Sony said it plans to offer 10 new multiplayer online titles by 2026, surprising analysts with a potentially transformational bet as the Japanese entertainment group escalates its rivalry with Microsoft.
The expansion of so-called “l(fā)ive service” games comes as efforts to retain a historic lead over its US rival in the latest round of console wars continue to be hit by the pandemic and disruption to semiconductor supply chains.
On Wednesday, Sony lowered its forecast of PlayStation 5 sales in the financial year ending in March to 11.5mn, down from its previous estimate of 14.8mn. The console, which was launched in November 2020, remains sought after and is difficult to buy in many markets despite a still limited range of blockbuster titles.