History of Sony in Timeline
Sony Group Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate based in Tokyo. It encompasses various entities including Sony Corporation, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Sony Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Sony Financial Group. Sony is involved in diverse sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, entertainment (music, film, gaming), and financial services, making it a major player in the global market.
May 1946: Establishment of Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo
In May 1946, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita established Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), which would later be known as Sony.
1954: First Japanese Company to Commercialize the Transistor
In 1954, Sony became the first Japanese company to commercialize the transistor, which was invented and licensed by Bell Labs.
1955: Launch of the TR-55 Transistor Radio
In 1955, Sony launched its first Sony-branded product, the TR-55 transistor radio.
1955: Launch of TR-63 Radio
In 1955, Sony's TR-63 radio entered the U.S. market, marking the beginning of consumer microelectronics.
1957: Invention of the Tunnel Diode
In 1957, Sony employee Leo Esaki and his colleagues invented the tunnel diode (Esaki diode), discovering the quantum tunneling effect in solids.
January 1958: Company Name Changed to Sony
In January 1958, the company officially changed its name to Sony.
1958: Company name changed to Sony
In 1958, Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo officially changed its name to "Sony".
1959: Sony produced the world's first all-transistor television
In 1959, Sony produced the TV8-301, the world's first all-transistor television.
1960: Akio Morita Founded Sony Corporation of America
In 1960, Sony co-founder Akio Morita established Sony Corporation of America.
1961: Listing on the New York Stock Exchange
In 1961, Sony began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as American depositary receipts, becoming one of the first Japanese companies to be listed on an American exchange.
1968: Growth of the Transistor Radio Market
By the end of 1968, the transistor radio market had grown to 5 million units from an estimated 100,000 units in 1955.
1968: Introduction of the Trinitron brand
In 1968, Sony introduced the Trinitron brand name for its aperture grille cathode-ray tube televisions and computer monitors.
1971: Masaru Ibuka Hands Presidency to Akio Morita
In 1971, Masaru Ibuka passed the position of president of Sony over to his co-founder, Akio Morita.
1971: Introduction of U-matic
In 1971, Sony introduced U-matic, the world's first videocassette format.
1973: Esaki Received Nobel Prize in Physics
In 1973, Sony employee Leo Esaki received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the tunnel diode and discovery of the quantum tunneling effect.
1975: Launch of Betamax Format
In 1975, Sony launched the Betamax format for video cassette recorders.
1976: Sony establishes Environmental Conference
Since 1976, Sony has had an Environmental Conference to address their effects on global warming, the environment, and resources.
1977: Sony demonstrates optical digital audio disc
In 1977, Sony demonstrated an optical digital audio disc, starting the path toward a new storage technology.
1979: Establishment of Life Insurance Company
In 1979, Sony expanded into the financial sector by establishing a life insurance company, marking one of its peripheral business ventures.
1979: Release of the Sony Walkman
In 1979, Sony released the Walkman, the world's first portable music player, which revolutionized music listening habits.
1981: Sony demonstrated prototype of Sony Mavica
In 1981, Sony demonstrated a prototype of the Sony Mavica.
1983: Sony and Philips jointly announced the Compact Disc (CD)
In 1983, Sony and Philips jointly announced the Compact Disc (CD), establishing a worldwide standard for digital audio storage.
1983: Introduction of 3.5-inch floppy disks
In 1983, Sony introduced 90 mm micro diskettes, commonly known as 3.5-inch floppy disks, which became the dominant format.
1984: Launch of the Discman series
In 1984, Sony launched the Discman series, expanding the Walkman brand to portable CD players.
1985: Launch of Handycam and Video8
In 1985, Sony launched their Handycam products and the Video8 format.
1986: Launch of write-once optical discs (WO)
In 1986, Sony launched write-once optical discs (WO) for archival data storage.
1987: Launch of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
In 1987, Sony launched the 4 mm DAT or Digital Audio Tape as a new digital audio tape standard.
1988: Joint project between Nintendo and Sony to create CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom
In 1988, Nintendo and Sony started a joint project to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom.
