Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Played game so one of the activities most often carried out during a pandemic Covid-19. This makes a profit Sony skyrocketed to double in April to September 2020.
The gaming sector is one of the sectors that skyrocketed due to the pandemic. When many people are forced to do little outside the home, it increases the number of titles and downloads streaming game.
Sony said the increase in net profit helped correct the company’s earnings forecast for this year. The increase in profits was driven by growth in sectors such as game along with PS network services, streaming music, and financial services.
Sony said net profit jumped 103.8 percent to 692.89 billion yen (Rp96.6 trillion; exchange rate Rp.139.41) for the first half. In addition, it is estimated that the annual net profit will be 800 billion yen (Rp111.5 trillion), up from the previous estimate of 510 billion yen (Rp711 trillion).
Sony’s achievement beat analyst expectations. This announcement is also made when Sony prepares to launch its new PlayStation 5 console next month. This launch is prepared for the holiday season and ready to fight with the new Xbox.
“The increasing restrictions on exports to China by the US government have a negative impact on our business in the imaging and (camera) sector, while our gaming segment is benefiting from demand for activities at home,” Sony Chief Financial Officer Hiroko Totoki told reporters. Saturday (31/10).
Analysts said the US ban from supplying camera sensors to Huawei had an impact on the Japanese company’s earnings.
“Image sensors continued to contribute to all of its revenues in the first half. But US sanctions on Huawei are likely to affect the delivery of image sensors to smartphone Huawei in the future, “explained Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at the Ace Research Institute in Tokyo.
Gaming hours among PlayStation users hit a peak in April. However, demand for games “will continue into the last half of this year”, he added.
Apart from cameras, another Sony business that has been affected by the pandemic is the film unit. This is because the pandemic has caused cinemas around the world to close and delay new releases.
“There are signs of recovery, but cinemas are still closed in major US cities,” Totoki said.
“There is a possibility that revenue recovery will be delayed due to intense competition caused by busy film release schedules, even after theaters reopen.”
Analysts say the pandemic has had a mixed impact on the various segments that make up Sony’s business.
“The impact of the coronavirus on Sony’s entire business was smaller than expected, but it is still weighing on Sony’s earnings,” Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo, told AFP.
Sony has high hopes for its long-awaited new console, which launches from November 12 – two days after Microsoft’s next-generation rival Xbox Series X.
Currently, the PS4 sells more than the Xbox One by more than two to one. Sony hopes new games including “Final Fantasy XVI”, “Hogwarts Legacy” and “Spider-Man Morales” will help it remain a market leader.
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