With the PlayStation 5, Sony sees a long-term cash cow amid gaming boom

Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 5 video game console went on sale Thursday, a key test of the company's ability to sustain its biggest growth engine during a coronavirus-era gaming boom. The new PlayStation is Sony's most important gadget since the Walkman, and it goes head-to-head with Microsoft Corp.'s next-generation Xbox over the holidays. The PlayStation 5 is anchored by the new Spider-Man game. Both consoles have chalked up solid sales since initial orders started in September, straining supplies. The ¥49,980 PlayStation 5 -- a version without an optical drive goes for ¥39,980 -- marks a watershed moment for a company once synonymous with music players and Trinitron TVs.