1988: Purchase of CBS Records
In 1988, Norio Ohga led Sony to purchase CBS Records, significantly increasing Sony's involvement in the media industry.
1988: Launch of magneto-optical discs
In 1988, Sony launched magneto-optical discs with a capacity of around 125MB for archival data storage.
1988: Release of Sony Mavica for consumer market
In 1988, Sony released Sony Mavica for consumer market.
1989: Purchase of Columbia Pictures
In 1989, Sony acquired Columbia Pictures under the leadership of Norio Ohga, further expanding Sony's presence in the entertainment industry.
1989: Acquisition of Columbia Pictures Entertainment
In 1989, Sony entered the television and film production market by acquiring Columbia Pictures Entertainment for $3.4 billion.
1989: Purchase of Sony Trans Com
In 1989, Sony purchased Sony Trans Com from Sundstrand Corp.
1990: Sony withdrew from computer business
Around 1990, Sony withdrew from the computer business.
March 1991: Nintendo denied the existence of the Sony deal
In March 1991, Nintendo denied the existence of the Sony deal to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom.
June 1991: Sony revealed the "Play Station" at the Consumer Electronics Show
In June 1991, Sony revealed a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM drive, named the 'Play Station', at the Consumer Electronics Show.
1991: Announcement of "Play Station"
In 1991, Sony announced the add-on, as well as a dedicated console known as the "Play Station", that was a failed partnership with Nintendo. However, a disagreement over software licensing for the console caused the partnership to fall through and Sony continued the project independently.
1991: Formation of Sony Music Entertainment
In 1991, Sony established Sony Music Entertainment, using the acquisition of CBS Records as its foundation.
May 1992: Negotiations between Nintendo and Sony officially ended
In May 1992, negotiations between Nintendo and Sony officially ended after Nintendo offered Sony a 'non-gaming role'.
June 1992: Sony decides to retain the PlayStation project
In June 1992, Sony President Ohga decided to retain the PlayStation project after Kutaragi unveiled a proprietary CD-ROM based system.
1992: Introduction of the MiniDisc Format
In 1992, Sony introduced the MiniDisc format as an alternative to Philips DCC and a successor to the Compact Cassette.
1993: Introduction of Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS)
In 1993, Sony introduced Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS), a proprietary motion picture digital audio format with eight channels (7.1), challenging the Dolby Digital 5.1 standard.
1994: Akio Morita's Retirement as Chairman
In 1994, Akio Morita retired as chairman of Sony, concluding a significant era of his leadership within the company.
1994: Launch of the First PlayStation
In 1994, Sony launched the first PlayStation, gaining 61% of global console sales and surpassing Nintendo's lead in the market.
1995: Sony enters the anime business
In 1995, Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ) established Aniplex as its subsidiary, marking Sony's entry into the Japanese animation (anime) business.
1995: Merger to Form Sony/ATV Music Publishing
In 1995, Sony merged its publisher with Michael Jackson's ATV Music Publishing, creating Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
1996: Introduction of the first Cyber-shot
In 1996, Sony introduced the first Cyber-shot digital camera.
1996: Sony entered the computer market under the VAIO brand
In 1996, Sony re-entered the global computer market under the new VAIO brand.
1996: Patent Expiration for Trinitron
In 1996, Sony's patent for its proprietary Trinitron expired.
1997: Introduction of DVD format
In 1997, the DVD format was introduced after Philips and Sony agreed upon Toshiba's Super Density (SD) format with modifications, unifying the high-density optical storage standards.
1998: Launch of the Memory Stick format
In 1998, Sony launched the Memory Stick format, flash memory cards for use in Sony digital cameras and portable music players.
1999: Introduction of Sony's first portable digital audio players
In 1999, Sony introduced its first portable digital audio players, one using Memory Stick flash storage and the other a smaller pen-sized player with embedded flash storage.
1999: Sony part of the companies that fixed professional videotape prices
In 1999, Sony was part of the companies that fixed professional videotape prices between the years 1999 and 2002.
