Recently Sony has made multiple moves to go past simply the console market, catering more towards PC gamers. Furthermore, games previously exclusive to the PlayStation like Spider-Man and God of War now have ports on PC.
They have also recently launched their InZone lineup, which are monitors and headsets targeting primarily those who game on PC. In a new interview (via Nikkei Asia), Executive Deputy President Kazuo Kii discusses their plans on moving into the esports market.
He talks about how they had these plans on marketing towards esports since even before the pandemic struck back in March of 2020. Changes with how many people consume media over the past decade led them to figuring out new ideas for business.
Q: What is the backstory behind the development of Inzone?
The concept had been under consideration before the pandemic, and three years when into the actual development. Television and audio equipment have matured as markets. When Sony reached a milestone in restructuring its TV business, we thought about the next step to take. Sony’s technology can live on in monitors and headsets for gaming.”
Q: What is Inzone’s target market?
Hardcore PC gamers. We’re going to start at the top and learn what top esports gamers want. The vision we have in mind is that of Mizuno and Nike providing shoes for athletes. You can win prize money in esports. If a monitor’s response time lags even slightly, you lose. Sony products aren’t going to let people engaged in these grueling battles down.
The esports market is one that would be very lucrative should Sony be successful in planting their foot into the space. It’s estimated that esports audiences will reach 577 million people worldwide in 2024, with some tournaments, such as the DOTA 2, having a prize pool of over 40 million USD.
The products within the InZone lineup also appear to cater towards the needs and wants of those wanting to perform well in esports titles.
With the monitors reaching refresh rates of 240 and headphones offering “Personalized 360 Spatial Sound”, there is a real possibility that Sony’s plans on becoming the “Nike of gaming gear” could come true.
In related news, Sony also now owns EVO, a popular fighting game Esports organization. So they certainly have made plenty of moves to work into this space.
