Special Feature - Unpacking the Creative Entertainment Vision

The Corporate Report 2025 begins with a message from Hiroki Totoki, who in April 2025 assumed the role of President and CEO. Reflecting on the core business principles set by past CEOs, such as the "KANDO" concept proposed by Kazuo Hirai and Sony's Purpose to "Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology," as defined by Kenichiro Yoshida, Totoki proceeds to summarize Sony's transformation over the past few years, especially Sony's expansion of its intellectual property (IP) and its development and utilization of new innovative technologies in its effort to support creators.

Totoki then reiterates the objectives of the Creative Entertainment Vision presented at the Corporate Strategy Meeting in May 2024, and introduces the initiatives based on the vision which were established both within and across Sony's business segments of Game & Network Services, Music, Pictures, Entertainment Technology & Services, and Imaging & Sensing Solutions. He particularly emphasizes the diversity of both business and people as paramount for realizing the Creative Entertainment Vision.

Following the message from Totoki, the report presents a special feature article on the Creative Entertainment Vision. The article begins by illustrating the path towards Sony's envisioned future, which focuses on "IP Creation," "IP Cultivation," and "IP 360/Extension," and how these are related to its "Technology & Platform Enabler." Among several specific initiatives related to these approaches, technologies, and platforms, the feature highlights two IPs in detail.

Presented first is Solo Leveling, a webtoon which was animated and distributed recently, and which exemplifies both IP Creation and Cultivation. The article delves into the collaboration between Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), and the anime-focused DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) service Crunchyroll, detailing the project's inception and the meticulous attention to detail and technology utilized during the production process, as well as various initiatives to boost audience excitement.

The second example focuses on IP Cultivation and IP360/ Extension efforts surrounding The Last of Us and its ever-increasing value across over a decade. Originally released as a PlayStation®3 game title, The Last of Us grew into a popular gaming franchise and was adapted into a television drama series, developing and expanding the IP's value. Subsequently, the franchise was brought into the physical world with a proof-of-concept exhibition at CES® 2025.

Discourse on Strategy from the Four Chief Officers

Following the new management structure introduced on April 1 of this year, four Chief Officers have been appointed to assist Totoki, aiming for a leaner corporate structure that enables prompt and efficient decision-making in response to the ever-changing business environment. The Corporate Report 2025 is the first such report issued under this new management structure and includes insights from each of these Chief Officers regarding their respective areas of responsibility:

• Toshimoto Mitomo (Chief Strategy Officer): Creating synergy between Sony's business segments as CSO, while promoting collaboration both within and outside the Group to grow Sony's medium-to-long-term corporate value
• Tsuyoshi Kodera (Chief Digital Officer): Focusing on the effective use of technology, data, AI, and other resources to support fans, creators, and each business segment
• Yasuhiro Ito (Chief People Officer): Developing an organizational structure that leverages the diversity of Sony's employees and business segments as strengths to achieve further value creation and sustainably drive the growth of employees and the Group
• Lin Tao (Chief Financial Officer): Statement regarding taking the role of CFO, outlining the progress of the fifth mid-range plan, overview of capital allocation and the business portfolio, and future strategies for building corporate value

Revisiting Materiality and Medium-Term Environmental Targets through Fiscal Year 2030

Additionally, the sustainability section of the report elucidates the background behind key sustainability issues (materiality) that were revisited this year, laying out the relationship between these issues and Sony's Sustainability Vision, as well as the focus areas of each business segment with regards to this topic. Sony aims to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2050 through its "Road to Zero" long-term environmental plan, setting medium-term goals every five years which are calculated from the target year. The sustainability section thus explains the recently published medium-term environmental goals for fiscal years 2026 to 2030, titled "Green Management 2030."

For more detailed information about Sony's sustainability and CSR-related measures, please refer to the "Sustainability Report 2025" issued August 29, 2025, which provides a comprehensive non-financial report on such matters.

Since its first publication in 2019, Sony's Corporate Report has continuously prioritized explaining to shareholders and other stakeholders the story of how value is created based on Sony's Purpose. In addition to the topics outlined above, the report also highlights examples of financial performance, value creation sorted by each business, and messages from outside directors, serving as a representation of Sony's current status and future direction.