August 2000: Sony Pictures Entertainment U.S. comments on protecting revenue streams
In August 2000, Steve Heckler from Sony Pictures Entertainment U.S. expressed the industry's intent to protect revenue streams, leading to the development of a rootkit-like DRM system.
September 2000: Sony market capitalization
In September 2000, Sony had a market capitalization of $100 billion.
2000: Sony faces criticism for "NGO Strategy" document
In 2000, Sony faced criticism for a document entitled "NGO Strategy" that was leaked to the press, detailing surveillance of environmental activists.
2000: Sony's Marginal Position in Mobile Market
In 2000, Sony held a marginal position in the mobile phone market, possessing a share of less than 1 percent.
2000: Launch of PlayStation 2
In 2000, Sony launched the PlayStation 2, which became the most successful console of all time.
2000: Sale of Sony Trans Com
In 2000, Sony sold Sony Trans Com to Rockwell Collins.
2001: Sony sold professional videotapes
During the year 2001 prior to the investigation Sony sold professional videotapes for a total of €115 million inside the EU.
2001: Joint Venture with Ericsson
In 2001, Sony entered into a joint venture with Ericsson, forming Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.
March 2002: Sony stockholder equity
In March 2002, Sony stockholder equity was valued at $17.9 billion.
2002: Sony Ericsson Faced Losses
In 2002, Sony Ericsson posted losses due to rocky initial sales.
2002: Investigation launched by the European Commission
In 2002, the European Commission launched an investigation that culminated in Sony, Fuji and Maxell receiving a total of 110 million US dollar fine for fixing professional videotape prices between the years 1999 and 2002.
2003: Sony Ericsson Reached Profitability
In 2003, Sony Ericsson achieved profitability after initial losses.
2004: Joint Venture with Bertelsmann AG
In 2004, Sony entered into a joint venture with Bertelsmann AG, merging Sony Music Entertainment with Bertelsmann Music Group to create Sony BMG.
2004: Launch of PlayStation Portable (PSP)
In 2004, Sony extended the brand to the portable games market with the launch of the PlayStation Portable (PSP).
2004: Introduction of Triluminos Display
In 2004, Sony introduced the Triluminos Display, its proprietary color reproduction enhancing technology featured in the world's first LED-backlit LCD televisions.
2004: Release of Hi-MD
In 2004, Sony released Hi-MD, building upon the MiniDisc format to allow playback and recording on 1 GB Hi-MD discs, in addition to regular MiniDiscs, and to store computer files.
2004: Lack of MP3 Support in Network Walkman
Until late 2004, Sony's Network Walkman line of digital portable music players did not support the MP3 standard natively.
2005: Decline in Sony's market share of digital camera market
By 2005, Sony's market share of the digital camera market fell from a high of 20% to 9%.
2005: Howard Stringer Replaced Nobuyuki Idei as CEO
In 2005, Howard Stringer replaced Nobuyuki Idei as chief executive officer, marking the first time a foreigner had run a major Japanese electronics firm.
2005: Copy Protection Scandal
In 2005, Sony BMG faced a copy protection scandal due to malware installed on users' computers through its music CDs.
2005: Sony discontinued its series of Trinitron computer monitors
In 2005, Sony discontinued its series of Trinitron computer monitors.
2005: Sony Financial Group most profitable business
In FY 2005, Sony Financial Group was the most profitable of Sony's businesses, earning $1.7 billion in profit.
2005: Introduction of BRAVIA name for LCD TVs
Until summer 2005, Sony used the LCD WEGA name for its LCD TVs, then the company introduced the BRAVIA name.
2006: Sony acquired the camera business of Konica Minolta
In 2006, Sony entered the digital single-lens reflex camera market by acquiring the camera business of Konica Minolta and rebranded the camera line as Alpha.
2006: Laptop battery controversy and recall
In 2006, Sony faced controversy when some of its laptop batteries exploded and caught fire, leading to a large computer-related recall.
2006: Sony lost its No.1 market share in global television market
In 2006, Sony lost its decades-long No.1 market share in the global television market.
