September 06, 2024 – Hiroki Totoki, the current President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chairman of SIE at Sony Group Corporation, has expressed concerns over the company’s lack of original IPs developed from scratch, which he believes puts them at a disadvantage compared to their competitors.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Totoki stated, “Whether it’s games, movies, or anime, we haven’t cultivated enough IPs from the beginning. Our lack of early-stage IPs is an issue for us.”
A fan on Reddit noted that Totoki was referring to the entire Sony Corporation, not just the gaming division. From this perspective, he agreed with Totoki’s viewpoint. As a regular viewer, he couldn’t name any standout works from Sony’s movie division, questioning what Sony Pictures would be without “Spider-Man”.
Sony has prioritized acquiring significant IPs, even attempting to purchase Paramount in a $26 billion deal with Apollo, though the transaction ultimately fell through. Additionally, Sony’s efforts to create its own online IPs have not been successful, with “The Animated Series: Star Trek Prodigy” being pulled less than two weeks after its launch.
