2023-09-28 15:18:00
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) CEO Jim Ryan will step down at the end of March following a long career with the Japanese group, where he oversaw the launch of the latest console, the PlayStation 5 (PS5).
[Il] has made the decision to retire in March 2024 after nearly 30 years with the PlayStation business, Sony announced in a statement released Thursday.
I relished the opportunity to have a job I love at a very special company, working with great people and incredible partners.
But I found it increasingly difficult to reconcile my life in Europe and my work in North America, he added in a press release.
The 63-year-old Briton joined the European branch of SIE in 1994, before occupying various positions within this division, notably playing a role in the launches of PlayStation consoles since the PS2.
He had been CEO of SIE since 2019 and in this capacity oversaw the launch the following year of the PS5, whose production initially suffered from the shortage of semiconductors in the midst of the pandemic. Its sales then took off, totaling 40 million copies, according to data from the end of July.
Surprise in the industry
The announcement of Mr. Ryan’s departure is quite surprising, reacted analyst Serkan Toto of the Tokyo firm Kantan Games. I don’t think anyone expected him to leave so quickly, as his CEO career is quite short.
To prepare for the transition, Sony’s chief operating and financial officer, Hiroki Totoki, will take charge of SIE next month as president, then take on the role of interim CEO of the division in April 2024, according to the company said.
For Serkan Toto, the choice of Mr. Ryan’s successor will be crucial, because even if the PS5 is doing very well at the moment, the entire gaming industry is moving very, very quickly.
Sony announced plans last year to accelerate releases of mobile and PC games, and to increase its presence in online games that seek to stimulate long-term gamer interest through enrichment. regularly additional monetized content.
A fierce competitor at Microsoft
In competition with the American Microsoft on the video game market, Sony Interactive has embraced an intense strategy of studio buyouts in recent years, notably absorbing in 2022 the American Bungie (creator of Halo and Destiny) for 3.6 billion US dollars (4.9 billion Canadian dollars).
Sony also strengthened its stake in Epic Games (Fortnite) and took a share of the capital of the Japanese FromSoftware (Elden RingDark Souls).
Jim Ryan was also on the front lines of Sony’s fight to prevent Microsoft’s takeover of Activision-Blizzard, the publisher of Call of Duty, Diablo and Candy Crushfor a record amount of 69 billion US dollars (93 billion Canadian dollars).
This acquisition, in the crosshairs of various regulatory bodies since its announcement in early 2022, is now on the verge of completion since the British competition authority granted a preliminary green light.
There is currently change within the gaming industry, especially for Sony [avec le succès de ce rachat par Microsoft], commented Mr. Toto, adding. I think it would have been better for PlayStation if Jim Ryan stayed at the helm for one to three more years.
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