Sony Group Drops 3.67% Amid Gaming Ventures Concerns

On June 20, 2025, Sony Group's stock experienced a 3.67% drop in pre-market trading, reflecting investor concerns over the company's recent gaming ventures.

Sony's continued investment in live service games has yielded mixed results. While "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II" has been a significant success, other titles like "The Last of Us" multiplayer mode and "Star Wars: Eclipse" have underperformed. The upcoming releases, "Lost and Damned: Marathon" and "Fairgames$," face significant challenges, including development delays and negative reviews from early testers. The competitive landscape, particularly the anticipated release of "GTA 6" in 2026, adds to the pressure on Sony's new titles.

Bungie's "Lost and Damned: Marathon," despite its early 2026 release date, is already facing criticism. The game's test version received lukewarm feedback, and Bungie's decision to target a different audience than its core "Destiny" players has raised concerns. Additionally, the game's buy-to-play model and negative publicity surrounding alleged material theft have further complicated its prospects. Sony's $3.7 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022 is at stake, as the success of "Lost and Damned: Marathon" will be crucial in justifying this investment.