Question · Q2 2026
Yoshida from Nikkei asked for an update on the development status of the live service game Marathon, including whether its launch plan for this year remains unchanged, and the results of its recent technical test. Yoshida also questioned if the add-on service underperformance from July to September, the first in 13 quarters, was linked to delays in live service or new title releases. Additionally, Yoshida sought Sony's view on why titles like Demon Slayer exceeded performance expectations, particularly their cultural impact.
Answer
Lin Tao, CFO, Corporate Executive Officer, confirmed Marathon's development is ongoing, with a technical test involving 80,000 people providing key KPI data for analysis and corrections, and the launch within this year is included in the forecast. Lin Tao clarified that add-on performance depends on popular titles and does not necessarily indicate a slowdown, expecting strengthening performance with new titles for the year-end season. For Demon Slayer's success, Lin Tao attributed it to strong overseas market performance, especially unprecedented top-grossing revenue in Hollywood, which exceeded initial high confidence.
Ask follow-up questions
Fintool can predict
SONY's earnings beat/miss a week before the call