Despite the recent failure of Concord to reach an audience, Sony has a library of original PlayStation games and intellectual property that few in the video game industry can match. However, Sony chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida believes that the company is lagging behind in IP, and wants to devote resources to creating more originals.
While speaking with the Financial Times, Yoshida indicated that Sony won’t stop providing content for the various streaming services including Netflix and Max. But he believes that the company has to focus on making new IP in order to better compete in the entertainment industry.
“Whether it’s for games, films, or anime, we don’t have that much IP that we fostered from the beginning,” added Sony’s chief financial officer Hiroki Totoki. “We’re lacking the early phase (of IP) and that’s an issue for us.”
Sony has already successfully adapted The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, and Gran Turismo into live-action projects based on the company’s hit video games. But according to the report, Sony is looking to lean more on the anime series it distributes through Crunchyroll and produce or co-produce new shows. Sony also wants to drive more more PlayStation Plus subscribers to Crunchyroll’s anime streaming service.
So far, Yoshida has spent six years and $10 billion to realize Sony’s ambitions to better capitalize on its creations. The company’s goal to completely reshape its entertainment brand is still a work in progress, but Sony’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed by its video-game rivals. Nintendo has set up a live-action Legend of Zelda movie at Sony Pictures. Regardless, that film may still be several years away from fruition.
