PlayStation veteran steps down

The Briton who was in charge of computer game development at Sony and played a significant role in the release of the company's PlayStation 3 console two years ago has resigned after more than 15 years service.

Phil Harrison will step down as president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios - a role in which he oversaw all of Sony's game development globally - on February 29. No reason has been given for his departure, though Mr Harrison is known to have expressed frustration at Sony's games strategy in recent weeks.

Kazuo Hirai, the chief executive of Sony's game operations, will take over Mr Harrison's responsibilities. "As one of the founding members of [Sony Computer Entertainment], Phil played a key role in the development and growth of the PlayStation business and our industry," Mr Hirai said in a statement.

Mr Harrison said: "The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far. I am grateful to all the PlayStation family for their incredible support, guidance and friendship."

Mr Harrison joined Sony in 1992 - before the launch of the first PlayStation - and was appointed head of the company's game development division in 2005. He oversaw the game development platform for the PS3, which has faced tough competition from the Nintendo Wii since its launch in late 2006, but which has now sold more than ten million units.

Last month - for the first time in two years - Sony's game division announced it had made a profit after cutting prices in a bid to increase demand.

At the Games Developers Conference in San Fransisco last week, Mr Harrison was quoted as saying: "Our Japanese colleagues said that there is no such thing as social gaming in Japan - people do not play games on the same sofa together in each other's homes. It will never happen. And then out comes the Wii."

Comments

[Jana]

In the grand scheme of things, this means nothing. Glad to see ps3 picking up, more games like 'Unchartered' will make the ps3 formidable. At the minute im not willing to part my cash with the console, given 360 has a better online experience, and better games at this momement in time.

[v]

"Our Japanese colleagues said that there is no such thing as social gaming in Japan - people do not play games on the same sofa together in each other's homes. It will never happen. And then out comes the Wii."

lol

[DekuScrubby]

You know why he's stepping down? The PS3 was a cock-up. It just didn't do well. Perhaps it will get more sales from this blu-ray thing, who knows.