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Sony Shake Up: Hiroki Totoki Named Corporate CEO, Hideaki Nishino Elevated to SIE Solo-CEO, Herman Hulst Reports To Nishino Now
- Thread starter adamsapple
- Start date
Topher
Identifies as young
Like Jimmy said, 'when it makes sense'
Angry_Megalodon
Member
It makes more sense that a Japanese brand has its HQ in Japan. Besides that, Playstation lost the plot soon after they moved to California, copying every possible mistake already made by Microsoft but without a trillion-dollar corporation to pay for it. Bold strategy.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
HogIsland
Member
playstation has 2 studios in japan. 7 in the US. 4 in europe.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
This is good news.
James Sawyer Ford
Gold Member
I’ve criticized their GaaS overspend, their lack of support for easy VR ports from PSVR1, and many other things. But anyone who isn’t fully doom posting every announcement apparently isn’t critical. You sure were giddy last night in claiming Hermen “stepped down”
Dont think I’ve ever see you criticize MS…ever, bud, even when their console ecosystem is going down in flames
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adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Herman still retains most (all ?) of the same responsibilities, so on paper might not appear to be any different.
But as someone pointed out earlier, going from a co-CEO to reporting to one is definitely a demotion no matter how you look at it.
Let's see if Herman continues at his current spot or if the demotion was the start of a gentle nudge to signal him to leave.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
ProtoByte
Weeb Underling
I believe a link is in order for such belligerence, sir.
viveks86
Member
Firstly, I appreciate the politeness. GAF often gets nasty the moment there is a hint of disagreement. Suddenly everyone is either a Hermen fanboy or a hater.
Secondly, I'm making a speculative conclusion based on subjective experience, while you are making a logical conclusion based on objective evidence. I won't tell you that you are wrong, but I've had this happen twice in my career. My CEO was let go in a very similar manner. When we had a string of failures, the board made an announcement for "restructuring", the CEO remained the CEO, but decisions were being made elsewhere and the whole transition took a goddamn 2 years. We knew from day 1 that this was going to be the end result, but we had to pretend as if everything was normal, just so we don't freak out the rest of the company or the investors and cause a cascade of panic-driven resignations. So when I see PS Studios go through a string of failures, cancellations and closures and then a seemingly innocuous "restructuring", I can't help but feel it in my gut that the guy is on his way out. I'm just reading the tea leaves here and am happy to be wrong. May be he will turn a new leaf and he will take the division to new heights. But if I were in Hermen's shoes, this will feel like a demotion, regardless of what it technically is and that's not what I would have wanted out of my career trajectory. My loyalty will be shaken and I would start looking elsewhere for opportunities.
Moving to California is Sony's worse decision. Bad decisions, too much marvel games, and live service development focus, and very much woke infested and dei. I hope Japan is the main base again for game development.
viveks86
Member
Well, I wouldn't go to the extent of calling him a bad CEO. Outside of being over-enthusiastic about Concord and Horizon, he hasn't really been around as CEO long enough for me to dump on him like that. In fact, I commended him for having the balls to cancel live service games that were well underway. But he hasn't particularly come across as visionary, as someone who could carry the torch for a couple of console generations and define where Playstation should go next. Despite all the bad decisions, at least Jim Ryan had a vision. Hermen comes across as a nice guy, who would politely champion 4 day work weeks, while not entirely believing in it himself and file his reports on time. I just can never see him lasting too long as a CEO for a huge enterprise.
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Shifty1897
Member
Nice to see Sony at least acknowledging the shit show and doing something about it.
Elginer
Member
This "shake up" is similary ridiculos to what flatass princess tailor swift did with her song/video few years back:
I was hoping for some true OG to be sony CEO like Shuhei Yoshida
Damn shes flat as hell.
RCU005
Member
That’s not true just for the fact that they are spending 60% of the budget on GaaS games, which most of them have been cancelled, so it’s money thrown to the trash.
So they have less games because they are not doing games people want to play, not because they take time. Also, at this point is obvious it would’ve been better to make an expensive game that people like, than wasting all the money in cancelled games.
Humdinger
Gold Member
I don't see this as a demotion for Hulst - he's still doing the same thing he did before at presumably the same ridiculous salary - but I am glad that he now has an additional layer of management/oversight to go through when approving projects. I don't know much about Nishino except that he was mostly over services and hardware previously, and now he's watching over everything Playstation - at least that's my understanding. I'm not familiar with his track record or his outlook.
