The pair will aim to use the investment to ‘broaden their collaboration’ across Sony’s portfolio and Epic’s social entertainment platform to ‘create unique experiences for consumers and creators’.

“Epics powerful technology in areas such as graphics places them at the forefront of game engine development with Unreal Engine and other innovations Theres no better example of this than the revolutionary entertainment experience, Fortnite,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, Chairman, President, and CEO of Sony Corporation. “Through our investment, we will explore opportunities for further collaboration with Epic to delight and bring value to consumers and the industry at large, not only in games, but also across the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape,”

Sony’s investment virtually coincides with its failure to pique the interest of Leyou Technologies. The Japanese electronics giant lost out to Tencent on entering into exclusive talks with the Hong Kong-based gaming firm.

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On 1 December, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions, Sony Mobile Communications, and Verizon collaborated to demonstrate how 5G technology and streaming can be used in live sports broadcasting. During the NFL’s Texans vs. New England Patriots game earlier this month, a camera person from NBC Sports used Sony’s PXW-Z450 shoulder camcorder to capture the game. The video was sent through to a production room in the NRG Stadium, with the help of Sony’s prototype transmitter box, Xperia 5G mmWave device, and Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network.

The success of the live broadcast experiment proved that 5G-connected cameras could have a large impact on the way telecoms display future live sporting events. By combining Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband low latency and high bandwidth with Sony’s mobile device, video, and encoding expertise enabled low-latency high-quality video, the broadcast was sent in almost real time to NBC producers. In the future, the same 5G-connected cameras could be used to transmit to remote production teams that aren’t located at the site of the sporting event. Another advantage to 5G is the use of wireless connectivity, so cameras can use all angles and positions to capture the games.

“We are extremely pleased to have completed a successful 5G collaboration with Verizon,” said Mikio Kita, senior general manager of Media Solution Business Division, Professional Products & Solutions Group, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc. “Sony is uniquely positioned to offer an end-to-end solution for professional content creation and mobile communication technology, and our joint achievement on this proof of concept of live sports production will pave the way for wider 5G applications.”

“Verizon’s 5G network is built to transform industries and we’re thrilled to demonstrate how it can change the way live sports broadcasts are captured and delivered,” said Nicki Palmer, chief product development officer at Verizon. “5G’s high bandwidth and low latency can enable high definition video to be streamed essentially in real time and captured with no wires on the field.”

“It was exciting to see Sony’s 5G product coming to life,” said David Mazza, CTO, NBC Sports Group. “The picture quality is excellent, and we look forward to the day when we can deploy a wireless camera this easily as part of the 5G rollouts around the country.”

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The partnership sees Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and movie villain Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio pop-up at four of the world’s most famous landmarks. Using Snapchat’s AR Landmarker Lens, fans at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, the Flatiron Building in New York City, Buckingham Palace in London, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris are able to see the pair in action.

When Snapchatters are near any of the four locations, a Spider-Man icon will appear in their lens carousel. If they select the icon, the screen will tell the user to find the building and point their camera at it – leading to Mysterio appear in a cloud of smoke while Spider-Man swings across the screen and lands in front of the Snapchatter to take a selfie with the iconic building.

The lens, which available from today, is targeted toward movie goers in particular, while Spider-Man fans outside of the four major cities will have access to a Spider-Man Selfie Lens from 28 June. The campaign will also feature Story Ads in the form of a ‘newsflash’ reporting on where Spider-Man has been seen around the city.

“In Spider-Man: Far from Home, Peter Parker travels the globe, so it only made sense to enable augmented reality effects for Spidey fans around the world,” said Elias Plishner, EVP of digital marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment. “Sony Pictures could not be happier to partner with Snapchat and their new Landmarker Lens Technology to transform iconic landmarks in various cities into a first of its kind Spider-Man experience.”

The AR experience comes weeks after Snapchat teamed with 20^th Century Fox and Odeon Cinemas to promote the release of X-Men: Dark Phoenix with posters and large format standees featuring the film’s star, Sophie Turner, that could be brought life by pointing the camera at them via Snapchat.

