definition format war was worth it… In other news, you can check out additional Sony console related numbers here.

According to Take-Two’s financial report, which reported some mighty profits, GTAIV’s Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content will be delayed until quarter one of 2009. On the real world calendar, that means it could arrive any time between November 2008 and January 2009.

Why? “The reason we moved it is more about portfolio balance than anything else… the delay is not about development issues.”

Let’s hope it’s worth the wait and that interest hasn’t waned.

Want more numbers? Of course. Who doesn’t love numbers? If you don’t: too bad. Sony released some Quarter 3 financials today and they look pretty good overall. Their game division posted profits after several quarters of losses. Improvements were attributed to the reduction of PS3 hardware costs, increased software sales and improved PSP sales.

Sony also changed their forecast a bit by increasing projected financial year end PSP sales from 10 million to 13 million and reducing PS3 sales projections from 11 million to 9.5 million. It’s nice to set goals, but did Sony truly believe they can sell 11 million to retailers by the end of the fiscal year?

As for Sony’s electronics division, they posted increased sales, but a decrease in profits citing exchange rate and SGA as factors.