Sony Struggles to Build Original Franchises, Exec Reveals

Sony's Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki stated the company is lacking in original franchises, which poses a challenge as it competes with other media giants. He emphasized that the company has not nurtured enough intellectual properties (IP) from the ground up, particularly in games, films, and anime. Fans reacted strongly to Totoki's comments, lamenting the absence of beloved franchises like Sly Cooper and Resistance. While Sony has seen success with adaptations of existing properties such as Spider-Man and The Last of Us, many wonder about the future of new original content. The company looks to foster its own IP while collaborating with other companies to leverage technology in content creation.

Sony’s CFO Hiroki Totoki expressed concerns that the company does not have enough original franchises developed internally, which he sees as a critical issue for competing effectively in the market.

In the wider context, Sony has been eyeing the growing demand for original content, especially in the face of rising production costs in the anime sector. Crunchyroll's President highlighted the increasing global anime audience, suggesting potential synergies with Sony to tap into this market. As the industry evolves, many companies, including Sony, are on the lookout for fresh ideas while reviving nostalgic franchises to capture legacy audiences.