After three decades, Jim Ryan is stepping down as President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). He has shared the defining moments of his career as he prepares to depart, discussing the challenges and successes achieved.
According to his interview with Variety, the global pandemic presented him with a significant test. Launching the PlayStation 5 (PS5) amidst lockdowns and supply chain disruptions demanded exceptional leadership. However, his team acted quickly and did what they could to sell 50 million PS5s to date.
“We assemble the great majority of the PlayStations in China, and nobody could get in. Finishing games when developers couldn’t get together and eat pizza and brainstorm about their craft was another thing. And then, the not-unimportant task of selling our product to our consumers when retail was entirely closed.”
Jim Ryan
Beyond the PS5 launch, Ryan’s time at the helm saw many changes in the industry. He stressed the importance of always being ready to change and improve, saying, “You can’t just stay still and assume things will last forever.” This approach helped PlayStation navigate through shifting market trends and evolving consumer tastes.
As Ryan gets ready to move on, he’s sharing some important advice for PlayStation’s future. He’s really focused on the idea of keeping PlayStation as an “entertainment business,” and making sure to keep players hooked and surprised. He thinks this is the key to ensuring PlayStation stays successful under new leadership.
Sony’s president and chief operating officer, Hiroki Totoki, will take on the interim CEO role at SIE. The current CEO expresses full confidence in Totoki’s abilities and refrains from speculating about a permanent successor. Beyond PlayStation, Ryan remains tight-lipped about his future plans. He hints at “a few things bubbling,” suggesting a renewed passion for new challenges. However, details remain undisclosed, leaving the industry and fans eager for more information.
Ryan did go over a few games in his interview, but mostly to say he was proud of them. They were Ridge Racer, Grand Theft Auto 3, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and God of War Ragnarok.
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