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Yes, again, Sony Corp itself is Japanese, they're headquartered in Japan. But SIE, the subsidiary, well they're headquartered in California. That's their main headquarters; it is what it is.
I was half-joking with that post but technically if you want to say SIE is Japanese, I personally feel the headquarters should be in Japan. The stuff you're mentioning about Nintendo and Toyota, those are branch offices. We all know their main offices are in Japan (Kyoto in Nintendo's case).
That is so important and was a glaring issue with how Concord was handled - there was a lot of feed back from the beta and it was all pretty much ignored. I really noticed that and it begged the question - why give a venue for feed back and then completely ignore it? It's a waste of everyone's time.
Good night, have a nice sleep.
IIRC the time from beta to launch was, what, about 4 weeks? It should've been a longer period, at least three months, so tweaks to some parts of the gameplay which became criticisms later (like stat boosts requiring character loadouts in a certain rotation order, meaning you couldn't always play with your favorite and had to "build up" their perks playing with other characters beforehand) could've been changed before official launch.
A short beta period works for a game like Helldivers 2 because it's not a competitive PvP shooter. Dunno why SIE thought they could repeat that with Concord, especially when Concord had a much less gripping hook to begin with.
Kenichiro Yoshida will remain chairman of SGC as per the PRthicc_girls_are_teh_best
Wait who am I PR for? They need to tell me, I want my payments
Thanks for the game name tho; I got Loco Roco feels from it in places visuals-wise.
Killjoy-NL
Member
Ofcourse there is large investment into Gaad, because they need to acquire/start up studios to create those games on top of creating those games as well.
And there's going to be some 'trial-n-error' as well, which needs to be taken into consideration.
Not sure what the bolded is supposed to mean? Live-service games?
If you look at the most-played games on PS, it's almost exclusively live-service games, while games like Astro Bot and Stellar Blade sold maybe 1.5M copies.
Some people are out of touch with reality, tbh.
nial
Gold Member
As per Sony's press release, I meant. =PWait who am I PR for? They need to tell me, I want my payments
Thanks for the game name tho; I got Loco Roco feels from it in places visuals-wise.
You're welcome. I would say it's more akin to No Heroes Allowed!, another SIE series made by the same developer (Acquire), that was also on PSP.
laynelane
Member
They did say that during the PS3 era, whether you believe it or not. It's an ongoing narrative perpetuated by many people. Personally, since it's objectively untrue and always has been, I don't repeat it.
As well, my point to you about how many people simply purchase a PS console and play games - and how that number is magnitudes higher than the online number who go with the 'Playstation has no games' narrative - was intended to illustrate that many narratives/echo chambers do not reflect reality.
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saintjules
Gold Member
17:57
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Felessan
Member
Herman might take it personally, but it's just one lost corporate battle for position. Some people get offended, some people swallow it as they often offered "honorable position" or other benefits instead.
Co-heads always temporary and always require supervision - the highest point of decision is *one* person. Two persons already require higher-up arbitrator to resolve disputes. Totoki as a chairman played this role. As Totoki went up - this uncertainty had to be cleared up.
I am 100% sure from my experience that both Herman and Nishida knew that their positions is a probation, and based on results only one will be promoted to the true CEO. And one of them bound to lose corporate battle for position.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
So it’s basically back to usual for Herman? Just a different CEO to report to?
What are people celebrating like this will reign in some huge change?
What are people celebrating like this will reign in some huge change?
Klosshufvud
Member
People are hoping this newer boss will hold a tighter leash on Hulst than his predecessor did. And that is likely so given the recent devastating failures of Sony first parties, including both released and cancelled. But time will tell.
viveks86
Member
We can agree on that. The question is, how does he handle that loss? I just wanted to establish that there was a loss in the first place as many people think there was nothing to see here. How he handles that is anyone's guess, as we don't know him personally.
And for all of you calling him Herman. It is Hermen. He is more than one man!
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IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
I mean... they made him CO-CEO AFTER the Concord fiasco, and the cancelling of some GAAS games was surely coming. Most likely since he has been in charge of those decisions under Ryan he helped decide what games to cancel too. He's more of the "Creative" side while Nishino was the business side.
I get people being happy he wasn't named CEO of Playstation but I wouldn't expect some massive change to their strategy. Sony clearly is backing off GAAS a bit, while still having some games in the pipeline. there's no indication they are abandoning PC gaming ot any of the other stuff that bothers many of the fans here.
I feel like people envision some big gap because the new CEO is Japanese but the Japanese have always been overseeing everything that has been happening at Playstation in the end, and they've been incredibly happy with the Playstation brand for the last decade.
