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[CLW]

Sorry nothing burger to us gamers Hulst still running 1st party but it’s funny he got a demotion for his performance meanwhile Spencer is untouchable at MS

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

By textbook definition? Sure, but what I'm not sure about is why anyone should expect anythig significant to come out of this.
Also, spoiler ahead: Nishino will not stop the live service initiative.

Personally I don't have a problem with the live-service initiative existing. The problem is that SIE went about completely stupid, missed so many easy opportunities (Factions 2, Spiderman GAAS being the two big ones, no MLB on mobile being a runner-up), and put 1P studios on GAAS that had no business making GAAS and now might go the entire gen without a new major release because their GAAS got cancelled (Bend, Bluepoint).

So of course they'll continue the initiative; I just hope they go about it much smarter going forward. Guess we'll find out depending on how Fairgame$ and Marathon turn out, or what ways they keep up/expand on Helldivers 2.

 

[mckmas8808]

Step one of getting Hulst back to guerilla only and forcing this dick head to make a new kill zone instead.

One day

 

[nial]

Because a demotion at a CEO level is almost always a precursor to a resignation. No one wants that to bookend their career. He probably has a bunch of loose ends to manage and then he will likely GTFO.

But he's technically still a CEO, though? Just not THE CEO, but neither is Nishino until April.
In fact, looking at it this way, Hulst has to report to Totoki, who in turn reports to Yoshida, the current CEO of SGC. Now, Hulst will report to Nishino, who in turn will report to Totoki, the future CEO of SGC.
Totoki was a chairman of SIE for a while, and it was clear to he was running the show during that time while he was figuring out what to do with the company.

 

[Topher]

 

[realcool]

Nishino to Hulst:

Spoiler

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Because a demotion at a CEO level is almost always a precursor to a resignation. No one wants that to bookend their career. He probably has a bunch of loose ends to manage and then he will likely GTFO.

He'll be gone in 2025. He's not sticking around reporting to his Japanese buddy. Sony is just hoping he leaves on his own instead sticking it out waiting for a package buy out.

 

[nial]

He'll be gone in 2025. He's not sticking around reporting to his Japanese buddy. Sony is just hoping he leaves on his own instead sticking it out waiting for a package buy out.

He's been reporting to the Japanese for a while, let's not get too dumb here.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

But he's technically still a CEO, though? Just not THE CEO, but neither is Nishino until April.
In fact, looking at it this way, Hulst has to report to Totoki, who in turn reports to Yoshida, the current CEO of SGC. Now, Hulst will report to Nishino, who in turn will report to Totoki, the future CEO of SGC.
Totoki was a chairman of SIE for a while, and it was clear to he was running the show during that time while he was figuring out what to do with the company.

Yup. People are acting like it was demotion or promotion, but in fact it’s a simple flattering of a management structure and nobody took anyone’s job.

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

Say what you will but Hulst getting demoted shortly after Sony cancels the GAAS games that he and Jim Ryan pushed speaks volumes. It’s not a coincidence and anyone thinking it is coincidental is delusional or doesn’t know Japanese corporate culture well at all.

 

[Loomy]

Ah yes. The Sony April 1st company shakeup.

This is the 4th Sony Corp CEO transition I've been aware of(Idei > Stringer > Hirai > Yoshida > Totoki)

They never make a huge deal out of it and you only ever hear about it when it's actually all figured out. I wish my life was that organized.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Best case scenario. DEI is on the way out, Japanese back in total control.

 

[Kacho]

He'll be gone in 2025. He's not sticking around reporting to his Japanese buddy. Sony is just hoping he leaves on his own instead sticking it out waiting for a package buy out.

It’s possible if his live service games flop, which looks likely.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

He's been reporting to the Japanese for a while, let's not get too dumb here.

And now he's further away from top spot.

 

[nial]

Best case scenario. DEI is on the way out, Japanese back in total control.

I hope you don't get to read some of these slides directly made by the top Japanese corporation.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

It's clear now that Decima can run on pretty much everything and that Guerrilla Games via Herman Hulst are probably making a play for leadership within the company.

Horizon Forbidden West and the future Guerrilla game not using PSSR seems like a power play against Nishino, Cerny, and the ICE Team.

Seems to me that it's Hulst/Guerrilla/Nixxes vs Nishino/Cerny/ICE Team.

We still haven't seen Sony's strategy for mobile come to fruition and their PC strategy is still in the infancy stage, but I think we're going to have to keep an eye on who grows their business group faster. Everyone is focused on competition between Sony and Microsoft, but the really interesting competition that seems to be heating up is the Platform Business Group vs the Studio Business Group

Totoki named dual CEOs at SIE. This is probably not a long term situation. Hulst and Nishino are competing for the big job unless they both hit grand slams.

Hulst needs to deliver on high margins and consistency.