2006: Release of PlayStation 3
In 2006, Sony released the PlayStation 3, a high-definition console and the first to use the Blu-ray format.
2006: ARccOS Protection and Recall
In 2006, Sony started using ARccOS Protection on some of their film DVDs but later issued a recall.
2006: First Blu-ray players commercially available
In 2006, the first Blu-ray players became commercially available, marking a milestone in disc-based content delivery.
June 2007: Sony ranked in Greenpeace guide
In June 2007, Sony ranked 14th on the Greenpeace guide.
November 2007: Release of the Sony XEL-1, the first OLED television
In November 2007, the Sony XEL-1, the first OLED television, was released.
2007: Sony fined for fixing professional videotape prices
In 2007 an investigation launched in 2002 by the European Commission culminated in Sony receiving a 110 million US dollar fine for fixing professional videotape prices between the years 1999 and 2002.
2007: Acquisition of Famous Music
In 2007, Sony BMG acquired Famous Music for US$370 million, gaining rights to the catalogues of Eminem and Akon.
2007: Launch of Apple's iPhone
In 2007, Sony Ericsson faced increased competition with the release of Apple's iPhone.
2007: Discontinuation of Trinitron-based television set in the U.S.
In early 2007, Sony discontinued the last Trinitron-based television set in the U.S., marking the end of Sony's analog television sets and monitors.
December 2008: Sony announces job cuts
On 9 December 2008, Sony announced that it would be cutting 8,000 jobs, dropping 8,000 contractors and reducing its global manufacturing sites by 10% to save $1.1 billion per year.
2008: Workforce Reduction at Sony Ericsson
In 2008, Sony Ericsson began slashing its workforce due to a global recession.
2008: Formation of New Sony Music Entertainment
In 2008, Sony bought out Bertelsmann's share in Sony BMG and formed a new Sony Music Entertainment.
2008: Purchase of Gracenote
In 2008, Sony purchased digital music recognition company Gracenote for US$260 million.
July 2009: Joint venture agreement between Sony and Sharp
In July 2009, Sony and Sharp executed a joint venture agreement for the establishment and operation of Sharp Display Products Corporation (SDP).
2009: Sony Ericsson Ranked Fourth Globally
In 2009, Sony Ericsson was the fourth-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world.
2009: Introduction of "make.believe" Slogan
In 2009, Sony introduced the slogan "make.believe" as a unified brand message for its global operations.
2009: Release of PSP Go
In 2009, Sony released the PSP Go, a disc-less version of its PlayStation Portable.
2009: Sony trades in over-priced ranges
In 2009, Sony traded in over-priced ranges.
April 1, 2010: Sony releases patch for PS3
On April 1, 2010, Sony released a patch for the PS3 that removed OtherOS from being installed onto the system.
2010: Market Share Decline for Sony Ericsson
By 2010, Sony Ericsson's market share had fallen to sixth place among mobile phone manufacturers.
2010: Sony Pictures Group Sales
In 2010, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.'s group sales were US$7.2 billion.
2010: Sony acquired iCyt Mission Technology, Inc.
In 2010, Sony acquired iCyt Mission Technology, Inc., a manufacturer of flow cytometers, as part of its strategy to target the medical, healthcare, and biotechnology business sectors.
2010: Sony discontinues 3.5-inch floppy disks
In 2010, Sony decided to discontinue the 3.5" floppy disk format, holding a 70 percent share of the market at the time.
2010: Introduction of first mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
In 2010, Sony introduced their first mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, the NEX-3 and NEX-5, and started a new lens mount system, the E-mount.
January 12, 2011: Sony fills lawsuits against geohot and fail0verflow
On January 12, 2011, Sony filled lawsuits against geohot and fail0verflow for their efforts on exploiting the PS3.
April 2011: Amendment of joint venture agreement between Sony and Sharp
In April 2011, Sony and Sharp amended the joint venture agreement originally executed in July 2009.
November 2011: Sony ranked in Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics
In November 2011, Sony was ranked ninth (jointly with Panasonic) in Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics, scoring 3.6/10.
