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Sony Lifts Profit Forecast by 8%, Citing Lower Tariff Impact and Strong Anime Performance

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Sony has raised its operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 by 8% to 1.43 trillion yen ($9.5 billion), crediting a lower-than-expected impact from U.S. tariffs and strong results from its entertainment and semiconductor divisions.

In the July–September quarter, operating profit climbed 10% to 429 billion yen, driven by robust sales in its music and chip businesses. Sony highlighted the success of its animated hit “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” as a key contributor to the performance.

Once best known for electronics, Sony has steadily evolved into an entertainment powerhouse, with anime now one of its most profitable sectors.

However, its gaming division reported weaker results after recording impairment losses tied to “Destiny 2,” developed by its studio Bungie. Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao said user engagement had fallen short of expectations following the acquisition.

Sony sold 3.9 million PlayStation 5 consoles during the quarter, slightly above last year’s figure, and aims to grow its player base during the holiday season while maintaining profitability. The company’s recently launched game “Ghost of Yotei” sold 3.3 million copies, receiving strong critical and commercial response.

Meanwhile, the global gaming landscape continues to evolve: Take-Two Interactive has once again delayed “Grand Theft Auto VI” to November next year, while Nintendo has raised its forecast for the Switch 2 to 19 million units amid high demand.

Sony’s chip business also saw gains from increased sales of large image sensors used in smartphones, with some clients reportedly accelerating purchases ahead of tariffs. The company now expects a 50 billion yen tariff impact, lower than its earlier estimate of 70 billion yen.

To reward shareholders, Sony announced a share buyback program of up to 35 million shares worth around 100 billion yen. Following the news, Sony’s stock rose 5.5%.

‘GTA VI’ Delay Slows Global Video Game Market Growth, Newzoo Report Shows

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The global video game market’s growth is projected to improve slightly in 2025, increasing by 3.4% to reach $188.9 billion, according to a report by research firm Newzoo, exclusively seen by Reuters on Tuesday. This marks a modest rise from last year’s 3.2% growth.

Industry experts had anticipated a stronger surge in 2024 driven by the anticipated launch of Take-Two Interactive’s blockbuster title Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) alongside new gaming consoles. However, the game’s delay to 2026, combined with hardware price hikes caused by tariffs, has created uncertainty in consumer spending patterns.

Michiel Buijsman, Newzoo’s principal analyst, noted that the forecast accounts for factors such as hardware cycles, pricing trends, growth in installed user bases, and the slate of upcoming game releases. Despite the delay, Newzoo projects an average annual growth rate of 3.3% through 2027, down from an earlier forecast of 3.7%.

The market is expected to benefit from GTA VI’s launch in 2026 and other premium games such as Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem. The PC release of GTA VI is also predicted to sustain growth through 2027.

Price increases for major consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation have raised concerns about slowing hardware sales amid global economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s Switch 2 has become the company’s fastest-selling console to date, bucking this trend.

Buijsman highlighted that Xbox sales continue to lag behind PlayStation’s previous generation, projecting moderate hardware sales ahead. Xbox recently announced its new handheld device, the Xbox Ally, developed with ASUS, which is slated for release during the 2025 holiday season.

Sony Raises Sales Guidance, Quarterly Profit Surpasses Expectations on Gaming Strength

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Sony raised its sales forecast for the fiscal year on Thursday after posting strong quarterly results, particularly driven by its gaming division. The Japanese tech giant exceeded analyst expectations for operating profit in the September quarter, with a 73% year-over-year increase.

For the quarter, Sony reported:

  • Revenue: ¥2.97 trillion ($19.4 billion), a 9% increase compared to last year but slightly below the expected ¥3.03 trillion.
  • Operating Profit: ¥445.1 billion ($2.91 billion), a 73% jump from the previous year, exceeding the expected ¥336.07 billion.

As a result, Sony raised its fiscal year 2025 revenue target to ¥12.7 trillion from the previous ¥12.6 trillion. The company maintained its operating profit forecast of ¥1.3 trillion, in line with earlier expectations.

Sony’s gaming and network services division, home to the PlayStation brand, was a key contributor to the positive results. The division’s revenue reached ¥1 trillion, up 11% from the previous year, buoyed by digital game sales and the PlayStation Plus subscription service. Despite a weak console market, which impacted hardware shipments, Sony’s software sales saw significant growth. The company sold 3.8 million PlayStation 5 units in the quarter, a 22% decline from the previous year, but game software sales rose by 28% to ¥612.3 billion.

One highlight in the gaming sector was the success of Astro Bot, which sold 1.5 million units in its first two months. Additionally, Sony recently launched the PlayStation 5 Pro, promising upgraded graphics and artificial intelligence features, sparking optimism for a resurgence in hardware sales, especially with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI.