$SONY

Sony launched the Xperia 1 VIII premium Android phone in the UK for £1,399 and in Europe for €1,499, with no US launch planned, according to the company and 9to5Google. Sony says it includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated microSD slot. The phone ships June 19, features a fixed 70mm 48MP telephoto lens, 12GB/256GB base storage, and 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging.

Sony ADRs rose 2.96% to $24.31 premarket after Sony said it will fund a $4.69 billion image-sensor partnership with TSMC. The move implied about $4.18 billion in added equity value. Sony plans Kumamoto investment of 465 billion yen, TSMC 282 billion yen, with volume production targeted for 2029. Sony also raised FY operating profit outlook to ¥1.72 trillion.

Stop Killing Games said it supports Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C) in its lawsuit against Sony after Sony ended physical disc production. SM&C alleges PlayStation Store pricing control caused about €435 million in losses to Dutch players since 2013. The article also notes US and EU legislative developments affecting game access and refunds.

Sony filed a US patent application (US 2026/0225261 A1) for a robotic hand with a human-like opposable thumb, published Aug. 6, according to the USPTO and analyzed by Patentlyze. The filing describes a thumb mechanism using three rotation points and includes drawings of a full humanoid robot. No commercialization is indicated.

Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay are backing Stichting Massaschade & Consument’s Dutch collective-action lawsuit against Sony over alleged PlayStation Store “monopoly” pricing. The claim seeks up to €435 million, citing a 12% commission vs 30% and higher digital prices. A June 29 hearing addressed jurisdiction; no liability ruling yet. Sony says it will end physical disc production for new PS games from Jan 2028.

Nikkei reports Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) plan a joint venture to mass-produce next-generation image sensor chips in Kumamoto, Japan, by 2029. The JV is expected to be set up by end of fiscal 2026, with Sony at about 60% and TSMC about 40%. Separately, China AI and chip stocks swung amid state support and IPO activity.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 957.29 points, or 1.42%, to 68,481.35, extending gains after mixed Wall Street cues. Financials and some tech stocks led, while automakers were weaker. SoftBank Group gained over 2%, Advantest rose nearly 5%. Japan producer prices rose 7.2% y/y in July, below expectations.

Foreign investment in Japan’s chip industry has reached 6 trillion yen (about $37 billion), according to the report. The figure is linked to a recent deal involving Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., including plans for an image sensor plant in Japan.

TSMC and Sony Semiconductor Solutions signed a definitive agreement to form a Japan-based JV, Advanced Vision Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, in Kumamoto. The JV will develop and manufacture smartphone image sensors, with volume production targeted for 2029. Sony will be sole controlling shareholder. TSMC plans ~282 billion yen cash investment; Sony ~465 billion yen via cash and asset transfers, subject to approvals.

Sony’s WH-CH520 is discounted to $38 on Amazon, down 46% from $69.99. According to import filings and FCC records reviewed by The Walkman Blog and confirmed by Android Authority, the WH-CH530 successor has cleared certification in seven markets and may be announced around August. The WH-CH520 offers 50-hour battery life, no ANC, and uses SBC/AAC only, not LC3.