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Sony and Microsoft have announced that they will be partnering to optimize and advance direct-to-consumer entertainment products and AI technology. Included in the memorandum of understanding, Sony and Microsoft will specifically work to re-evaluate current cloud capabilities within Microsoft Azure, and expand future cloud solutions. The main goal is to make Microsoft Azure compatible with Sonys game and content-streaming services.

The partnership also aims to put more focus on semiconductors and AI, including the potential joint development of intelligent image sensor solutions. Sony plans to combine its image sensors with Microsoft’s Azure AI technology throughout the cloud and edge platforms. Both companies also want to integrate Microsoft’s AI platform into Sony’s products and technology, giving the consumer a better AI experience.

“Sony is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. We collaborate closely with a multitude of content creators that capture the imagination of people around the world, and through our cutting-edge technology, we provide the tools to bring their dreams and vision to reality,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, president and CEO of Sony. “PlayStation itself came about through the integration of creativity and technology. Our mission is to seamlessly evolve this platform as one that continues to deliver the best and most immersive entertainment experiences, together with a cloud environment that ensures the best possible experience, anytime, anywhere.

“For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas. I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content. Additionally, I hope that in the areas of semiconductors and AI, leveraging each company’s cutting-edge technology in a mutually complementary way will lead to the creation of new value for society,” continued Yoshida.

“Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers.”

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PlayStation Vue has announced the launch of multi-viewing on Apple TV, which will enables users to watch four live channels split on one screen. The feature, which has already been extremely popular on PlayStation 4, is rolling out at the same time March Madness begins, giving users more viewing options.

“This comes just in time for NCAA March Madness, so you can keep an eye on all the action or mix and match live games with live news or other programs,” said Dwayne Benefield, VP, general manager of PlayStation Vue.

In addition to multi-view on Apple TV, the PS4 console is receiving two new updates. The PS4’s multi-view feature will now allow real-time program changing, so that viewers won’t have to start the process over again each time they add a new channel to the screen. PlayStation has also added new filters for Sports and News, so users can more easily find the programs they want faster.

PlayStation Vue, which is Sony’s live TV streaming service, offers channel packages starting at $44.99 a month and up. PlayStation Vue is supported by PlayStation console’s, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, iOS and Android mobile devices, PC/Mac browsers and Chromecast.

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Sony Mobile UK and Mediacom have partnered with AdColony, an online marketplace for video advertising, to create the Aurora Interactive HD Mobile Video unit for the launch of the Xperia XZ2 smartphone. Aurora Interactive HD Video will be the first of its kind in the U.K, using life-like graphics and interactive digital content to heighten brand awareness and increase the audience’s intent to buy advertised products.

The Xperia XZ2 smartphone features HDR display with X-reality, Sonys Dynamic Vibration System, an advanced Motion Eye camera, and high-resolution audio, to contribute to a fully immersive digital experience. In order to further market the Xperia XZ2, Sony Mobile UK wanted to create a digital campaign in which each unique feature of the Xperia XZ2 would appeal to all five senses. Sony, Mediacom, and AdColony created an “interactive mobile video campaign”, allowing consumers to experience video content in an engaging and advanced setting.

“Sony Mobile UK and Mediacom were excited by the possibilities of interactive video and set a really clear brief to excite users through mobile video,” said Will Dorling, U.K brand director at AdColony, “Driving the project from the front they made sure that the execution was considered before initial assets were completed meaning that we could create the best possible execution.”

The campaign combined the advanced gaming capabilities and the progressive technology of the Xperia XZ2 to enhance the consumer’s overall video gaming experience. To add even more interactive content to the Xperia XZ2, a built-in wipe away feature was debuted. This compelled gamers to wipe away dust and debris that had settled on the screen, kicked up by passing race cars. Furthering the engagement of the content, Sony’s Dynamic Vibration System prompted the phone to shake and rumble in unison with the video game.

