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☆ How Sony's PlayStation has rivaled Microsoft and Nintendo in the console wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Ryan Baker | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's been three decades since the Sony PlayStation first brought to life some of the video game industry's most beloved franchises. The gaming console expanded into the U.S. a year later in 1995. "We went into markets where video gaming had never really been a thing. Most recently, Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition presented a major threat to Sony's long-standing gaming business. Watch the video to learn more about the story of Sony's PlayStation and to hear what is next for the company.

Persons: It's, Jim Ryan, Ryan, Shawn Layden, Layden, Carolina Milanesi Organizations: Sony PlayStation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide, Sony Music, Sony Electronics, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Microsoft, Sony Locations: Japan, U.S, Europe, Italy, Spain

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Sony Playstation became the world's best-selling game consoleSony's PlayStation has won over the loyalty of millions of gamers worldwide, and industry experts cite its video game content library as one of the primary reasons why. Sony Interactive Entertainment is just one player in the $280+ billion gaming industry, but its PlayStation 2 hold's the industry's title for best-selling console ever. Watch the video to see how Sony built its gaming empire.

Organizations: Sony, Sony Interactive Entertainment

☆ PlayStation is laying off 900 people globally — read the full email employees received about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementSony Interactive Entertainment is laying off about 900 people from the PlayStation division. PlayStation Studios' London studio will close, Ryan wrote. Ryan will retire at the end of March, as he wrote in a press release shared in September. In January, Microsoft announced it's laying off 1,900 staff members across Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and ZeniMax. All employees who are part of the collective consultation will be made aware of the next steps today.

Persons: Jim Ryan, Ryan, Jim Organizations: Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Asia Pacific, PlayStation Studios, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Unity, Business, Sony Locations: Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia, EMEA

☆ Sony to lay off 900 at PlayStation as tough times for the games industry persist
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Michael Nam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Electronics giant Sony announced on Tuesday that it will be cutting 900 jobs, or 8%, in PlayStation’s global workforce. The layoffs will impact all regions for Sony Interactive Entertainment, according to the PlayStation press release, with its in-house London studio, responsible for the competitive singing video game “Singstar,” closing entirely. “These are incredibly talented people who have been part of our success, and we are very grateful for their contributions,” wrote Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Ryan had already announced in September plans to retire in March as Sony Group Corporation president. Specifically, the video game industry has been seeing jobs hemorrhage from 2023 into this year as well, with Epic Games cutting 830 jobs last September and Tencent’s Riot Games laying off 11% of its workforce in January.

Persons: ”, Jim Ryan, Naomi Matsuouka, Ryan, Hiroki Totoki Organizations: New, New York CNN — Electronics, Sony, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, London, Bloomberg, Sony Group Corporation, Epic Games, Riot Games, SONY Locations: New York

☆ Sony to lay off 900 workers from PlayStation division, or 8% of unit's global workforce
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sony aims to sell 18 million PlayStation 5 consoles in its financial year ending in March 2023. Sony Interactive Entertainment on Tuesday said it will lay off about 900 employees in its PlayStation unit, or 8% of its global workforce, becoming the latest technology company to announce headcount trims. The Japanese gaming giant cut its sales forecast for its flagship PlayStation 5 console on Feb. 14, after it warned of lower demand. Sony at the time said that it expects to sell 21 million units of the PS5 in the fiscal year ending on March, trimmed from a previous forecast near 25 million consoles. The company's shares plunged sharply after the forecast cut announcement.

Persons: Jim Ryan, — CNBC's Arjun Kharpal Organizations: Sony, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Locations: London

☆ Sony facing $7.9 bln mass lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Sony Group Corp FollowLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Sony (6758.T) must face a mass lawsuit worth up to 6.3 billion pounds ($7.9 billion) over claims the PlayStation maker abused its dominant position leading to unfair prices for customers, a London tribunal ruled on Tuesday. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) was sued last year on behalf of nearly nine million people in the United Kingdom who had bought digital games or add-on content through Sony's PlayStation Store. Alex Neill, a consumer advocate who has worked on previous campaigns, is bringing the case against Sony. She says the company abused its dominant position by requiring digital games and add-ons to be bought and sold only via the PlayStation Store, which charges a 30% commission to developers and publishers. The claim alleges customers have therefore paid higher prices for games and add-on content than they would have done.