December 2011: Sony market capitalization plunges
By December 2011, Sony's market capitalization had plunged to $18 billion.
December 2011: Sony sells stake in LCD joint venture with Samsung Electronics
In December 2011, Sony agreed to sell its stake in an LCD joint venture with Samsung Electronics (S-LCD) for about $940 million.
2011: PlayStation 2 Sales Milestone
As of 2011, the PlayStation 2 had sold over 150 million units, making it the most successful console of all time.
2011: Sony Pictures Market Share
In 2011, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. had a 12.5% box office market share, ranking it third among movie studios.
2011: Acquisition of Micronics, Inc.
In 2011, Sony acquired Micronics, Inc., a developer of microfluidics-based diagnostic tools, as part of its plan to target medical, healthcare, and biotechnology businesses.
2011: Sony faces financial difficulty
In 2011, Sony faced financial difficulty due to increased competition for PlayStation and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, leading to three consecutive years of losses.
2011: Launch of Sony Tablet line of Android tablets
In 2011, Sony launched its Sony Tablet line of Android tablets to enter the tablet computer market.
March 2012: Amendment of joint venture agreement between Sony and Sharp
On March 28, 2012, Sony and Sharp announced they had agreed to further amend the joint venture agreement originally executed in July 2009.
April 2012: Sony to reduce workforce
In April 2012, Sony announced it would reduce its workforce by 10,000 as part of CEO Kaz Hirai's effort to get the company back into the black, after a loss of 520 billion yen.
May 2012: Sony's market capitalization valued at about $15 billion
In May 2012, Sony's market capitalization was valued at about $15 billion.
September 2012: Olympus and Sony Announce Joint Venture
In September 2012, Olympus and Sony announced a joint venture to develop new surgical endoscopes with 4K resolution and 3D capability.
2012: Sony was the third-largest maker of televisions in the world
As of 2012, Sony was the third-largest maker of televisions in the world and the business unit had been unprofitable for eight consecutive years.
2012: Kazuo Hirai Promoted to President and CEO
In 2012, Kazuo Hirai was promoted to president and CEO of Sony, replacing Howard Stringer.
2012: Sony Acquires Ericsson's Share
In 2012, Sony acquired Ericsson's share of the joint venture for over US$1 billion and shifted focus exclusively to the smartphone market under the Xperia brand.
2012: Acquisition of So-net Entertainment Corporation Shares
In 2012, Sony announced its plan to acquire all shares of So-net Entertainment Corporation, the largest shareholder of M3, Inc., a healthcare portal site operator.
2012: PlayStation Vita Release
In 2012, Sony released its second portable video game system, PlayStation Vita.
2012: Unveiling of Crystal LED Display Prototype
In 2012, Sony revealed a prototype of an ultrafine RGB LED display, which it calls the Crystal LED Display.
2012: Rollout of Sony Entertainment Network
In 2012, Sony rolled most of its consumer content services into the Sony Entertainment Network, which was the predecessor of PlayStation Network.
2012: Sony/ATV acquired majority stake in EMI Music Publishing
In 2012, Sony/ATV acquired a majority stake in EMI Music Publishing, making it the world's largest music publishing company.
2012: Sony Biotechnology Inc. Renamed
In 2012, iCyt Mission Technology, Inc., which Sony had previously acquired, was renamed Sony Biotechnology Inc.
2012: Sony Android products marketed under the Xperia brand
Since 2012, Sony's Android products have been marketed under the Xperia brand, aligning them with its smartphones.
January 2013: Sony sells US headquarters building
In January 2013, Sony announced it was selling its US headquarters building for $1.1 billion.
April 2013: Establishment of Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
In April 2013, Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc. was established as a joint venture between Sony (51%) and Olympus (49%) to develop new surgical endoscopes.
August 2013: Introduction of first Alpha MILC
In August 2013, Sony introduced the α3000, the first Alpha mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC).
November 2013: PlayStation 4 Launch
On November 15th, 2013, Sony launched its fourth console, the PlayStation 4.