The campaign resulted in video engagement rates climbing to 78 per cent, which was “more than 25 times higher than the benchmark engagement rates of standard video campaigns or rich media executions”. The ad had 1.5m total interactions, with one-third of those interactions coming from unique users. A brand study conducted by Nielsen found that the purchase intent of the campaign participants had increased by 8.6 per cent, over an undisclosed control segment. Sony Mobile UK’s brand recall increased by four per cent, versus a competitor handset.

“Video advertising, with the combination of sight, sound and motion has long been proven as the best method to build awareness for brands,” said Dorling, “Mobile technology now enables brands to layer on unique immersive experiences such as touch and vibration to draw users deeper into the creative.”

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The electronics giant has signed a letter of intent with Green Cab, International Automobile, Kusumi Transportation, Daiwa Motor Transport, Checker Cab Radio Cooperative Association, and Hinomaru Transportation to improve convenience for customers in the island nation.

Under the plans, the new company formed will focus on the development and operation of services that use AI technology, the development and management of apps related to the ride hailing system, the use of taxi data, and the use of Sony’s payment service.

The services developed will be offered to all platforms available to taxi operators that wish to participate across Japan. Sony says it intends to introduce different packages to suit the different needs of each platform.

Currently in Japan, non-professional drivers are banned from offering taxi services due to safety concerns. As a result, ride hailing firms can only offer services that link users with existing taxi fleets via mobile.

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The wristband monitors and displays blood sugar levels, activity, sleep, heart rate, and alerts the user when their glucose levels drop. It has been designed to work with the Sony cloud solution and Xperia smart app.

The prototype connects to a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) smart transmitter – provided by Senseonics – via Bluetooth, and is powered by Altair’s ALT1210 LTE-M/Cat-M1 chipset.  

“The wristband prototype is one proof of concept for health services with the potential to significantly improve quality of life,” said Izumi Kawanishi, director and executive vice president of the product business group at Sony Mobile Communications. “We selected Altairs ALT1210 chipset as it offers unparalleled low power consumption and cost efficiency, while its reduced size is essential for integration in the wristband form factor.”

No images of the concept have been released, but Ericsson will demonstrate the wristband at its booth at Mobile World Congress (MWC) from 26 February to 1 March in Barcelona, Spain.

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The tech giant has announced that Assistant will be making its way to smart displays from LG, Sony, Lenovo, and JBL later this year. These devices will work much like Amazon’s Echo Show, but aren’t made by Google itself. The displays will have Assistant baked in, while they can still be operated via a touchscreen. The screens will enable people to watch videos from YouTube, video call with Google Duo, find photos from Google Photos, and more.

Google Assistant, which is already available on over 400m devices, will also be finding its way onto voice-activated speakers from Bang & Olufsen, iHome, JBL, LG, and more. Plus, the digital assistant will be rolling out to more Android TVs such as AirTV Player, LG U+, and Xiaomi.

Furthermore, over the coming year, headphones from Jaybird, JBL, LG, and Sony can be expected featuring Assistant. And, starting this week, Assistant will arrive to Android Auto in the US – making the assistant available to the over 400 models from more than 40 brands that Android Auto is found.

Finally, Google announced that it has decided to name all the things that Assistant does as ‘Actions’ – the same way Alexa has its ‘Skills’.  

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Along with the success of its headset sales, Sony has also sold 12.2m copies of the 150 titles it currently has available on PSVR. And it has over 130 games and other entertainment content currently in development for its VR platform – which are all due to launch by the end of 2018.

Global VR headset sales crossed 1m for the first time in Q3 2017, driven by the 490,000 units sold by Sony in the quarter alone, showing its dominance in the sector. These numbers can only be expected to continue to increase following the launch of an updated version of the PSVR headset two months ago in Japan – a market where it has more than 80 per cent share.

Elsewhere, PS4 has sold more than 70.6m units worldwide, with over 617.8m copies of PS4 games sold around the globe. Meanwhile, it has games such as God of War, Detroit: Become Human, and Marvel’s Spider-Man all on the way.

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