<p>Sony Group will boost research and development spending at its gaming unit by about 10 per cent to 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion) this financial year, the Nikkei reported on Thursday.</p>.<p>R&D spending at the games business behind the hit PlayStation 5 console will surpass R&D spending on electronics and semiconductors this year, the business daily said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwj6uPuV8YqAAxU91DgGHYf7BNsQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/gst-council-to-levy-28-tax-on-online-gaming-horse-racing-and-gambling-1236002.html">GST Council to levy 28% tax on online gaming, horse racing and gambling</a></strong></p>.<p>Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment but its gaming business has set out ambitious plans to invest in live-service games, which offer continuous updated play, and it also plans to offer more PC and mobile games.</p>.<p>Its stock was up 4 per cent in Tokyo morning trade after a brokerage upgrade.</p>.<p>Rival Microsoft has turned to acquisitions to boost its subscription and cloud-based gaming services to better compete with market leader Sony.</p>.<p>On Wednesday the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it was appealing a federal judge's ruling that Microsoft could go forward with its $69 billion purchase of <em>Call of Duty</em> maker Activision Blizzard.</p>
<p>Sony Group will boost research and development spending at its gaming unit by about 10 per cent to 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion) this financial year, the Nikkei reported on Thursday.</p>.<p>R&D spending at the games business behind the hit PlayStation 5 console will surpass R&D spending on electronics and semiconductors this year, the business daily said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwj6uPuV8YqAAxU91DgGHYf7BNsQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/gst-council-to-levy-28-tax-on-online-gaming-horse-racing-and-gambling-1236002.html">GST Council to levy 28% tax on online gaming, horse racing and gambling</a></strong></p>.<p>Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment but its gaming business has set out ambitious plans to invest in live-service games, which offer continuous updated play, and it also plans to offer more PC and mobile games.</p>.<p>Its stock was up 4 per cent in Tokyo morning trade after a brokerage upgrade.</p>.<p>Rival Microsoft has turned to acquisitions to boost its subscription and cloud-based gaming services to better compete with market leader Sony.</p>.<p>On Wednesday the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it was appealing a federal judge's ruling that Microsoft could go forward with its $69 billion purchase of <em>Call of Duty</em> maker Activision Blizzard.</p>