Sony Group reported record second-quarter operating income as strength in its music and image sensor divisions offset challenges in gaming, where the company absorbed nearly ¥50 billion ($324 million) in losses tied to developer Bungie and its struggling Destiny franchise.
The Tokyo-based conglomerate posted operating profit of ¥429 billion ($2.78 billion) for the three months ended September 30, up 10% from a year earlier, according to results released Monday. Revenue climbed 5% to ¥3.11 trillion. Management raised its full-year sales forecast by 3% to ¥12 trillion and lifted the operating income outlook by 8% to ¥1.43 trillion.
Music emerged as the standout performer with quarterly revenue surging 21% to ¥542.4 billion, driven by theatrical distribution of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, which has generated ¥94.8 billion at the global box office. Streaming revenue grew 12% in recorded music and 25% in publishing on a dollar basis.
The imaging and sensing solutions unit posted operating income of ¥138.3 billion, up 50% from last year, benefiting from premium smartphone sensors and higher camera equipment sales. Sony noted customers may have accelerated component purchases during the first half due to tariff concerns.
PlayStation operations faced headwinds despite 4% revenue growth to ¥1.11 trillion. The gaming unit recorded ¥31.5 billion in impairment charges on Bungie assets and ¥18.3 billion from development cost corrections. Excluding these items, operating income would have risen 23%, Sony said. The company maintained its ¥500 billion annual profit target for gaming while absorbing an estimated ¥30 billion tariff impact.
Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao said the estimated tariff hit across operations decreased to ¥50 billion from a prior ¥70 billion forecast. Monthly active PlayStation users reached 119 million in September, up 3% year-over-year. Ghost of Yōtei sold 3.3 million copies since its October release.
Sony announced a ¥100 billion share repurchase program through May 2026 and completed the October spin-off of its financial services unit.
