Since leaving the presidency of Sony Interactive Entertainment America in 2019, Shawn Layden never really left the media space. While going about his business with Streamline, which consisted of promoting diversity in game creation in order to reach a wider audience (the only way for AAA to survive in his opinion), he was often asked about Sony’s strategy in the recent years, whether on the issue of subscriptions or the fact that PlayStation games are offered PC ports. But here he is again in the heart of the industry, and not anyone else.
A counselor who has the bottle
After being one of Sony’s leading figures, Layden announces via his LinkedIn that he will now work Chinese publisher Tencent as a strategic consultant :
” I am pleased to share that I recently joined Tencent Games as a strategy consultant. In this new role, I hope to advise, assist and support the Tencent team as they deepen their activities and commitments within the industry to which I have dedicated much of my career. We are in a defining moment for video games and interactive entertainment. There are many possible paths, but only a few are profound, inclusive, uplifting, inspiring and / or lasting. I am thrilled to continue this journey of discovery and thank Tencent for the opportunity. “
As you may have understood, Layden does not therefore have a decision-making role within the company, but his experience will undoubtedly be important for Tencent, especially in its expansion in the West. Remember that as a publisher, Tencent is one of the biggest heavyweights in this industry alongside Sony, which makes the announcement of this Layden hiring even more interesting.
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