Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has announced record salary increases for entry-level employees at its Japanese PlayStation division. The changes will take effect on April 1, 2026.
For graduates with a bachelor's degree, the monthly salary will increase from 358,000 to 425,000 yen (≈$3,100). Masters graduates can expect 460,000 yen (≈$3,350), and PhDs – 480,000 yen (≈$3,500). These amounts include the Japanese standard overtime pay of up to 45 hours.
SIE's VP of HR, Asako Kurita, noted that the goal of the increase is to attract talented specialists and support them in working within the company's global structure.
Sony's decision reflects trends in the Japanese market: living in Tokyo is becoming more expensive, and competitors, including Sega, Capcom, FromSoftware, and Konami, have already raised starting rates. Companies understand that the best games are created when developers don't worry about the budget.