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TheGodfather07
Member
Am I wrong though? Generally, Jim Ryan and herman hulst have been disliked by playstation fans for years. Concord was shat all over by playstation fans. Xbox fans were almost idolising Phil spencer during the entire xbox one era. Its only after going 3rd party have some finally acknowledged his failure. Only some though. Most still can't speak against their idol. Also xbox fans making up shit like xbox tax and the media being biased ibstead of just admitting the games were mediocre! No wonder xbox is dead! You accepted mediocrity! You were one of the chiefs among them mate!
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ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Maybe a new evidence of why he's not console-centric as you said then.
New in-game content incentives coming to PlayStation games on PC
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and God of War Ragnarok to offer in-game content unlocks for users playing with a PlayStation Network account
blog.playstation.com
awwr999999
Member
In the case of DualSense it's important enough to merit a specialized naming convention for any ports of PS5 games.
Multiplatform games could utilize PS approved naming conventions to clearly and permanently differentiate themselves from the original PS game.
E.g., GTA6 on PS5 will be built from the ground up around DualSense. As a timed PS5 exclusive it will garner top reviews based on its use on the PS5 with DualSense controllers.
An Xbox port of PS5 GTA6 having the title "GTA6" would be incredibly misleading. From a legal POV it would be tantamount to fraud.
In particular, game reviews will be higher for DualSense games on PS HW. The only way to prevent confusion is to ensure that PS games have unique names that don't exist on other platforms.
E.g., "GTA6" would be "GTA6" only on PS5, eliminating any chance of misleading a customer. On non-PS HW the title would be amended to "GTA6 limited function port" making it 100% clear that it's not the original DualSense game.
A visible notice would be added to the box or online game listing to explain: "Content from the original PlayStation game has been removed. Does not provide DualSense feedback."
From there PS just needs to move back to a Sony CPU/GPU that can provide games with a distinct PS look to match the distinct PS tactile feel.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
New in-game content incentives coming to PlayStation games on PC
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and God of War Ragnarok to offer in-game content unlocks for users playing with a PlayStation Network account
blog.playstation.com
ProtoByte
Weeb Underling
My friend, he is not yet the sole CEO. That comes in April. This move was not something decided on yesterday, and whatever he decides with PC won't be on the first day of the new position.Maybe a new evidence of why he's not console-centric as you said then.
New in-game content incentives coming to PlayStation games on PC
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and God of War Ragnarok to offer in-game content unlocks for users playing with a PlayStation Network account
bitbydeath
Member
Moving goal posts eh?New in-game content incentives coming to PlayStation games on PC
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and God of War Ragnarok to offer in-game content unlocks for users playing with a PlayStation Network account
You should at least edit your old comments to match.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Indeed, he already decided this months ago. Ain’t no stopping this train.
“Moving goal posts” when I am the one shooting the goal.
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LavitzSlambert
Member
Make O confirm and X cancel again.
Brigandier
Member
The shake:
WhiteWaterM00se
Member
I looked up the “ps3 has no games”, you are right it did exist. I was right, it was during the launch year.
I’m not saying the ps5 is not successful, I’m saying, because of many factors, but especially the pandemic, I find it highly unlikely ps5 sells anywhere near ps4 in lifetime units. I doubt ps5 sells much more than a 100 million units lifetime.
The narrative will continue moving forward Sony has no games, which is why I think with the recent shakeup in management, you see a new strategy, similar to Xbox that *some* 1st party games comes to many platforms. Games like rachet and clank, uncharted trilogy, etc. Specifically, pc, Nintendo, Xbox and we will see if the rumored Apple/PlayStation partnership is real.
I kind of think you are I are saying the same thing from different points of view. You are saying PlayStation is profitable, and doing fine.
I agree, but I don’t think Sony ps5 will sell as well as ps4, and due to the narrative of “Sony has no games” they well look to a multi platform strategy to boost revenue going forward. Yes, Sony should be making more money per unit sold than ever before.
laynelane
Member
I've been with PS since the PS1 - the "no games" narrative was trotted out throughout the life span of the PS3, the PS4, and now the PS5. For the PS3, it was well beyond the launch year too. The link I provided confirms that.
I have no idea whether the PS5 will outsell the PS4 - it's far too early and there isn't enough data to accurately say whether it will or won't. Yes, the pandemic was an issue but there are other circumstances now that did not exist in previous generations - eg. Xbox has significantly declined and former customers have crossed over to PS, some games are available on PC, etc.
