Cut gaming unit annual forecast by 16
Gaming unit op profit fell 37 in Q1
Game software sales slumped 26 to 47 mln units
Lack of high profile titles, COVID easing have hurt demand CFO

TOKYO, July 29 Reuters Sony Group Corp trimmed its profit forecast on Friday after a weak first quarter for its PlayStation business, which it blamed on waning consumer interest due to a lack of new games and an easing of COVID19 constraints dampening stayathome gaming.

Sony said the business would draw support, however, from its upcoming game slate and as it addresses supply chain snags that have disrupted production of its hit PlayStation 5 console.

Last quarter was just a bump in the road for Sony, said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.

It looks like Sony is actually now getting more and more PS5s into stores, especially in the U.S. and Europe.

Operating profit at Sony39;s key gaming unit fell 37 in the April to June quarter from a year ago, which Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki blamed on a lack of top titles and the return of normalcy to people39;s lives amid the COVID19 pandemic.

The growth of the overall game market has decelerated as opportunities to go out have increased following a decline in COVID infections, Totoki said.

Sony cut the annual operating profit forecast for its gaming unit by 16, citing an expected fall in games sales from external developers while booking expenses from an earlierthanexpected closing of its deal for Halo…