2013: Further job cuts in mobile phone unit
In 2013, Sony continued to cut jobs in its mobile phone unit.
2013: Demonstration of first 4K OLED television
In 2013, Sony demonstrated the first 4K OLED television.
2013: Sony's Mobile Phone Market Share
In 2013, Sony held approximately two percent of the mobile phone market, having sold 37 million mobile phones.
2013: Release of Televisions with Improved Triluminos
In 2013, Sony released a new line of televisions with an improved version of the Triluminos technology, incorporating quantum dots in the backlight system.
January 2014: Moody's drops Sony's credit rating
On 28 January 2014, Moody's Investors Services dropped Sony's credit rating to Ba1, citing weak and volatile profitability.
February 2014: Sale of Vaio PC Division and TV Division Spin-off
In February 2014, Sony announced the sale of its Vaio PC division and the spinning off of its TV division into its own corporation.
February 2014: Establishment of P5, Inc. Joint Venture
In February 2014, Sony, M3, and Illumina established a joint venture called P5, Inc. to offer genome analysis services for research institutions and enterprises in Japan.
February 2014: Sony announces job cuts
On 6 February 2014, Sony announced it would trim as many as 5,000 jobs as it attempts to sell its PC business and focus on mobile and tablets.
February 2014: Sony announced the sale of its VAIO PC business
On February 4, 2014, Sony announced that it would sell its VAIO PC business due to poor sales.
March 2014: Finalization of the deal to sell VAIO brand to Japan Industrial Partners
By the end of March 2014, the deal was finalized for Japanese company Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) to purchase the VAIO brand.
March 2014: Announcement of Project Morpheus
On March 18th, 2014, Sony announced their new virtual reality technology dubbed Project Morpheus, and later named PlayStation VR.
May 2014: Joint Ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group
In May 2014, Sony announced forming two joint ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to manufacture and market PlayStation game consoles and associated software in China.
2014: Peak Sales for Sony Mobile
In 2014, Sony Mobile's sales reached a peak with 40 million handsets sold.
2014: Sony South Africa closes TV, Hi-Fi, and camera divisions
In 2014, Sony South Africa closed its TV, Hi-Fi, and camera divisions.
2014: Introduction of Alpha mirrorless cameras
In 2014, Sony introduced the α5000 and the α6000, successors to the NEX-5, NEX-6, and NEX-7 mirrorless cameras.
2014: Sony Participates in NRG Energy eVgo REV program
In 2014, Sony participated within NRG Energy eVgo Ready for Electric Vehicle (REV) program, for EV charging parking lots.
2014: Sale of Gracenote
In 2014, Tribune Media Company acquired Gracenote from Sony for $170 million.
2014: Hack Attack on Sony Pictures
In late 2014, Sony Pictures became the target of a hack attack from a clandestine group called Guardians of Peace before releasing the film 'The Interview'.
May 2015: Sony Leads Virtual Reality Patent Race
According to a report released in May 2015, Sony leads the virtual reality patent race with 366 virtual reality patents or patent applications.
2015: Purchase of Toshiba's Image Sensor Business
In 2015, Sony acquired Toshiba's image sensor business.
2015: Introduction of LDAC audio coding technology
In 2015, Sony introduced LDAC, a proprietary audio coding technology allowing high-resolution audio streaming over Bluetooth at up to 990 kbit/s. LDAC was also contributed to the Android Open Source Project.
2015: Sony invests in ZMP INC.
In 2015, Sony invested $842,000 in ZMP INC., leading to speculations about developing self-driving cars.
2015: Partnership with ZMP INC.
In 2015, Sony partnered with autonomous driving startup ZMP INC. to establish an aerial surveillance and reconnaissance drone manufacturer named Aerosense.
October 2016: Release of PlayStation VR
On October 13th, 2016, Sony released PlayStation VR worldwide.
December 2016: Consideration of Restructuring U.S. Operations
In December 2016, it was reported that Sony was considering restructuring its U.S. operations by merging its TV & film business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, with its gaming business, Sony Interactive Entertainment.
