Netflix names former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice chief content officer, replacing Bela Bajaria after her decade at the streamer. Rice is set to oversee Netflix’s global content organization, spanning scripted and unscripted series, film, and live events. The leadership change coincides with Netflix laying off around 1,000 employees, about 6% of its workforce, in its largest reduction to date.
Sony Group Corp. introduces three premium digital music players priced from $1,900 to $5,900, marking the first new hardware in several years to carry the Walkman name. The lineup includes a gold-plated player priced at $5,900, aimed at enthusiasts.
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella says U.S. console hardware sales have fallen to historic lows as Xbox and PlayStation prices reach all-time highs. Xbox hardware sales are down 33% year over year and PlayStation sales are down 25%; average console prices are $529 for Xbox and $597 for PlayStation. Piscatella says GTA 6 could ease declines, depending on pricing and product availability, while memory shortages threaten supply.
Meta acquires 43 U.S. patent properties from Sony in a transfer recorded between June and September 2026, including patents related to virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality headsets. The transfer, first reported by ZDNet Korea, suggests Sony is significantly pulling back from its XR hardware ambitions.
