Leaker KeplerL2 reports that the PlayStation 6's bill of materials has risen to around $960 as of June 2026, driven by a RAM shortage tied to AI demand. Sony president Hideaki Nishino told investors the company will not absorb cost increases, prioritizing profitability over expanding the user base. The expected retail price may approach $1,000.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1 that it will stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. The company said the decision is driven by consumer preference for digital media, which now significantly outpaces physical disc sales. Games released before January 2028 will continue to be available in disc format. New titles after that date will be sold only as digital downloads through the PlayStation Store and retailers that sell digital codes. Sony reported that digital sales accounted for 78% of full game software purchases on PS5 in fiscal year 2025. The announcement does not affect existing disc-compatible hardware; current consoles will still play previously released physical games. The move follows years of steady growth in digital sales across the industry and Sony's increasing emphasis on digital distribution through services like PlayStation Plus and Digital Edition console variants. Critics have raised concerns about long-term game preservation when titles are only available digitally, as delisting or service shutdowns can make them inaccessible.
Patent Result has released its Deterrence Power Ranking 2025 for the game and entertainment industry, tallying how often each company's patents were cited as reasons for rejection in other companies' patent examinations during 2025. Bandai Namco Entertainment leads the ranking with 328 patents cited, followed by Konami Digital Entertainment with 285 and Sony Interactive Entertainment with 228. Sega ranks fourth with 198, Nintendo fifth with 161, and Colopl sixth with 148. GREE Holdings, Capcom, Square Enix Holdings, and DeNA round out the top ten. The ranking consolidates company groups and reflects patent holders as of May 2026. Bandai Namco's most cited patent covers an event presentation control system for virtual three-dimensional spaces, cited in examinations of four applications including one from MIXI. Konami's top patent grants benefits according to object selection in a game, affecting Capcom, Colopl, and Bandai Namco. SIE's most cited patent assigns virtual reality spectators to venue seats and transmits to head-mounted displays, used in four rejections including one from NTT Communications.
Sony's 2026 annual SEC report removed a line about continuing to release first-party titles on PC, which was present in the 2025 version. Bloomberg reported in March that Sony had scrapped PC releases for Ghost of Yōtei and other internal games, with online titles like Marathon and Marvel Tokon still planned for PC. External publisher games like Death Stranding 2 and Kena: Scars of Kosmora remain on track for PC.
Sony held a State of Play presentation in June 2026. The event featured new game announcements and updates for PlayStation titles. One notable reveal was a new God of War project, though the presenter explicitly asked viewers not to call it "Goddess of War." The show also included third-party showcases and a look at upcoming hardware accessories.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced three official PlayStation 5 hardware products: the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, a wireless speaker, and a gaming monitor, all set for release this year. The arcade stick is the company's first first-party fighting controller, designed with portability and tournament use in mind, including a lock button and a carrying case.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced "Until Dawn 2" during its State of Play broadcast on June 3, 2026. The sequel to the 2015 horror adventure game is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 in 2027. Developed by Firesprite, the game features a new cast and setting, independent of the original's story. The protagonists are a group of ghost hunters who run a popular paranormal channel called "Dead True." After previously staging fake horror experiences for views, they encounter genuine terror while filming on an uninhabited island. Wishlist registration is now open on the PlayStation Store. The announcement was part of a larger State of Play presentation that also included release dates for "Marvel's Wolverine" (September 15), "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" (September 25), and "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE" (October 2), among other titles.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on June 2 that it will release the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, the first arcade controller under the PlayStation brand, on August 6 for 34,980 yen. Pre-orders begin June 12. The controller is designed for PS5 and PC, with a thin body, a semi-hard carry case, and a rechargeable battery. It connects via PlayStation Link wireless or USB-C. The company also revealed the 27-inch Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook, a QHD IPS display with up to 120Hz on PS5 and 240Hz on PC, priced at 49,980 yen and launching August 27 with pre-orders from June 5. A third product, the PULSE Elevate Wireless Speaker, was confirmed for a release in the latter half of 2026; its price and pre-order date are to be announced. The fight stick's release coincides with the August 7 launch of the fighting game MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
Aniplex president Atsuhiro Iwakami will become the next president and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, effective April 2026, as reported by the Nikkei and covered by Animenomics. Iwakami, who has led Aniplex for ten years, will be the first executive with a video production background to head the Japanese music giant. The appointment reflects the growing influence of Aniplex within Sony Music Group, as more than half of Sony Music's sales in Japan now come from non-music sources, including Aniplex. Aniplex produced both "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," the highest-grossing anime film globally, and "Kokuho," Japan's highest-grossing live-action film. External revenue from Sony Music's visual media and platform business, which includes Aniplex, rose 42.8 percent in the nine months ended December 2025 compared to the same period last year. Prior to leading Aniplex, Iwakami worked on productions such as the "Monogatari" series, "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," and "Sword Art Online," and produced the mobile game "Fate/Grand Order" and the "Demon Slayer" anime adaptation.
Sony's latest earnings report shows anime and Crunchyroll revenue growing, offsetting declines in film, TV, games, and VFX. Operating income for Sony Pictures Entertainment fell 11%, weighed down by Pixomondo closure costs and Bungie impairments, while Crunchyroll subscriber growth and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle's theatrical run boosted anime-related revenue.