The president of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kazuo Hirai, has recently stated that the company wishes to increase their release target from 90 third-party games and 15 exclusive titles (according to reports from last month's Gamer's Day) to 200 retail titles and 180 download-only titles for the PS3.

An SCEA spokesperson has said that Hirai was quoting international figures, and that it will be more like 145 titles within the U.S. The 15 exclusive titles will include Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, Lair, Little Big Planet, Eye of Judgment, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Currently there are about 60 titles available on the PS3, including Store games. However, Sony now wishes to improve financial income in order to start profiting from the PS3 and they hope that an increase of new titles from now until March of next year will help raise sales.

During their annual shareholder's meeting a few days ago, Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer detailed their plans to increase company profitability and, in light of this, also stressed the importance of attractive game software as "the key to accelerate PS3 growth over the next year".

In an interview with Nikkei, Hirai stated Sony would also focus more on better marketing for their new titles by working with video game publishers in order to improve sales. While we're not entirely sure what this is going to involve we hope to see more in-store promotions and publicity events such as the excitement they have planned for Canada Day.