Matt Booty is basically the equivalent to Herman Hulst, but the structure isn't conducive to success. They're too aligned with the hardware strategy, which is what places enormous downward pressure on the studios.
Do you notice that Sony left E3 and they don't force out state of plays or showcases anymore and their games are still selling like gangbusters and their hardware is still selling like gangbusters. Maybe we're frustrated because we don't get as much hype through the year, but there is significantly less pressure on studios now and they can focus on making games.
Letting Bungie go was the first mismanagement. Rare has been mismanaged historically, though they've had some recent success. The relationship with Epic was mismanaged. All of their IP outside of Forza have been mismanaged. Microsoft is the common link across all of these things. They've never had good leadership and Phil Spencer basically said it himself, he was the last guy on the ship at Xbox fighting to keep the brand alive. Everyone else there has left and they haven't developed a pipeline for succession, something Sony has alway done.
Like it or not, and I know many won't but decent chance that Neil Druckmann is the next head of PlayStation Studios. Herman Hulst is probably the next SIE president.
