Sony Will Skip CES 2027 for the First Time Since 1967

For the first time since CES began in 1967, Sony will not be there. The company has confirmed that neither Sony Group nor its affiliates will exhibit at CES 2027, ending a nearly 60 year presence at one of the technology industry's most recognizable events and reinforcing how far Sony has shifted from its traditional hardware focused identity.

According to Bloomberg, a Sony spokesperson confirmed the company will skip the event as it continues placing greater emphasis on entertainment content. CES 2027 is scheduled to run from January 6 through January 9 in Las Vegas.

Sony already had a much smaller presence at CES 2026. Rather than operating its traditional standalone booth, the company was represented through Sony Honda Mobility and the AFEELA electric vehicle project. Sony Honda Mobility used the event to showcase the AFEELA 1 and Prototype 2026.

That project changed dramatically only a few months later. In March 2026, Sony and Honda confirmed that development and launch plans for both AFEELA 1 and its second vehicle had been discontinued after Honda reassessed its electric vehicle strategy. Sony Honda Mobility subsequently scaled down operations, reducing one of Sony's remaining reasons to maintain a major physical CES presence.

The decision also fits Sony's broader corporate direction. President and CEO Hiroki Totoki has increasingly positioned the company around entertainment, intellectual property, content creation, and technologies supporting creators. Sony's 2026 corporate strategy places gaming, music, movies, anime, and creation technologies at the center of that focus.

For PlayStation, Sony leaving CES removes one possible venue for future hardware updates, but it does not indicate any cancellation or delay to the company's next generation platform.

CES has occasionally played a supporting role in PlayStation announcements. Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 logo during CES 2020, while later presentations included updates related to PlayStation VR2 and the accessibility hardware that became the Access controller. However, Sony has generally reserved its largest gaming announcements for dedicated PlayStation presentations.

That distinction matters as attention shifts toward PlayStation 6. Sony has confirmed investment in its next generation platform, but it has not announced final specifications, pricing, launch timing, or an official product name. The company has also acknowledged that elevated memory pricing and supply conditions are influencing how it evaluates future hardware economics. Sony has still not set the launch timing or pricing for its next generation PlayStation platform, with management continuing to evaluate component costs, sales strategy, and the economics of future hardware.

Sony's absence from CES 2027 therefore removes a possible stage for future PlayStation discussion, but it should not be treated as evidence that a PS6 reveal was ever scheduled there. Sony can still introduce next generation hardware through a dedicated PlayStation Showcase, State of Play, technical presentation, investor event, or another independently organized event.

CES itself remains scheduled for January 6 through January 9, 2027 in Las Vegas, with the Consumer Technology Association continuing to accept exhibitors. Sony's withdrawal is therefore a company specific strategic decision rather than a broader change to the event.

Sony skipping CES says more about the company's transformation than about PlayStation 6. The Sony that once used CES to showcase televisions, cameras, audio hardware, experimental electronics, gaming technology, and electric vehicles is increasingly focused on entertainment, intellectual property, and creator ecosystems. With the AFEELA roadmap cancelled, its reason to maintain a major physical presence at the show has also weakened.

For PlayStation fans, the important point is simple: CES 2027 is no longer a possible venue for Sony hardware news, but there was never confirmation that PS6 would appear there in the first place. The next generation platform remains in development, with key launch details still unannounced.

Would you rather Sony reveal its next generation PlayStation hardware through a dedicated PlayStation event, or do you miss the era when companies used CES for major hardware announcements?