Shawn Layden was, for a little while, the public face of PlayStation – and fans grew to love him. The executive, who had a long history at Sony taking him from Europe to Japan, became a household name when he replaced Jack Tretton as the boss of Sony Computer Entertainment America. He’d later go on to become chairman of Worldwide Studios, before departing in 2019.
In response to a Bloomberg report earlier today that suggested PlayStation is doubling down on blockbusters and abandoning its more creative background, many have been sharing an old clip on social media in which Layden talks about Vib-Ribbon. The soliloquy effectively concludes that, while the PS1 rhythm title wasn’t a big seller at all, it “wasn’t the point”.
That’s touched a nerve among enthusiasts, and many are expressing that they miss the executive on social media. It turns out that Layden – presumably with plenty of free time on his gardening leave – is reading all of the comments, and liking everything he sees. The overarching sentiment in many of the posts is that current boss Jim Ryan is bad, and old boss Layden was the GOAT.
It’s perhaps worth remembering, however, that Layden never held top office at PlayStation; he was an important figure during his tenure, running both the Japanese and American arms before taking control of Worldwide Studios, but was never the CEO. And in fact, the suit actually hinted at the organisation’s transition to fewer but bigger titles before he left.
“I think we've done a lot over the last three or four years to get us to a place right now where we're building fewer games per year than ever before, but we're spending more time, more energy, certainly more money, on making them,” he told CNET at the beginning of 2019, before elaborating on the organisations “first, best, must” strategy.
We’ll probably never know what happened internally that led to Layden’s departure, and we miss his passion for the industry as well, but attributing gigantic corporate decisions to a single person can be dangerous. We don’t know what PlayStation would look like with Layden still at the top, but we’d hazard it probably wouldn’t be massively different to what we see today.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 46
I liked him a lot too but Im always confused when people want him and Shu back on the Top of PS Studies. Those two did great stuff but also under their watch SIE:
1. Let the PS Vita die without any effort to prevent this
2. Failed to market their smaller Games like Gravity Rush 2
3. Closed multiple Studios after they only had like 1 failure
I think Sony has something planned soon to announce.
All the news seems Microsoft but don't forget their console launch wasn't great and even had to delay Halo. Now they are reacting and it seems they are more productive but they are kind of catching up with Sony.
Hopefully Sony keeps being a console leader with new IP's and maybe a new subscription based service to replace the current ones?
Yeah i miss Shawn. Doesn't matter the what is going on behind the scenes, he was a public face that really seemed to 'get' the fan base. I am in no way on the anti JR bandwagon, but Shawn had a great public presence
Sure miss the man. I honestly felt he actually understood games, not just as a business, but as a gamer.
@IonMagi I think most fans realise that any form Sony takes will do some things we don't like for the sake of healthy business practice, but now we're getting all the bad and so much more
With Layden and Yoshida in higher positions it was a better Playstation. Not perfect, but far better.
Shawn layden and jack tretton are missed.and wheres my boy kaz.word up son
I've always loved the opening speeches he gave at E3 2015 and 2016 for different reasons. I normally hate it when executives get on stage at conferences, but he always came across as sincere, respectful, and passionate. Even during his moments on stage at PSX 2016, it was fun to listen to him talk. He wasn't perfect from a business standpoint, but I always felt like he got what PlayStation meant to a lot of people who grew up during the PS1 and PS2 eras.
Jim Ryan might be a fine businessman but he isn't really a likable face for the company in the same way Shawn Layden or Andrew House were
I honestly kind of feel the same about Doug Bowser in regards to Nintendo. You may have your thoughts on Xbox as a platform or their strategy but one thing that I think they're particularly strong in is that Phil Spencer genuinely seems passionate about the medium in the same way Layden, House and even Reggie and Iwata were. PlayStation right now is missing that kind of image imo
@AK4tywill Well Shu is now in the Top Position in the Indie Department and still didnt do anything about the PS Vita Indie Dev debacle
Shawn wasn't perfect (his treatment of the Gravity Rush series caused much consternation with me), but he's a darn sight better than Ryan/Hulst, who both seem dead set on turning the first-party studios' output into a Ubisoft factory of formulaic, by-the-numbers AAA blockbusters.
@IonMagi I only wonder how much opportunity he had though. He's in a demoted position in Sony to where he was (even if he is happy to be there). From how Sony's looking there are executives making decisions that subordinates have little say in or may not even know about. It's all conjecture, I know, but what else do we have?
Back when playstation had a spirit
@Acquiescence i kinda agree with (Ubisoft factory of formulaic)
As a console and market leader Not every game must be a financial success.
Just let the creativity freedom be part of your own business portofolio
@AK4tywill He is Head of Sonys Indie Devision tho, makes Deals with Indie Devs and more so he has knowledge and things to say. He didnt even make a statement about the Situation despite him being very active on Twitter. Greg Rice also is to blame tho
Shawn Layden is too good for the current crop of “PlayStation fans” gamers and media alike
Shawn & Shu, Electric Boogaloo. Golden age of PlayStation.
It's like running a record label. You sign a few bands, some go nowhere, some create something incredible (that only a few people really love but it becomes a cult classic that builds over the years), some become massive and sell millions of records (but eventually split up or people get bored of them).
You can't just build your brand around those established acts. Where is the succession planning? What's going to be next when everyone is sick of Uncharted, TLOU, Spiderman, and God of War?
And when you do support a team to do something different (I'm looking at you Returnal) don't charge £70 for it! Sure the Rolling Stones can charge £70 for a ticket, but when you are Ricky & The Spoons it's commercial suicide (and if it sells badly will say "See, no one wants these sort of games")
Shawn Layden (& in combination with the likes of Shuhei Yoshida),weren't perfect,but they'd communicate with the public,& they were proud of playstation's heritage with smaller/quirky titles... apart from Japan Studios stuff,I enjoyed stuff like LBP 1&2, Until Dawn,Heavy Rain,Detroit Become Human etc too.
