Sony has named existing company veterans Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino as the new heads of PlayStation. Hulst will take over and lead a new Studio Business Group, while N ishino will lead the Platform Business Group. The role moves replace former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, who retired earlier this year, and comes as Sony looks for its next PlayStation 5 blockbusters amid cost cuts and cancellations
“Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing company that delivers incredible entertainment experiences by combining content and technology,” said Hiroki Totoki, interim CEO of SIE, in a press release. “These two executives will have clear responsibilities and direct strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences.” Both will continue to report to Totoki, who is also President, COO and CFO of Sony.
Originally the head of Guerrilla Games, manufacturer of Death zone And Horizon Zero DawnFollowing the departure of Shawn Layden, Hulst was promoted to head of PlayStation Studios in 2019. He is responsible for overseeing Sony’s first-party game development, including hits like Spider Man 2 And God of war Ragnarök. Nishino previously led the PlayStation platform’s technology and experiences, which he will continue to lead, and is now responsible for third-party relations and commercial operations. Both men will assume their new roles on June 1st.
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Ryan announced his retirement from PlayStation last fall after decades of collaboration with the company. Earlier this year, Sony announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including hundreds of layoffs and project cancellations at its studios and the closure of its London studio. The changes come as big-budget game makers try to cope with rising development costs and a stagnant console gaming market. Sony’s big annual spring PlayStation showcase this is rumored to be happening
“I am excited to lead the Studio group of companies and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5 while preparing for the future,” Hulst said in a press release. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and is based on the marriage of content and technology. I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of gaming and entertainment.”
