What is Sony like now?

Sony's most recent quarterly financial report shows a surge in profits, largely driven by its video game business.

Sony's booth at a technology event. Photo: Bloomberg .

Sony Group has just announced a 22% increase in profits for the third fiscal quarter of 2025 (fourth quarter of 2025 according to the Gregorian calendar) compared to the same period last year. According to Reuters , this figure far exceeded analysts' forecasts, despite a decline in video game console sales.

Specifically, Sony's profit in the fourth quarter of 2025 reached $3.3 billion , while the average forecast from analysts was $3 billion . The company's revenue for the same period reached $23.68 billion , a 1% increase compared to the same period last year.

Sony's operating profit for fiscal year 2025 is projected to reach $9.8 billion , an 8% increase from previous estimates. However, the company believes that the impact of US tariffs could reduce profits by approximately $300 million .

In recent years, the Japanese conglomerate has successfully shifted its business focus from electronics to entertainment. However, Sony's stock has fallen as investors question its future growth prospects.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Sony's services and gaming segment, including the PlayStation brand, generated $10.3 billion in revenue. While benefiting from the trend of digital game purchases and the PlayStation Plus subscription, hardware growth showed signs of slowing down.

Sony sold 8 million PlayStation 5 consoles in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 16% decrease compared to the same period last year. Profits from its gaming division increased 19% to approximately $900 million , with software revenue offsetting losses from hardware.

In the future, Sony's gaming console business will face difficulties due to rising component costs. According to CNBC , PlayStation uses DRAM memory, which is in short supply due to high demand from AI companies.

According to market research firm TrendForce , prices of conventional DRAM are expected to increase by 90-95% in the current quarter compared to three months ago. A CEO in the semiconductor industry acknowledged that the memory chip shortage could last until 2027.

The application of AI in the gaming industry has also raised many concerns. Gaming company stocks fell after Google unveiled its AI-based game development tool, Project Genie.

A highlight for Sony's gaming business this year comes from the launch of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto VI , scheduled for release in November.

A billboard advertising Sony's PS5 gaming console. Photo: Bloomberg .

Pressure on the gaming segment was partially offset by positive results from the music and visuals divisions. Sony's music revenue in Q4 2025 reached $3.5 billion , a 12.6% increase year-on-year, primarily driven by events, merchandise, and online services.

Previously, Sony announced that it had partnered with Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC to acquire a portfolio of music across various genres.

Sony Pictures Entertainment reported revenue of $2.32 billion , down 11% from the same period last year. The company said the decline was partly due to the success of Venom: The Last Dance , released in the fourth quarter of 2024, which grossed $478 million at the global box office, according to Deadline .

In December 2025, Sony acquired an additional stake in Peanuts Holdings, the company that owns the rights to characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, for approximately $460 million . In January, Sony announced plans to form a joint venture with electronics company TCL Electronics Holdings to operate its TV business.

Sony's imaging and sensor solutions division recorded a revenue increase of over 20%. This division specializes in developing and manufacturing semiconductor-based imaging and sensor technologies.

Source: https://znews.vn/sony-lam-an-ra-sao-post1625555.html