Sony has raised its operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 by 8% to 1.43 trillion yen ($9.5 billion), citing smaller-than-expected tariff impacts and strong performance in its entertainment and chip divisions.
The company reported a 10% increase in operating profit for the July-September quarter, reaching 429 billion yen. Higher sales from its music and anime units, as well as chip sales, helped drive the growth. Sony highlighted the success of the animated movie “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” as a key factor behind the entertainment boost.
Sony, once mainly known for electronics, has become a major player in entertainment, with anime emerging as a growth engine. However, the gaming division saw a decline in profit due to impairment losses related to the game “Destiny 2.” Despite this, the PlayStation 5 continued to sell well, with 3.9 million units sold during the quarter, slightly up from last year.
The upcoming release of highly anticipated games, including Take-Two Interactive’s “Grand Theft Auto VI,” is expected to further support Sony’s PlayStation business. Sony also sold 3.3 million units of the new game “Ghost of Yotei,” which has received positive reviews.
In the chip business, sales were boosted by larger image sensors, which are widely used in smartphones. Some customers may have accelerated purchases due to tariffs and other market factors. Sony now estimates the total tariff impact for the year at 50 billion yen, down from the 70 billion yen projected in August.
Sony also announced plans to repurchase up to 35 million shares, representing around 100 billion yen. The company’s stock rose 6% following the earnings announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s growth prospects.
