December 3rd 2024.
Even though he is no longer a part of Sony, there is a part of us that wishes Shawn Layden was still with the company. As PlayStation celebrates its 30th anniversary, the former CEO of PlayStation America sat down for an interview to candidly discuss his time at Sony.
Despite leaving Sony in 2019, Layden remains an important figure in the brand's history. He has been a part of PlayStation since the very beginning, with the original PlayStation. In recent years, Layden has been vocal about the gaming industry's focus on expensive blockbusters and hyper-realistic graphics. It's a shame that he is no longer with Sony and able to influence its current direction.
Layden's understanding of what companies like Sony and Microsoft need to do to address the industry's current problems is evident. In the interview with Eurogamer, he reflected on how the PlayStation 4 managed to outsell the Xbox One last generation. He also discussed his time at Sony and the decisions that ultimately led to the company's success.
When asked about the PlayStation 3, which was the one home console that Sony struggled with, Layden described it as the company's "Icarus moment." He explained that they flew too close to the sun, but they were lucky to have survived the experience and learned a lot from it. This lesson ultimately led to the PlayStation 4's focus on games, which proved to be the right course of action, given its financial success.
Layden's focus on gaming was in contrast to Microsoft's push for a more multimedia experience with the Xbox One. He joked about this, saying, "Just make it the best game machine of all time." He also took a jab at Microsoft's decision to restrict how Xbox One owners could share games with friends. This led to the iconic Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video, which Layden accurately described as "devastating in its simplicity."
In the interview, Layden also revealed how the video was made on the fly. They were trying to come up with an answer to the sharing question, and in a moment of inspiration, they came up with the video. While the PlayStation 5 has been a success, Layden believes that Sony needs to remember these lessons. The company's efforts to chase the live service games trend have not been as successful, and there has been a lack of exciting first-party exclusives in the past year.
Aside from discussing his time at Sony, Layden also shared his favorite PlayStation 1 games. Surprisingly, one of his choices was the little-known sports title ESPN Extreme Games. He admitted that his reasons for liking it were mostly sentimental, as it was the first game he ever worked on. He also expressed his interest in a revival of the retro franchise MediEvil.
However, Layden's choice for a PlayStation 1 IP that needs a revival may not be as popular. He picked WipEout, a futuristic racing series, which has not had a proper entry since the Omega Collection remasters in 2017. He even called out Sony, saying, "Seriously, when are we getting another WipEout?" He also encouraged readers to interact with the gaming community by leaving comments, following them on social media, and signing up for their newsletter.
Overall, Layden's interview provided insights into his time at Sony and the decisions that shaped the company's success. His opinions on the current state of the gaming industry and what companies need to do to address its problems are valuable. It's a shame that he is no longer a part of Sony, but his contributions will always be remembered.
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