You bring up the age-old "Sony has no games" narrative and yet also think porting their games is the best strategy going forward. So, they do have games - putting them on a dying platform (Xbox) or a platform that won't adequately run most of them (Nintendo) doesn't seem like a good way forward at all. As well, Sony has been crystal clear on their PC strategy for quite some time now. I'm not saying it will never change, but changing it to day and date on PC would involve Sony having a large shift in focus away from their hardware and attached ecosystem. I don't see that happening except in cases where it makes sense, eg. GaaS. Time will tell, I suppose.
PurePlatinum
Member
Looks like leadership is leashing Hulst until they can figure out how to proceed.
Idk why you’d give the guy who did Killzone and Horizon the keys to the entire first party kingdom. That was a bad move.
Idk why you’d give the guy who did Killzone and Horizon the keys to the entire first party kingdom. That was a bad move.
Astray
Member
You mean the guy who presided over a hit franchise (Killzone), then followed it up by one of Sony's biggest hit IPs and the only one in their largest hits to not be mature-oriented (Horizon), all while in the meantime being a key part of developing the Decima Engine, one of the best in-house game engines out there?
He had the credentials for the job, their problem has been going too hard too fast for GAAS hits, they will continue on that track though..
Klosshufvud
Member
Killzone was hardly a "hit" franchise. It did ok numbers per installment but could never reach the heights it sought. Why there are no more Killzone games. Besides KZ2, I'd argue the best KZ game was Mercs, which wasn't by GG. But that's personal opinion.
Horizon is one of those impossible-to-fail open world AAA endeavors that was massively carried by an insane hype and budget and a unique premise. But interest for the sequel has been muted and even Yoshida said the lower sales surprised him. The premise was always more exciting than the actual game (highly generic design-by-committe open-world checklist game), How is Decima engine their best in-house engine?
He never had any credentials. GG was for some reason always given special preference even when making a long streak of mediocre games. And leading a studio is hardly the equivalent of managing worldwide studios of various cultures and languages. Hulst's rapid ascension at SIE will always be a huge mystery to me.
SkylineRKR
Member
Yeah the Guerrilla situation is kind of odd, I guess they were signed for their technical prowess. Their games weren't actually that good. I liked Killzone 2 mind you, but it wasn't a smash hit and it also wasn't that accessible for many. 1 and 3 were mediocre games. Horizon was probably their most polished product, and their game with the most widespread appeal. Horizon 2 was a very safe sequel. Horizon is actually rather by the numbers and the reason it was such a hit is because it was the best looking open world console game at the time and generally everything sold exceptionally well on PS4. Horizon 2 didn't sell nearly as well which doesn't surprise me really, personally I had my fill after the first game.
How he became CEO of Playstation, i don't know. But Sony likely deemed him unfit for the role as they put a superior above him.
You would see this error a lot as Herman would've been more common over here as well, his name is unusual.
How he became CEO of Playstation, i don't know. But Sony likely deemed him unfit for the role as they put a superior above him.
You would see this error a lot as Herman would've been more common over here as well, his name is unusual.
viveks86
Member
Just binge watched The Reptile a week ago. Herman K-nippenberg!
I've always dreamed about having Turn-based Killzone from Japanese studios as well as other exclusives like The Last of Us.
Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
This is a strange take.
Killzone 2 was a great game and a huge improvement from Killzone 1. Killzone 3 furthered that extremely. Killzone has a 70 on metacritic while Killzone 2 has a 91. Killzone 3 has an 84. Three was not a mediocre game.
I didn't love Horizon, but the franchise has sold more than 30 million in less than 8 years. It's so interesting to see the lengths people will go to really diminish people's accomplishments. 30 million in less than 8 years as an original IP is industry leading for a franchise like this.
Sony has done a great job with IP generation and Guerrilla is at the top of that list. That's how Herman got to where he is. It's not crazy or weird.
The only others in the same ballpark is Naughty Dog and they've had different leadership over that same time span. Santa Monica is close but has also had different leadership and hasn't made multiple IP.
Please tell me someone within Sony who has achieved more and has been with Sony as long, having relationships with the other studios. And yes, their technical chops are part of the reason why he was promoted. He also brought in Nixxes, which has been on a boon for Sony.
Like it can be "funny" how people vilify people, but at the end of the day you end up looking silly.
Astray
Member
This is where I stop reading your post because wtf are you talking about?
Devs and publishers fail at those big open world games every year. Star Wars Outlaws is the latest example of this.
