Sony to boost chip output for next-generation computer games

TOKYO (AFP) Apr 21, 2003
Japanese electronics giant Sony on Monday unveiled a plan to invest 1.7 billion dollars in the next three years to boost semiconductor production for its next-generation computer games.

Sony and its computer games arm, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), said it would invest 200 billion yen (1.7 billion dollars) to produce chips using the so-called 65 nanometer process on 300 millimeter (12 inch) wafers.

"With this investment, SCEI will manufacture the new microprocessor for the broadband era, code-named 'Cell,' as well as other system LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits), to be used for the next generation computer entertainment system," the two companies said in a joint statement.

As a first step, SCEI will spend 73 billion yen by March 2004 to introduce new production lines for semiconductor production at its plant in Nagasaki, western Japan.

SPACE.WIRE