Sony: More than 50% of PS4 Owners Have PlayStation Plus

More than half of PlayStation 4 owners have subscribed to PlayStation Plus, Sony has announced. 

In a transcript of the company's latest investor conference call supplied by Seeking Alpha, it was revealed Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai told shareholders last week that more 50 per cent or over two million PS4 owners use the service. 

During the call, which accompanied the release of Sony's third quarter financials, Hirai said: "All the 4.2 million PS4s that have already moved into the hands of consumers, more than half of the people that have now gotten their hands [on] the PS4 have actually signed up for PS Plus service, which bodes very well for us."

It's unclear if Hirai's numbers reflect those in North America who availed of the 30 day free Plus trial which came with the console in the region or only those who have paid for a subscription. 

Sony also revealed during the conference call that the company still expects to sell a combined 15 million PS3 and PS4 systems this fiscal year and that that target has not changed despite PS3 sales being lower than expected. This means that Sony now anticipates that it will sell more PS4s than originally envisioned by March 31st when the fiscal year ends.  

The PS4, which achieved sales of 4.2 million by the end of 2013, is set for release in Japan later this month. 

PlayStation Plus is required for multiplayer gaming on PS4 unlike PS3 or Vita.