And remember the reaction when Crash Bandicoot returned? Compare & contrast with Mr Ryan's infamous comments on old titles,& most of his interviews being away from the gaming press or having any sort of interaction with playstation gamers.😕
Get Reggie in charge. DO IT
One of the true greats...
@nessisonett Reggie being in charge of SIE or even Worldwide Studios would be AMAZING
I'd pay any amount of cash to see him host a State of Play and ending the presentation with "Well, I'm off to play Hot Shots Golf on my PlayStation 5"
Jason put into words what those of us who love Playstation already ready feared was happening to Playstation under Jim Ryan. Now our voices are being heard a little more. Just a little more lol smh.
@Adge yet Sony history is Nothing like that they support all kinds of games you guys are all over reaching.
I hate the direction Sony is going.
I miss layden, ps4 era is a good era for playstation.
@TheFrenchiestFry You gotta admit "Bowser" is kind of the perfect name for the head of Nintendo though
Yeah, he seemed alright.
I miss this guy. He knew the fanbase wanted and he was pro ps. Jim Ryan has no clue nor he cares what the fanbase wanted. Closing a longtime studio was a shame to the brand. Jim Ryan isn't fit for ps brand at all. I can't stand this pro pc ports and multiplatform ports and he let a first party studio developed an ip then it goes to gamepass for free while we the ps owners have to pay 70 bucks standard edition that's not cool.
This is not going to get better if Jim Ryan continues to dis the fanbase cause to me Sony Ps is slowly dying cause of the bad business decisions. Sony needs a big buy more studios not buying these odd streaming services.
I miss this guy, he was great! But let's see what the future holds for Playstation!
I'm not anti JR but I really miss feeling like PlayStation had personality. They're radio silent all the time, the state of plays and lifeless and have no charm and I'm so less engaged with them nowadays. I'm sure they can turn it around but right now I'm not a huge fan of how it's looking.
Yeah I just feel Jim Ryan doesn't get the fan base at dismissed backwards compatibility so not surprised the stores are getting shut plus dismissed idea that the ps5 hard drive was too small
I miss Shawn to. He had this passion and a way of communicating with the fanbase that I loved. Id take him over Jim Ryan anyway.
There was a power struggle going on behind the scenes with Jim Ryan.
https://gamedaily.biz/article/1256/shawn-layden-departs-sony-amid-restructuring-confusion-and-potential-power-struggle
With Layden, you felt like Sony had creativity.
I suspect he didn't 'fit' in or approve of the new Sony and PlayStation direction under its new leadership, so out the door he went.. something tells me fans don't like this new Sony?
@playstation1995 Don't forget House too, all of them did save PS and Sony after the PS3, allowing Cerny to design the console hardware and ditch its Cell processor. And now the new team are slowly eroding all their work.
@S1ayeR74. I agree. 1.jack tretton.2.shawn layden.3.kaz.4.shuhei.5.andrew 🏠 house.word up son
Part of it is their personalities. I've never seen Jim Ryan on camera so I don't know if he's likeable or not.
@get2sammyb
It’s been reported today that Naughty Dog is working on a new version of The Last of Us 1.
What’s your thoughts on this?
If true, I think it’s stupid as hell and a waste of resources. If it’s somewhat near completion, I could see them attaching Factions onto this, like a TLoU 1+2 combo.
Why did I read comments on Twitter, Twitter commentators are a special type of stupid.
P.s Jim Ryan favourite season of game of thrones is the 8th season
Not just Shawn Layden, Andrew House and Jack Tretton were also key to the PS4's success. While I understand that it was Microsoft's own fault that XBone failed, both Andrew House and Jack Tretton gave PS4 the boost that made it a powerhouse today. Heck, I even miss Kevin Butler. He may just be paid actor to advertise the PS3 but he was part of the reason that console ended being a success despite its rough start
@IonMagi greg rice is a ex double fine employee another studio that was managed to death.
And forced to go to microsoft and sign a pact with the devil.
I miss Jack Tretton. Anyone that came after him sucked.
@jorel262 That's the thing, the previous execs actually did get interviewed, they did get in front of the camera. They spoke to their customers. The new Sony doesn't seem to know you exist, Ryan certainly seems camera and comment shy, even when fans are desperate for any news and screening for it they say nothing even when that antagonises its customers. And in some cases loses them..
Xbox are doing everything they can to get in front of the camera, be interviewed from all levels, keep themselves in the news. Sony is currently the complete opposite.
Can you imagine Jim Ryan being interviewed on a You Tube channel? Phil Spencer has done a fair few of those now.
It's no challenge to keep yourself relevant in the news and people's minds during lockdown. All you got to do is sit in front of your home webcam for an interview.
I actually liked Jack Tretton as well as Shawn and Andrew House, but now since Ryan has took over my god
Bring back Kevin Butler he seriously helped PS3 with its ads as well
Sony desperately needs an evangelist gamer CEO.
Someone who knows what PS fans want and value.
It's not just about the money, the foundation is rotting.
Jim Ryan is a cold, heartless, tiny man with no vision.
Yes bring back Kevin Butler!
I did like Shawn Layden and Jack Tretton before him, along with Shu and Andrew House and then Mark Cerny. Even though there were still some bad decisions made back then it just felt like they cared more and had a passion for PS, and all companies make mistakes but learn from them...
I really remember enjoying the E3 press conferences and the PSX show in later years. I'd almost look forward to seeing what they had to say as much as the trailers for games etc!
Hope Sony can get back to something like that someday.
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