Jim Ryan shared one last thing about PlayStation, that was clearly for the fans.
14.03.2024 - 19:07 / gamesradar.com / Jim Ryan / Shawn Layden / Former Playstation / AnneMarie Ostler / Sony / Says He
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden says he sees "consolidation to be the enemy of creativity," as the company's outgoing boss Jim Ryan shares his enthusiasm for Microsoft's Call of Duty deal with PlayStation.
In the run-up to Microsoft's $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard and, with it, the Call of Duty franchise, Sony was, as you might expect, more than a little vocal about the deal being bad for business. But PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, who's retiring this month after 30 years with Sony, says he's "thrilled" to have secured a deal that will see Call of Duty released on PlayStation systems for the next 10 years.
"The reason that we felt this one was different to anything that had happened in the past was the sheer size and importance of the Call of Duty franchise," Ryan tells CNBC, asked what made the Activision deal uniquely damaging. "So we were absolutely thrilled to be able to negotiate a deal with Microsoft to ensure that that franchise remains available on PlayStation platforms for the next ten years. And that was very important to us, and we're very happy to have done that deal."
Playstation Jim Ryan/Shawn Layden on Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard King #Xbox Jim ryan says sony ‘thrilled’ to have Negotiated Call of Duty Deal with MicrosoftShawn Layden says consolidation is the enemy of creativityhttps://t.co/ZaioZRxHS4 pic.twitter.com/CioUyoZpDTMarch 14, 2024
Despite the enthusiasm for it now, Sony initially rejected Microsoft's 10-year Call of Duty deal, something which Ryan was also quizzed on.
"We're at risk of getting granular here," Ryan replies, "but there are deals in deals. And, you know, the deal that was offered at a certain point in time may not have been the deal that was actually signed."
While keeping Call of Duty in the hands of PlayStation fans is certainly something of a win for PlayStation, Layden, formerly CEO of SIE Worldwide Studios, is less than keen on the idea of big companies like Microsoft buying up the competition.
"I see the consolidation in the industry," Layden says. "I see people like Microsoft, Embracer, or some group out of Saudi Arabia buying up a bunch of studios, and I see consolidation to be the enemy of creativity. If we've commoditized the product, you're just going to get more of the same."
Of course, Sony itself is no stranger to acquisitions, having in recent years bought up prominent studios like Ratchet and Clank and Marvel's Spider-Man developer Insomniac Games, and Bungie, the creator of Halo and Destiny. The company has also bought Haven Studios, headed up by Assassin's Creed veteran Jade Raymond, and last year, it snagged Firewalk Studios to work on an "original AAA multiplayer game for PlayStation."
Check out our guide to upcom
Jim Ryan shared one last thing about PlayStation, that was clearly for the fans.
Sony hasn’t really missed a beat in its transition from the PS4 to the PS5 where hardware sales are concerned, with the company’s current-gen console consistently selling solid numbers, and though it’s highly unlikely that it will manage to beat the PS2’s lifetime sales total of 160 million units, outgoing PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan says that the PS5 is still very much on track to become the company’s “most successful console ever” by other metrics.
Today marks the end of Jim Ryan's 30-year tenure at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Having climbed the ladder of the company all the way to the top, his five-year stint as CEO has now drawn to a close, with Hiroki Totoki temporarily taking over until a permanent replacement is found. Speaking on the latest Official PlayStation Podcast, Ryan has one last interview, in which he comments on the platform's evolution, his career, and his thoughts on the PS3 boomerang controller. It's worth a listen.
A stunning digital tribute to outgoing PlayStation bigwig Jim Ryan is now available for those who wish to celebrate the suit's legacy — in style. Players can pick up the collectable, posed like a modern-day Napoleon, through the digital platform PlayStation Stars; all you have to do is play a game Ryan «championed» during his tenure.
Jim Ryan, now retired CEO and President of Sony Interactive Entertainment, proudly shared that over 160 million PlayStation 2 consoles have been sold since the system first came out. Ryan was interviewed on the official PlayStation Podcast, where he talked about his experiences with the company and its direction for the future. He joined Sony in 1994, and oversaw the release of many products, including the PlayStation 2.
Jim Ryan has said that the PlayStation 5 is on track to be Sony’s most successful console “across multiple vectors.”
Outgoing Sony boss Jim Ryan has claimed that the PlayStation 2 has now sold 160 million units.
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan is working his final day as the head of Sony's gaming giant, as the executive is set to retire from the company on March 29. Ryan was promoted to the position in 2019 and led PlayStation through some of its most successful years.
A classic PlayStation 1 game will reemerge from the dead in April, according to a new PlayStation Network (PSN) leak. The sci-fi franchise established by George Lucas’ films has had a series of spin-offs in various media, including dozens of video games over the years. Some of the most notable ones are,, and. Recently, the series went through a renaissance of sorts with the release of and its sequel .
PlayStation has released a digital Jim Ryan bobblehead to commemorate the exec's time at the company.
A digital Jim Ryan bobblehead has been released to celebrate his career at PlayStation.
Electronic Artshas tapped former PlayStation executive Connie Booth as its new Group General Manager within its Action RPG division. EA is currently in the process of restructuring following a tumultuous first quarter, which included laying off 5% of its employees and the cancelation of multiple titles that were in development.