Sony Shared the Creative Entertainment Vision With Some Futuristic Devices

Updated: May 23 2024 02:19
Sony Group Corporation recently held its Corporate Strategy Meeting for FY2024, outlining its management direction and long-term vision for the future. The key focus was on achieving further growth by strengthening creation and maximizing the value of intellectual property (IP) across Sony's diverse entertainment businesses.



Sony's three main entertainment businesses - Game & Network Services, Music, and Pictures - accounted for approximately 60% of the Group's consolidated sales in FY2023. The reorganization of the Group architecture in 2021 has led to accelerated synergies among these businesses. Sony also plans to support the further evolution of its Financial Services business through independence, leveraging the Sony brand and strengthening collaboration.



Sony is undergoing a "Creation Shift" across three key business layers:

• Content that leads to Kando (emotional impact)
• Products & Services that create Kando
• Semiconductors (CMOS image sensors) that support creation

Sony has invested heavily in strengthening content creation, such as acquiring EMI Music Publishing and Crunchyroll. Over 80% of operating income in the Entertainment Technology & Services segment now comes from creation-related businesses like imaging, sports, virtual production, and professional audio. Sony has also invested approximately 1.5 trillion yen in CMOS image sensor development over the past six years.



Sony is focusing on real-time creation technologies, including:

• The Alpha 9 III camera with global shutter for sports photography
• Real-time photo transmission for prompt news coverage
• The VENICE digital cinema camera series for film production
• CMOS image sensors for verifying image authenticity
• Unreal Engine for virtual production and spatial content creation
• Real-time 3D animation of athlete movements for live sports entertainment

Sony's long-term Creative Entertainment Vision aims to:

• Harness technology to unleash global creators' creativity across physical, virtual and time dimensions
• Connect diverse people and values to foster vibrant communities
• Create exciting, imaginative experiences with creators and spread them worldwide as new touchpoints for Kando

To maximize IP value across entertainment categories, Sony is focusing on:

• IP Creation: High-quality anime production, visual creator development, novel music adaptations, real-time sports data animation
• IP Cultivation: Crunchyroll Anime Awards, passionate "fandom artists", game IP adaptations
• "IP 360 Extension": Location-based entertainment, merchandising, mobility experiences, partner IP expansion
• Global IP Value Maximization: Supporting diverse regional creators through the India Hero Project and Sony Innovation Fund: Africa

Key technology platforms enabling high-quality, efficient IP value maximization include:

• Sensing and capturing (Volumetric Capture Studio)
• Real-time 3D processing (Unreal Engine collaboration)
• AI and machine learning (gaming voice recognition, dubbing/translation automation)
• Developing a shared "Engagement Platform" for the Sony Group based on PlayStation Network infrastructure

Sony's strength lies in bringing together diverse people with different attributes and experiences. Recent acquisitions have brought new thinking and knowledge to its entertainment businesses. The ratio of foreign nationals in executive positions and women in management positions continues to increase yearly. Sony aims to evolve the diversity of its businesses and people to achieve long-term growth and value creation.

Sony's Corporate Strategy Meeting FY2024 outlined a comprehensive vision for leveraging creation, technology, and diversity to maximize IP value and achieve further growth across its entertainment businesses over the next decade. By harnessing real-time technologies, supporting creators worldwide, and fostering synergies, Sony aims to deliver exciting new experiences that emotionally impact global audiences.