Sony hikes revenue outlook on sturdy gaming earnings

For the 12 months to subsequent March, the PlayStation maker expects web revenue of 1.21 trillion yen ($7.5 billion), up from 1.16 trillion yen projected earlier than.

Overall, Sony projected group revenues within the 12 months to March 31, 2027 of 12.5 trillion yen, up from the earlier forecast of 12.3 trillion issued in May.

Sony mentioned that additionally it is benefiting from beneficial international foreign money results — the yen has been buying and selling round a 40-year low in opposition to the greenback — and tariff refunds by the United States.

The video video games sector is fragile, as console producers’ margins are eroded by hovering reminiscence chip prices pushed by the unreal intelligence growth.

Sony on Friday indicated that it has adequate elements to fulfill deliberate manufacturing ranges for its PlayStation 5 throughout the present fiscal 12 months.

The upcoming launch of “Marvel’s Wolverine” in September and “Grand Theft Auto VI” in November — predicted to be the most important launch in gaming in years — are additionally anticipated to assist the corporate.

Sony and different console makers have additionally been passing on the rising prices of reminiscence to clients, which hurts demand.

The US online game market market in June noticed a 21-percent drop, based on analysis agency Circana, whereas prices for growing video games are rising.

US studio Bungie, creator of “Halo” and “Destiny”, acquired by Sony in 2022, mentioned in June it could reduce a “significant” variety of jobs.

US big Microsoft introduced in early July the elimination of 4,800 jobs, together with 3,200 in its Xbox gaming division this 12 months and subsequent.

Against this backdrop, Yasuo Nakane of Mizuho Securities advised final month {that a} next-generation Xbox console was “unlikely”.

“That would be positive for Sony, as it would give the company more flexibility regarding the launch schedule and pricing” of its potential future PlayStation 6 console.

Analysts predict a launch by the tip of 2028 — the PS5 has been available on the market since 2020 — with Mizuho forecasting that Sony will launch a handheld console adopted by a house console a 12 months later.

In Sony’s different divisions, trade charges are additionally anticipated to bolster ends in music, movie, and picture sensors, notably these utilized in smartphones.

Between April and June, web revenue surged 32.1 p.c to 342.2 billion yen and gross sales rise by 8.2 p.c.

The group said that the highly effective earthquake that struck Kumamoto in southwestern Japan on Tuesday, leaving 35 folks lifeless, had affected its native semiconductor manufacturing crops, although with out inflicting main harm.

© 2026 AFP