2016: End of 1/2-inch Video Tape Recorder Production
In 2016, Sony announced it was stopping production of all remaining 1/2-inch video tape recorders and players, including the Digital Betacam format.
2016: Revival of Robotics Operations
In 2016, Sony decided to revive its robotics-related operations after ceasing them for 10 years due to financial difficulties.
2016: Sony sells lithium-ion battery business
In 2016, Sony decided to sell its lithium-ion battery business to Murata Manufacturing.
December 2017: PlayStation 4 Sales Milestone
As of December 31, 2017, Sony had sold 73.6 million PlayStation 4 units globally.
2017: Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics rated Sony
As of May 2018 Greenpeace's 2017 Guide to Greener Electronics rated Sony approximately in the middle among electronics manufacturers with a grade of D+.
2017: Funimation acquired by Sony
In 2017, Funimation was acquired by Sony and included subsidiaries such as Wakanim and Madman Anime.
2017: Sony South Africa re-enters market
In 2017, Sony South Africa re-entered the market, facilitated by Premium Brand Distributors (Pty) Ltd.
2017: Launch of OLED televisions under the BRAVIA brand
In 2017, Sony launched OLED televisions under the BRAVIA brand.
2017: Sony Mobile Sales in 2017
In 2017, Sony shipped 13.5 million mobile phones.
2017: Sale of Lithium-Ion Battery Business
In 2017, Sony sold its lithium-ion battery business to Murata Manufacturing.
2017: Potential Merger Decision Date
In 2017, Sony was set to make a final decision by the end of its fiscal year in March on the possibility of merging its TV, film, & gaming businesses.
May 2018: Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics rated Sony
As of May 2018 Greenpeace's 2017 Guide to Greener Electronics rated Sony approximately in the middle among electronics manufacturers with a grade of D+.
November 2018: Sony posts losses in mobile phone division
In November 2018, Sony's earning report showed a loss of approximately US$480 million in the mobile phone division, prompting downsizing.
2018: Sony maintained a 5% stake in VAIO
As of 2018, Sony maintained a 5% stake in the new, independent VAIO company.
2018: Sony bought the remaining shares in EMI Music Publishing
In 2018, Sony bought the rest of the shares in EMI Music Publishing, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
2018: Sony Mobile Sales in 2018
In 2018, Sony shipped 6.5 million mobile phones.
March 2019: Announcement of PlayStation 4 Successor
On March 31st, 2019, Sony announced the successor to the PlayStation 4.
September 2019: LDAC certified with Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification
On September 17, 2019, the Japan Audio Society (JAS) certified LDAC with their Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. LDAC and LHDC are the only codecs with this certification.
2019: Launch of ELTRES LPWAN standard
In 2019, Sony launched ELTRES, the company's proprietary low-power wide-area wireless communication (LPWAN) standard.
2019: Merging of Mobile, TV, and Camera Businesses
In 2019, Sony merged its mobile, TV, and camera businesses.
2019: Sony ranked 13th for patent applications
In 2019, Sony was ranked 13th in the world for the number of patent applications published under the PCT System with 1,566 applications.
January 2020: Sony unveils Vision-S concept electric car
In January 2020, Sony unveiled a concept electric car named Vision-S at the Consumer Electronics Show, designed with Magna International.
April 2020: Establishment of Sony Electronics Corporation
On April 1, 2020, Sony Electronics Corporation was established as an intermediate holding company to own and oversee its electronics and IT solutions businesses.
May 2020: Name Change Announcement
On 19 May 2020, Sony announced that it would change its name to Sony Group Corporation as of 1 April 2021 and Sony Electronics Corporation would be renamed to Sony Corporation.
November 2020: PlayStation 5 Release
On November 12th, 2020, Sony released the PlayStation 5 in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
December 2020: Funimation to buy Crunchyroll
In December 2020, Funimation announced it would buy AT&T's animation business Crunchyroll for $1.175 billion.
2020: Sony's business segments in 2020
As of 2020, Sony is organized into business segments including Game & Network Services (G&NS), Music, Pictures, Electronics Products & Solutions (EP&S), and more.