The PS5 Pro is 700 dollars because Nishino needs to deliver margins to Totoki.

Hulst doesn't have the leeway to be Matt Booty. He'll be out on his ass quickly if Sony has too many bombs. Firesprite had to cancel a major project and had massive layoffs. You can tell from their glassdoor reviews that the internal culture is trash and getting worse. That's reflected internally and externally.

Bend has fired/departed two of its design directors in the span of 4 years. That's not a great look. They have NOTHING to show since Day's Gone released.

Both studios are absolutely in danger.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Best case scenario. DEI is on the way out, Japanese back in total control.

There's still a few bumps in the road to go..

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

And now he's further away from top spot.

Nishino was appointed as a platform and hardware CEO from the start lol.

 

[Kacho]

There's still a few bumps in the road to go..

They’ll get there in due time

 

[StreetsofBeige]

It’s possible if his live service games flop, which looks likely.

There's no way Fairgames will be any good. Big time flop a mile a way. Marathon who knows. Bungie is on the downhill, but the brief clip did have cool art and Bungie shooters Halo and Destiny seem to do well. The Marathon name and legacy means nothing since most people have never even heard of the 90s game or even played it. I never heard of it myself till years ago when Bungie was making it again. Googled it and no wonder. Marathon 1 was a Mac game and Marathon II did nothing on PC.

 

[yogaflame]

Well maybe I'm wrong that Sony is not engage with there fans. Maybe they really are listening and someone from Sony is member of Gaf.
I hope they also listen to Sony PS fans to stop porting there exclusives and dont fall to that MS xbox trap of porting exclusives to other platform. Stay in course and Sony Ps tradition and emulate Nintendo principle on there exclusives no matter if its sold pretty well or not in there own console. In long run , more fans will come to PS due to the impression that PS always have single player exclusives, just like Nintendo were you always know Mario, Donkey kong, metroid, and Zelda are always for Nintendo.
And hopefully Japan leadership will remove woke infested DEI initiative.
Well infairness Hulst was a decent game developer for Guerrilla and I hope he focus back on that team. He can stay and focus on game development by bringing back Killzone franchise, and true sequel to HZD.

 

[nial]

And now he's further away from top spot.

He's as much as he ever was. Please, read the press release.
But it's your idea that he will quite this year because he will have to report to the Japanese (which he has been doing for over half a year now) what's truly dumb and off base.

 

[Topher]

oh wait....Hulst it still there? So just one CEO in charge then. Ok.....that's better at least.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

He's as much as he ever was. Please, read the press release.
But it's your idea that he will quite this year because he will have to report to the Japanese (which he has been doing for over half a year now) what's truly dumb and out of basis.

And he got passed over for the other guy.

 

[nial]

And he got passed over for the guy.

So what

 

[mckmas8808]

Coincidence that Pres Trump just started this year for USA and Sony has new leadership this year. Now, we still have 4 more years for ps5. Bring back its glory with focus single player exclusives, less focus on live service, remove woke infested DEI initiative, and stop porting exclusives to other platforms.

Come on man

 

[DarkstarRising13]

I took a break from studying to check out Neogaf and could not believe my eyes when I saw this thread.

I am SOO glad this is happening. I've been anticipating something like this happening, and it brings a smile to my face that it finally occurred.

Sony is finally cleaning house. There is no way that the Sony executives in Japan are going to let their Western counterparts screw up their business. With Jim Ryan's "retirement" a.k.a Termination of employment along with Herman Hulst seemingly being pressured to resign in all but name, Hulst will likely depart by this year's end or near the end of the PS5 Generation. No way the guy who thought Concord was going to be "the next Star Wars-like event" was going to get off scot-free, which caused Sony Japan to cancel the game, write that POS abomination as a tax write off, along with closing the studio that made it.

Quite frankly, it's ridiculous they even moved PlayStation's headquarters to California instead of staying put in Tokyo. Why would they move in 2018 is beyond me, and even people complained about this in 2018 when I stumbled upon a discussion post about this on Gamefaqs.

Did the success of the Nintendo Switch play any role in the decision?

 

[Dirk Benedict]

I hope you don't get to read some of these slides directly made by the top Japanese corporation.

Oh I didn’t mean Sony, I meant the US. I should have been more clear on that. I know Sony is doubling down. Let’s see how long it lasts.

 

[Loomy]

Well infairness Hulst was a decent game developer for Guerrilla and I hope he focus back on that team. He can stay and focus on game development by bringing back Killzone franchise, and true sequel to HZD.

He was a studio manager, not a developer. Basically the exact same job he’s doing now, just on a smaller scale.

I know people hate the guy for whatever reason, but I’m pretty sure he’s the only head of WWS/PS that previously worked for a studio.

Pretty sure everyone else was a business guy elevated the role.

