Sony
Sony business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Business and Finance
Sony reported a significant $560 million loss related to its acquisition of Bungie, with the game Marathon experiencing development stalls. Separately, GameStop's CEO faced suspension from eBay for selling items on the platform to fund his eBay purchases.
Morning Consolidation
Sony is reportedly still undecided on the pricing and release date for the PlayStation 6. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to receive a price increase, with Nintendo anticipating sales of nearly 20 million units.
Sony has not decided on a price or when to launch the PS6
Sony has not yet decided on the launch timing or price for the PlayStation 6, citing the current high cost and expected shortage of components like RAM. President and CEO Hiroki Totoki indicated that the company is exploring various simulations and business models to determine the best strategy. He also confirmed no further price increases for the PlayStation 5 for the remainder of 2026.
'We must think carefully about what we will do': Sony shows hesitance to announce PS6 release date or price due to RAM crisis, and finds itself in the same situation Valve is in with the Steam Machine
Sony is hesitant to announce the PlayStation 6's price or release date due to ongoing RAM shortages, a situation mirroring Valve's uncertainty with the Steam Machine. CEO Hiroki Totoki stated that forecasts for FY 2027 indicate high memory prices, necessitating careful consideration of future console launches and pricing strategies.
Sony and Bandai get into bed with generative AI
Sony and Bandai Namco Entertainment are exploring the integration of generative AI within the gaming industry. The company has outlined the potential role of AI in the future development and features of PlayStation.
Nintendo Raising Switch, Switch 2, Playing Card, and Hanafuda Card Prices
Nintendo is increasing the prices of the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 consoles worldwide, citing market conditions such as AI-driven RAM shortages, tariffs, and shipping costs. The company is also raising prices for its playing cards and Hanafuda cards in Japan. These changes follow similar price adjustments by Sony for its PlayStation devices.
Sony Is Still Figuring Out the PS6 as PS5 Sales Slow and Bungie Weighs on the Bottom Line
Sony's latest financial report reveals that the company has not yet decided on the launch timing or pricing for the PlayStation 6, citing component costs and supply as major factors. PS5 sales have slowed, contributing to a significant impairment loss related to Bungie's underperformance, particularly with the game Marathon.
PlayStation 5 Shipments Have Surpassed 93.7 Million Units
Sony announced that PlayStation 5 shipments have reached 93.7 million units worldwide, with 1.5 million units shipped in the final quarter of fiscal year 2025. Monthly active users on PlayStation Network also increased to 125 million. The company's forecast for fiscal year 2026 indicates a focus on next-generation platform investments, with hardware profitability expected to remain stable.
A Global Tech Shortage Causes A Nintendo Switch 2 Price Hike
Nintendo is increasing the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 USD to $500 USD starting September 1 due to a global RAM shortage impacting the tech industry. This price hike follows similar adjustments by Sony for the PlayStation line and potential increases for Xbox Series X|S. The shortage is driven by high demand for AI data centers, affecting components like RAM and SSDs.
Nintendo Switch 2 Prices Hiked Due to "Changes in Market Conditions"
Nintendo is increasing the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 console to $499.99 in North America, citing "changes in market conditions" and rising component costs. The company is also raising prices for Nintendo Switch Online in Japan, with potential global adjustments to follow. This news comes as industry veterans Takashi Tezuka and Goro Abe are retiring from Nintendo.
Talking Point: Will You Be Getting A Switch 2 Before The Price Goes Up?
Nintendo is increasing the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 USD / €30 starting September 1st, bringing the new RRP to $499.99 USD / €499.99. This follows a previous price hike for the original Switch in the US and Sony's recent PlayStation 5 price increases. Despite the higher cost and lack of a major exclusive title, the Switch 2 has sold nearly 20 million units in its first 10 months.
PlayStation records $765m impairment loss from Bungie as operating income falls 41.6% in Q4
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss related to Bungie due to underperforming titles like Destiny 2 and Marathon. The company's Games and Network Services segment saw a 41.6% decline in Q4 operating income, despite overall full-year operating income rising 12%. PlayStation 5 unit sales also decreased year-over-year.
Brand-New Hit PS5 Adventure Game Already Discounted on PS Store
The newly released PlayStation 5 adventure game Mixtape is available for $17.99 for a limited time, offering a 10% discount to PS Plus members. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game features a soundtrack of 90s music and tells the story of three friends on a final adventure.
Sony Reveals $766m Bungie Writedown in Latest Financial Results
Sony reported a significant $766 million write-down related to its acquisition of Bungie in its fiscal year 2025 results. Despite the financial loss, Sony plans to continue supporting Bungie's live-service title Marathon, citing strong user engagement metrics. The company anticipates a drop in hardware sales for the upcoming fiscal year but expects an increase in first-party game sales, including upcoming titles like Saros and Marvel's Wolverine.
Sony records a $766 million impairment loss against Bungie for the 2025 financial year, a 1-2 punch of Destiny 2 and Marathon failing to meet its expectations
Sony recorded a significant impairment loss of $766 million against Bungie for the 2025 financial year, primarily due to Destiny 2 and the newly released Marathon failing to meet sales and engagement expectations. This follows a previous impairment loss in Q2 FY2025, bringing the total to over $766 million. Despite this, Sony's overall gaming and network services sales were flat, with operating income increasing by 12%.
Valve commits to a reservation system for today's new batch of Steam Controller stock, which gives me a lot more…
Valve is implementing a reservation system for the Steam Controller to combat resellers and ensure fairer access for consumers. This system, similar to those used by Sony and Nintendo for their hardware launches, will limit purchases to one per customer and aims to prevent scalpers from profiting excessively. Valve is also applying lessons learned from past Steam Deck supply management to upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine hardware.
PS5 sales are 42% behind PS4 at this point in the generation, and it's got nothing to do with the price increase
Sony's PlayStation 5 console sales are currently 42% behind the PlayStation 4's performance at the same point in their respective lifecycles. Despite recent price increases, the article suggests this sales gap is not directly attributable to cost, highlighting a potential shift in market dynamics for the current generation.
Marathon and Destiny developer Bungie underperformed last year, causing a $765 million impairment loss for PlayStation
Sony reported a significant impairment loss of approximately $765 million in its fiscal year 2025/2026, primarily due to the underperformance of Bungie's games, Marathon and Destiny 2. This loss reflects a decrease in the recorded value of Bungie's assets. Despite this financial setback, Sony anticipates overall operating income growth in the next fiscal year, partly due to the absence of such impairment charges.
Sony took a $765 million impairment loss in FY25 on the $3.6 billion Bungie acquisition
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss in its fiscal year 2025 on the $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie. The makers of Marathon and Destiny 2 continue to be a financial weakness for Sony's Game & Network Services segment.
PS6 price and release window is still undecided, but Sony reports "an increase in investments" into the…
Sony has not officially announced the PlayStation 6, but the company is increasing investments into its next-generation platform, suggesting the PS6 era is approaching. While the exact price and release window remain undecided, Sony's financial reports indicate a significant allocation of resources towards future console development.
