Sony's Latest Acquisition Sends Shockwaves Through the Industry!
Sony expands its acquisition streak, securing another US company following their recent purchase of Concord developer Firewalk Studios The tech giant's expansion strategy gains momentum
Highlights
Sony Interactive Entertainment is set to acquire Audeze, a renowned U.S. headphone manufacturer. This strategic move aims to elevate the gaming audio capabilities of Sony and provide PlayStation users with an unparalleled audio experience.
Audeze, renowned for its exceptional wireless gaming headsets, remains committed to developing products for recording professionals and audiophiles in addition to its gaming lineup. While the financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed, it is anticipated to be a substantial amount, likely in the low eight-digit range, considering Audeze's funding history and projected revenues. Sony intends for Audeze to maintain its autonomy as a separate entity.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is set to acquire Audeze, a prestigious U.S. headphone manufacturer. This acquisition comes shortly after Sony welcomed Firewalk Studios to their esteemed roster of first-party PlayStation developers.
Established in 2008, Audeze is a prominent California-based company renowned for its cutting-edge audio technologies, especially its high-quality headphones. Over the years, Audeze has successfully captured the gaming market with their exceptional product offerings. Today, Audeze is recognized as a leading manufacturer of top-notch wireless gaming headsets.
Sony announced on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Audeze, a premium headphone maker. This move is part of Sony's ongoing efforts to innovate in the gaming audio sphere. According to Hideaki Nishino, the SVP of Platform Experience, this acquisition will enable Sony to continue delivering the "best audio experience" to PlayStation users. Nishino also sees the Audeze acquisition as a natural progression from the audio advancements achieved with the Sony Pulse 3D wireless headset and the Tempest 3D AudioTech integrated into the PlayStation 5.
Audeze CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram, views the sale to Sony as a valuable opportunity to expand the manufacturer's business, which has primarily focused on the U.S. market. While Sony's acquisition is mainly driven by the goal of strengthening its audio capabilities in gaming, Audeze will continue developing products for recording professionals and audiophiles, according to the CEO. Currently, Audeze offers a range of gaming options, including the Penrose headphones priced at $299 and the LCD-GX headset priced at $899. Their flagship product, the LCD-5, is sold at $4,500.
Sony's intention is for Audeze to maintain its independence after the acquisition. The financial terms of this transaction have not been disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be finalized within a few weeks, as smaller deals like this typically do not require regulatory approvals that could cause delays. Although the exact value of the acquisition has not been revealed, Crunchbase data suggests that Audeze has raised nearly $500,000 in funding throughout its 15-year history, with estimated 2021 revenues of $5 million. With this company profile, Sony is assumed to pay a figure in the low eight-digit range to acquire the U.S. manufacturer.
Sony's M&A activities in 2023 may not come to an end with this move. In fact, various recent developments indicate that Sony is actively seeking additional acquisitions.