 

[Shmunter]

Ok, so now we need a clear strategy outlined. Not some waffle like at Xbox with Teflon Spence

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

oh wait....Hulst it still there? So just one CEO in charge then. Ok.....that's better at least.

They are both CEOs. Nishino is just the President now.

But case in point is still the same. Hulst is the CEO of content and IPs, Nishino is leading financials (since the SIE guy is promoted to Big Sony’s CFO), platform and hardware. Virtually nothing changes, but now the structure has only one point of responsibility and reporting. But of course we’ve got some silly drama from people lacking reading comprehension.

 

[Loomy]

Sony is finally cleaning house.

Literally 1 guy retired. The top guy. Who is Japanese.

 

[yogaflame]

oh wait....Hulst it still there? So just one CEO in charge then. Ok.....that's better at least.

I think the retired Jim and Hulst are the main cultprit for those failed live service and gaas ,bad decision on focusing almost all resources to it and wasted many years of there talented team and money. Good thing its still a long way to go for ps5 and ps5 pro pssr ml is growing at a fast pace. We can expect allot of rapid changes and allot of single player exclusives. Hope fully Sony Japan Studio will be back in developing more exclusives games and consolidate more Asian developers like Shift up,.

 

[nial]

He was a studio manager, not a developer. Basically the exact same job he’s doing now, just on a smaller scale.

I know people hate the guy for whatever reason, but I’m pretty sure he’s the only head of WWS/PS that previously worked for a studio.

Pretty sure everyone else was a business guy elevated the role.

Shuhei Yoshida did lead an internal development group at SCEI that created Ape Escape and The Legend of Dragoon. He was then moved on to heading product development at SCEA, which was much much more general at what it did.
Phil Harrison was 100% a sales/marketing businessman.

 

[adamsapple]

Coincidence that Pres Trump just started this year for USA and Sony has new leadership this year. Now, we still have 4 more years for ps5. Bring back its glory with focus single player exclusives, less focus on live service, remove woke infested DEI initiative, and stop porting exclusives to other platforms.

 

[Dr. Samuel Hayden]

Hulst should have been fired by now. Dude is absolutely useless.

 

[nial]

I *believe* Shuhei Yoshida did lead WWS America for a while in 2005-2008.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Japan back up in this bitch, let's see what actually changes though

 

[MayauMiao]

I hope we get PlayStation back control to Japan and get rid of Hulst and Aloy as Sony mascot.

 

[Moriarty1889]

Fuck yes.

Fuck Herman. Fuck Horizon. Fuck Aloy.

Please don't put anymore Eurocucks or God forbid Calicucks in charge at Playstation.

This exactly……1000%

 

[DarkstarRising13]

Hulst should have been fired by now. Dude is absolutely useless.

If there is any truth to the quote on the internet says that Herman Hulst thought Concord "was the next Star Wars-like event" or something like that...then yeah, that guy needs to be shown out the door and barred from ever working in the gaming industry. The ugly ass character designs and the forced DEI'ness in it killed whatever interest gamers may have had towards it.

 

[yogaflame]

Please Japan leadership bring back OG titles Legend of Dragoon, Alundra, Legend of Legaia, and Wild arms. Those legendary PS rpg. And totaly buy 100% of Fromsoftware and Shift up.

 

[Loomy]

But case in point is still the same. Hulst is the CEO of content and IPs, Nishino is leading financials (since the SIE guy is promoted to Big Sony’s CFO), platform and hardware.

Totoki was CFO for all of Sony Corp. There is a lady outside is SIE who just got promoted to CFO.

Based on the last two promotions, she’s probably next in line to be CEO in 5 or so years.

That will be a fun thread

 

[Coconutt]

About damn time how many failures do you need before realizing fully westernizing your games is not a good idea.

 

[mckmas8808]

You

He'll be gone in 2025. He's not sticking around reporting to his Japanese buddy. Sony is just hoping he leaves on his own instead sticking it out waiting for a package buy out.

You mean 2026?

 

[Topher]

Also announcing today that O onQ123 has been demoted. He now reports to Mibu no ookami

 

[Katatonic]

Good move, good timing.

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

The main difference, imo, is that hardware has been placed on top over content( game studios).

Unlike Xbox, Sony is going to be prioritize their hardware more than their game studios and games in general. Will not a demotion for hulst, he clearly lost the race( probably due to recent live service failures. This really is just a message of priorities and what their core is.

Also, I don't think Sony is going to stop making live service games

 

[mayham2199]

They are trying to right the ship, but i think this will prove a huge task to fix this. Catastrophic and head scratching decisions were made by Sony during the Pandemic and in the wake of the Activision acquisition.

Catastrophic? A bit much don’t you think? They are making more money than ever.

 

[[Sigma]]

Doesn't seem like much is changing here. At least not the type of change I want. Essentially the two ceo thing wasn't working out but it was never a two ceo thing, Nishino always looked like Hulst's watchdog lol.