Sony profit jumps as game demand surges, quake damage still unclear

Sony Group Corp. reported a 32% rise in first‑quarter profit, with net earnings of 342.2 billion yen and sales up 8% to 2.84 trillion yen, driven by strong demand for PlayStation consoles and a weak yen. The company sold 1.6 million PS5 units in the quarter and saw growth in its music and imaging businesses. However, a magnitude‑7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto on July 28 damaged Sony’s semiconductor facilities, halting production at one plant and leaving the full financial impact to be assessed in future results. In a related development, camera‑lens maker Tamron disclosed that Sony has submitted an acquisition proposal.