Sony's decision to remove OtherOS functionality, thereby killing the PS3's utility as a supercomputing component, was made in order to staunch losses. The Cell

Sony's decision to remove OtherOS functionality, thereby killing the PS3's utility as a supercomputing component, was made in order to staunch losses. The Cell architecture was expensive and every PS3 was sold at a loss, with the idea being to recoup money in game licensing fees. Obviously there weren't many games being played on supercomputers, so once Sony had the feelgood story of the Air Force building supercomputers out of PS3s, they quietly pulled the plug. This is a long-winded way of saying the PS3' lack of widespread use in supercomputing is not responsible for Sony's losses. Rather, blame their flailing consumer electronics and mobile business.