Consumer electronics Sony raises forecast thanks to "Demon Slayer" film success
Japanese entertainment giant Sony has raised its annual forecasts. The main reason for this is the success of the latest animated film "Demon Slayer".
11.11.2025, 07:55
SDA
The Group now expects a net profit of the equivalent of 5.51 billion Swiss francs (1.05 trillion yen) for the 2025/26 financial year, which is roughly the same as the previous year. Operating profit is expected to increase by 22 percent to 1.43 trillion yen.
The main reason for this is the enormous success of the new "Demon Slayer" animated film. The new chapter "Infinity Castle" has been filling cinemas in Japan since August and worldwide since September. In Japan, the film became the second most successful of all time - surpassed only by the previous "Demon Slayer". Analysts see this as a sign that animation is no longer a niche format.
In addition to this hit, which is recorded in Sony's "Music/Animation" segment, the image sensor business is also doing well. Sony supplies these to smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and camera producers, among others. Operating profit in this division rose by 50 percent in the second quarter. Sony is also benefiting from the weak yen.
More Playstation sales
In the film segment, however, the company remains cautious: due to weak ticket sales in the second quarter, Sony expects stagnating results. The studios are in a transitional phase without any major blockbusters.
In the gaming segment, which should account for around a third of operating profit, Sony expects slightly higher sales of the Playstation 5. The console has become more expensive in the USA due to customs duties, but the impact is less than feared. Experts emphasize the strong Playstation brand, which continues to expand its range of online and PC games. However, the PS5 is approaching the end of its product cycle. A PS6 has not yet been announced. The launch of "Grand Theft Auto VI" in 2026 could provide a tailwind.
