Sony created the PlayStation brand and was founded as an electronics company in 1946.
Sony was established in Tokyo on May 7, 1946, by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. The company was originally named Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, or Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation, and adopted the name Sony in 1958. It built international recognition through consumer electronics, audio equipment, televisions, cameras, and entertainment.
Sony launched the first PlayStation in Japan in December 1994 and later expanded the console worldwide. PlayStation became one of the company’s most important brands, with consoles, games, online services, and accessories contributing to Sony’s gaming business. Sony also owns major music and film operations, so its business extends well beyond hardware.
Sony is often confused with Sony Interactive Entertainment, the subsidiary responsible for PlayStation operations. Sony Corporation changed its formal name to Sony Group Corporation in 2021, reflecting the breadth of the group. The parent company is publicly traded in Japan and is among the world’s best-known diversified technology and entertainment businesses.