Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino will jointly succeed Jim Ryan as CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Hulst is CEO of the new Studio Business Group, which includes all PlayStation first-party teams and also covers the development of PlayStation IP across other mediums, such as television and film. Hulst was already the head of PlayStation Studios. He was previously a co-founder of Horizon and Killzone developer Guerrilla Games, which was acquired by Sony in 2005.
“I’m excited to lead the Studios business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” Hulst said in a statement. “The gaming industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and has been built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of gaming and entertainment.
Hideaki Nishino will lead the Platform Business Group, which includes console hardware, technology, accessories, PlayStation Network and third-party relationships (covering major independent publishers and studios). He was already SVP of Platform Experiences. He has been part of the Sony business since 2006, holding numerous positions at Sony Network Entertainment, Sony Corporation and SIE.
“We will continue to connect gamers and creators through world-class products, services and technologies,” Nishino said. “We always strive to grow our community even further through innovation in all areas at Sony Interactive Entertainment.”
“I am honored to be appointed to such an important role alongside Hermen. By working more closely together, we will be able to create incredible experiences for an ever-widening audience, now and in the future. “
Both executives will report to Sony Interactive Entertainment President Hiroki Totoki, who has served as the division’s interim CEO since Jim Ryan stepped down from the role in late March. Totoki is also the President, COO and CFO of Sony Group Corporation. The latest changes will come into effect on June 1.
“Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing company that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology,” said Totoki. “These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and manage strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences.”
The fact that both new CEOs are proven PlayStation veterans is consistent with Sony’s approach of promoting from within. However, the decision to have two leaders is not something the company has made before and reflects the growing size and scale of the division.
PlayStation’s Studios business has grown exponentially over the past decade, both in terms of headcount and the size of its brands. Its recent strategy has seen it port more of its titles to PC, develop TV shows and movies based on its IP, and move into live-action game development, which included acquiring developer Destiny Bungie in 2022.
However, costs have also increased significantly, recently leading to game cancellations, staff layoffs and the closure of its London studio. The press release detailing the new management indicates that this structure is designed to ensure “sustainable growth”.
News Source : www.gamesindustry.biz
Gn tech
