At CES 2023, Sony's 'Gran Turismo' flags new entertainment strategy
When Sony Corp Group teases “Gran Turismo,” its long-awaited adrenaline-fueled film adaptation of Sony PlayStation's hit car-racing franchise at the CES 2023 technology trade show this week, it will really be showing off its new identity as a content-driven company.
The movie reflects the transformation of the maker of the Walkman and Bravia TVs from a primarily hardware-focused innovator to broad-based entertainment provider. It also represents a significant bridging of the divides between Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony PlayStation and Sony Music, according to a dozen current and former senior executives interviewed by Reuters.
“I defined our identity as a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation on technology,” Sony chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida said.
The film's appearance at CES on a stage typically reserved for big-screen TVs and robot pets caps $10 billion in investments in music, games and anime over the last five years.
“Gran Turismo” is one of 10 game-inspired film and television projects in various stages of development.
HBO's “The Last of Us,” about a man hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl across a pandemic-plagued America, debuts on Jan. 15. “The New Yorker” suggested the series could break the curse of bad video-game adaptations.
Last month, Amazon Prime Video ordered “God of War,” a live action adaptation of the PlayStation hit based on Greek mythology.
Sony's “creative entertainment” company approach extends beyond content.
A Sony-Honda electric vehicle, scheduled to reach consumers by 2026, is being framed as a rolling showcase of Sony's entertainment, gaming and camera sensor prowess.
It will also generate recurring subscription revenue like other content services.
“Eventually, we think in
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