2020: Largest Manufacturer of CMOS Image Sensors
As of 2020, Sony is the world's largest manufacturer of CMOS image sensors, widely used in digital cameras, tablets, smartphones, drones, and self-driving systems.
2020: Wide Range of Semiconductors and Electronic Components
As of 2020, Sony, through Sony Semiconductor Solutions, designs, manufactures, and sells various semiconductors and electronic components, including image sensors, image processors, laser diodes, and more.
2020: Sony calls on the EU to adopt an unconditional greenhouse emission reduction target
By 2020, Sony had called on the EU to adopt an unconditional 30% reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions.
2020: Sony patent applications
In 2020, 1,793 patent applications were published by Sony.
2020: Launch of Intelligent Vision Sensors with AI Edge Computing
In 2020, Sony launched the first intelligent vision sensors with AI edge computing capabilities.
2020: Sony Mobile Handsets Shipped in FY 2020
In FY 2020, Sony shipped 2.9 million mobile phone handsets.
January 2021: PlayStation 5 Launch in Indonesia
On January 22, 2021, the PlayStation 5 was launched in Indonesia.
April 2021: Sony Corporation changes name to Sony Electronics Corporation
On April 1, 2021, Sony Corporation changed its name to Sony Electronics Corporation.
April 2021: Renaming to Sony Group Corporation
On April 1, 2021, Sony Corporation was renamed Sony Group Corporation. On the same day, Sony Mobile Communications Inc. absorbed Sony Electronics Corporation, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc., and Sony Home Entertainment & Sound Products Inc. and changed its trade name to Sony Corporation.
April 2021: Planned Name Change to Sony Group Corporation
On April 1, 2021, Sony was planning to change its name to Sony Group Corporation and rename Sony Electronics Corporation to Sony Corporation.
August 2021: Acquisition of Crunchyroll Completed
In August 2021, the acquisition of Crunchyroll by Funimation was completed.
2021: Unveiling of Airpeak Drone
At CES 2021, Sony unveiled Airpeak, its own-brand drone that can incorporate a Sony Alpha camera, marking its entry into the drone business.
2021: Transformation into a Holding Company
In 2021, Sony transformed into a holding company, with the name Sony Corporation being handed over to its subsidiary, the electronics company.
2021: Ranked 88th on Fortune Global 500 list
In 2021, Sony was ranked 88th on the Fortune Global 500 list, showcasing its position as a major global corporation.
2021: Sony ranked ninth for patent applications
In 2021, Sony was ranked ninth in the world for the number of patent applications published under the PCT System.
2022: Crunchyroll becomes the successor company to Funimation
In 2022, Crunchyroll, co-owned by Aniplex and Sony Pictures, became the successor company to Funimation.
2022: Sony and Honda launch electric vehicle joint venture
In 2022, Sony Group and Honda launched a joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) for their electric vehicle partnership.
March 2023: Largest Sony shareholders listed
As of 31 March 2023, Sony listed its largest shareholders.
December 2023: Sony to remove Discovery app and its content from gaming consoles
In December 2023, Sony announced that it will remove the Discovery app and its content, even if previously paid for, from its gaming consoles.
2023: Ranked 57th in the Forbes Global 2000
In 2023, Sony was ranked 57th in the Forbes Global 2000, highlighting its strong global presence and performance.
2023: Sony Honda Mobility announces "Afeela" brand
In 2023, the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture announced their new "Afeela" brand and its first prototype model at CES.
January 2024: Sony valuation and cash reserves
As of January 2024, Sony was valued at over $112 billion and recognized as the most cash-rich Japanese company, with net cash reserves of ¥1.8 trillion.
February 2024: Agreement with Disney for Physical Media Distribution
In February 2024, Sony entered into an agreement with Disney under which Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Corporation of Japan will handle the release of Disney products on DVD and Blu-ray on a licensing model.
2026: Sony Honda Mobility EV Launch
By 2026, Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) is expected to deliver its first electric vehicles and sell them online, starting in the United States and Japan.
