Sony

Sony launched the Walkman portable cassette player on July 1, 1979, revolutionizing personal music listening by allowing people to enjoy music on the go for the first time. The Walkman became an iconic product and established Sony as a leader in consumer electronics, changing the way people interacted with music and paving the way for future portable music devices like the iPod and modern smartphones.

In October 1987, Sony acquired CBS Records, one of the largest record companies at the time, for $2 billion. This acquisition marked Sony's major expansion into the music industry, leading to the formation of Sony Music Entertainment. The purchase enabled Sony to gain a significant foothold in the recording industry and was part of its strategy to expand into entertainment. This move played a significant role in integrating music with Sony's electronics products.

In September 1989, Sony announced it was acquiring Columbia Pictures Entertainment, a major American film studio, for $3.4 billion. This acquisition was a key step in Sony's expansion into the film industry, aiming to become a major player in global entertainment by leveraging Columbia's library and production capabilities in conjunction with its technological expertise. Sony's move into Hollywood was seen as part of its broader strategy to integrate film and electronics.

The Sony PlayStation, one of the most successful gaming consoles in history, was launched on December 3, 1994, in Japan. This marked Sony's first entry into the video game console market and revolutionized the industry by offering a CD-based system that provided superior graphics and sound quality compared to its cartridge-based competitors. The PlayStation's introduction was a key factor in the popularization of gaming as a mainstream entertainment medium.

On March 4, 2000, Sony released the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in Japan. It became the best-selling video game console of all time, selling over 155 million units worldwide. The PS2's success was due in part to its ability to play DVDs, its backward compatibility with PlayStation games, and a broad library of games. The console shaped the gaming landscape for many years and solidified Sony's place in the market as a leading console manufacturer.

On March 31, 2005, Sony appointed Sir Howard Stringer as CEO, marking the first time a non-Japanese executive was chosen to lead the company. Stringer's leadership was part of a significant restructuring effort within Sony, aiming to streamline operations and revive competitiveness in its core electronics business. His focus on entertainment and electronics convergence aligned with Sony's broader strategic goals of maintaining leadership in innovation and global market presence.

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) was launched on November 11, 2006, in Japan, and it marked an important advancement in home gaming systems. Featuring a new Cell microprocessor, integrated Blu-ray Disc player, and high-definition graphics capabilities, the PS3 was designed to be a central piece of the digital living room. Despite a rocky start and high initial price, it eventually gained popularity and became an important part of Sony's gaming lineup.

On April 1, 2012, Sony formally completed the acquisition of Ericsson's share in their joint venture, Sony Ericsson, which was rebranded to Sony Mobile Communications. This move was part of Sony's strategy to unify its mobile offerings under a single brand and strengthen its position in the smartphone market by integrating mobile communications with its other electronic products, from gaming consoles to TVs.

Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America. It was part of the eighth generation of video game consoles, competing with Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U. The PS4 quickly became a commercial success due to its powerful hardware, a strong lineup of exclusive games, and an emphasis on gaming-focused features. By the end of its life cycle, the PS4 became one of the best-selling consoles of all time.

In November 2018, Sony celebrated a significant milestone of having sold 500 million PlayStation systems worldwide. This included various versions of the PlayStation console, handheld devices, and the PS VR headset. This success underscored Sony's dominance in the gaming industry and highlighted the importance of its PlayStation brand in shaping gaming culture over decades. As a commemoration, Sony released a limited edition PS4 Pro to mark the occasion.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5), Sony's latest home video game console, launched on November 12, 2020, in various major markets. The console introduced powerful hardware upgrades, including a new SSD for faster load times, ray tracing support, and a new controller with advanced haptic feedback. The PS5 became one of the fastest-selling consoles in history, despite facing significant supply constraints due to high demand and global semiconductor shortages.