Out of nowhere, PlayStation has announced that its chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, Shawn Layden, will be departing the company. This likely comes as a shock to many of the PlayStation fans, critics and those who work at the company.
It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 30, 2019
Previously serving as Sony Computer Entertainment American (SCEA) as president and CEO, after the departure of Jack Tretton in April 2014. Then in 2018 when Sony reorganized and put all of its resources under one umbrella, Shawn shifted roles and focused on developing PlayStation’s Worldwide Studios.
Yet, not only is this news sudden, but we’ve only heard from PlayStation on this. While Shawn Layden has his own Twitter account, he’s been silent. I’ve been checking it since last night and he’s said nothing. He also wasn’t tagged on the post, which is doubly weird. Lastly, I haven’t seen an official press release from PlayStation, which is traditional when someone as important as this departs.
This, of course, has a number of people wondering as to what exactly is going on.
Oddly enough, ever since the big 3, Reggie Fils-Aimé, Shawn Layden and Phil Spencer took the stage this past E3 2019, two of them have left their respective companies. With the new of Shawn leaving PlayStation, and Reggie departing Nintendo earlier this year. This leaves Phil as the last man standing. For Xbox’s sake, they really don’t need for Phil to up and suddenly decide he wants to step down. Not that he will (we hope), but they should start giving Phil daily hugs, just in case.
So far, Shawn hasn’t mentioned what he’ll be doing once he finally leaves PlayStation. What that happens to be, we wish him the best of luck in his new venture.
