A Mysterious Failure
In the late 1980s, rumors began circulating in Japan about a so-called “Sony Timer”—an alleged hidden mechanism in Sony products that caused them to stop working after a preset time. Though no evidence ever confirmed this theory, many believed it, making it a common joke in comics and online forums.
Laptop Recalls Revive the Myth
In 2006, Sony-manufactured batteries in Dell laptops were recalled, reigniting fears of planned obsolescence. This incident led to increased scrutiny of Sony’s Vaio laptops, with reports of frequent breakdowns surfacing online. Google Trends showed a spike in searches for potential issues with Sony products.
Bravia TV Shutdown Scandal
A major controversy emerged when Sony Bravia TVs were discovered to stop working after 1,200 hours, conveniently failing just after their warranty expired. Sony denied deliberate intent, blaming a software bug and releasing patches to fix the issue.
The PlayStation C-Bomb Incident
In 2021, PlayStation consoles faced another wave of accusations when a security feature linked to the internal clock could make games unplayable. After public outcry, Sony released firmware updates to fix the problem, but the Sony Timer legend continues to persist online.
In the 1980s, rumors spread in Japan about a hidden 'Sony Timer'—a supposed mechanism making Sony products fail after a set time. Though never proven, suspicions grew as devices failed after warranties expired. Over time, incidents fueled the myth, spreading widely online.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/jUbZb3zsdF
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) March 12, 2025