Former Sony executive gives his reason for leaving the company: its shift towards games as a service

Shawn Layden, an emblematic figure in the recent history of PlayStation, left the company in 2019 due to differences in the strategic direction the company was taking. During his time at Sony, Layden championed iconic titles such as God of War, The Last of Us, Uncharted, and Horizon Zero Dawn, solidifying PlayStation’s reputation for creating deep narrative experiences. However, in recent years, the company has shifted its focus towards games as a service, a business model that has generated controversy in the gaming community.

Shawn Layden has no interest in a games-as-a-service model

Since Layden’s departure, PlayStation has faced criticism for the cancellation of several projects in this area, including titles like The Last of Us and God of War. Despite these cancellations, the recent success of Helldivers 2 has rekindled Sony’s interest in this model, boosting its commitment to developing more games as a service. Among the new initiatives are the MMO based on the Horizon universe and Fairgame$, a multiplayer heist shooter, presented at the latest PlayStation Showcase.

In a recent interview, Layden explained his decision to leave Sony, noting that the company was prioritizing the development of games as a service and subscriptions, an approach that did not align with his creative vision. “I didn’t have the vision or the energy to take it into this new area of games as a service,” Layden stated. Despite the criticism, PlayStation continues to expand its strategy and has created new studios, such as Dark Outlaw Games, under the direction of Jason Blundell, known for his work on Call of Duty Zombies.

Channeling these changes, the video game industry watches with anticipation the upcoming announcements of new titles and the future that this transformation holds in strategic directions within PlayStation.

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