Former PlayStation Executive Calls for Change in Console Industry
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has suggested that the continued push toward more powerful and costly console hardware is unsustainable, arguing that “fighting over teraflops is no place to be… We need to compete on content.”
Layden, who served as CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America and chairman of Worldwide Studios before leaving the company in 2019, discussed the sustainability of the console industry’s current business model with VGC. He emphasized the increasing development costs associated with the ongoing pursuit of incrementally more powerful hardware.
“We’ve done these things this way for 30 years,” Layden replied. “Every generation, those costs went up, and we realigned with it. We’ve reached the precipice now, where the centre can’t hold; we cannot continue to do things that we have done before.”
Layden expressed a belief that it is time for a “real hard reset” on the industry’s current business model, even suggesting a “hard reset” on what it means to be a video game. “It’s not 80 hours, it’s not 90 hours, but if it is, that’s a whole different category.”
He added that the effectiveness of chasing more powerful hardware has “plateaued” and is unlikely to appeal to the majority of players. “We’re at the stage of hardware development that I call ‘only dogs can hear the difference’,” he commented.
“If you’re playing your game and sunlight is coming through your window onto your TV, you’re not seeing any ray tracing. It has to be super optimal; you have to have an 8K monitor in a dark room to see these things. We’re fighting over teraflops, and that’s no place to be. We need to compete on content. Jacking up the specs of the box, I think we’ve reached the ceiling.”
Layden’s comments come ahead of Sony’s new PlayStation 5 Pro console, which is set to launch on November 7th and is primarily marketed on the promise of improved performance and visual fidelity for supported PS4 and PS5 games. However, the machine’s £700 price tag has raised questions about who exactly it is intended for.
Expert Discussion
To dive deeper into Layden’s insights, we gathered experts from the gaming industry:
- Dr. Emily Carter, Video Game Industry Analyst
- James Park, Game Developer and Studio Head
- Lisa Tran, Consumer Technology Researcher
Engaging Questions
As we explore the implications of Layden’s statements, here are some questions for our panel:
- Do you agree that the current focus on hardware specifications is detrimental to gameplay experience?
- What alternative strategies should companies consider to enhance player engagement without escalating hardware costs?
- Could a shift in focus towards content and game development lead to a renaissance in the gaming industry?
Join the Discussion
We encourage our readers to share their views on the direction of the console gaming industry. What do you think – is it time for a shift in focus? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!