Persons: Issei Kato, Alex Neill, Neill, they're, Sam Tobin, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Sony, REUTERS, Sony Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, London, United Kingdom

☆ Sony’s PlayStation Access controller offers a new social lifeline for gamers with disabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sony Interactive Entertainment is the maker of the wildly popular PlayStation consoles and a lineup of fan-favorite PlayStation games. Paul Amadeus Lane, an accessibility consultant working with Sony Interactive Entertainment, is pictured here with the Access controller, a Sony device specifically designed for gamers with disabilities. After years of tinkering and consulting with gamers who have disabilities like Lane, Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiled a first look at its Access controller for gamers with disabilities earlier this month. Gamers get a first look at Sony's Access controller, a highly-customizable device designed specifically for people with disabilities, at an event in San Mateo in September. “The industry needs to understand that the Xbox controller, the PlayStation controller, while they’re great and while they’re very beneficial, they cannot help everyone,” he said.

Persons: CNN — Grant Stoner, ” Stoner, I’ve, Stoner, Grant Stoner, Paul Amadeus Lane, quadriplegic, Lane, ” Lane, Alvin Daniel, ” Daniel, Daniel, “, ”, he’s, there’s Organizations: CNN, Super Nintendo, “, Pittsburgh, Sony, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Gamers, Sony’s PlayStation, Gran Turismo Locations: San Mateo

☆ 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' video game breaks 24-hour PlayStation Studios selling record
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Jake Piazza | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"Marvel's Spider-Man 2" broke the record for fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game in its opening 24 hours, according to a release. Consumers purchased more than 2.5 million copies of the game, which debuted Oct. 20, breaking PlayStation Studios' record. Sony Interactive Entertainment, which is the parent company of PlayStation Studios, priced the standard version of the game at $69.99 and offers a deluxe edition for $79.99. Only PlayStation 5 users have access to the new "Marvel's Spider-Man 2," since it is exclusive to that console, according to Marvel. The game, developed by Insomniac Games in collaboration with Marvel Games and PlayStation Studios, allows users to play as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales.

Persons: Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Peter, Miles, Eric Lempel Organizations: PlayStation, Consumers, PlayStation Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel, Insomniac Games, Marvel Games, Sony Locations: New York City, Sony's

☆ The boss of PlayStation is retiring after 28 years, saying he's tired of traveling so much for work
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Playstation boss Jim Ryan is retiring after 28 years at the company, he said Wednesday. Ryan said he found it difficult to "reconcile living in Europe and working in North America." NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe head of PlayStation and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment said he's retiring to avoid the stress of constant travel for work.

Persons: Jim Ryan, Ryan, —, he's, Insider's Dave Smith, Hiroki Totoki Organizations: Service, PlayStation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Locations: Europe, North America, British, Japan

☆ Sony gaming chief Jim Ryan to retire, group president to be interim head
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Inside a GameStop store Sony PS5 gaming consoles are pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., November 12, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Sony Group Corp FollowTOKYO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Sony Group (6758.T) said on Thursday its gaming chief Jim Ryan would retire next March, with group President Hiroki Totoki to become interim CEO during the search for a successor. Ryan, who is British, become CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) in 2019 and oversaw initiatives including the launch of the PlayStation 5 console the following year. "Jim no longer wants to manage the tradeoff between having a job in the U.S. and a home in the UK," SIE said in a statement. Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Jamie Freed and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Jim Ryan, Hiroki Totoki, Ryan, Jim, SIE, Sam Nussey, Jamie Freed, Aurora Ellis Organizations: GameStop, Sony, REUTERS, Sony Group Corp, Sony Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer says Starfield is seeing 'huge demand'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, appears at the Political Opening of the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 23, 2023. Microsoft is seeing "huge demand" for its new Starfield video game, Phil Spencer, the software company's CEO of gaming, said Wednesday. Microsoft picked up the game through its $8.1 billion acquisition of game publisher ZeniMax, the parent of Bethesda. Spencer said Starfield is the most wish-listed game the company has had on the Steam game store. Spencer said tens of millions of Game Pass subscribers were getting a chance to play Starfield on Wednesday.

Persons: Phil Spencer, Spencer, CNBC's Steve Kovach, ZeniMax, Jim Ryan, Ryan, We've, we've, Starfield Organizations: Microsoft Gaming, Microsoft, Microsoft's Bethesda Game Studios, PlayStation, Gaming, Activision Blizzard, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Activision, Sony, Nintendo, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Locations: Cologne, Germany, Microsoft's, Bethesda, San Francisco

☆ Sony PlayStation 5 console sales pass 40 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, July 27 (Reuters) - Sony Group Corp (6758.T) has sold more than 40 million PlayStation 5 consoles, its gaming division said on Thursday, citing the easing of supply chain problems. "It took months for supply chains to normalise so we could have the inventory to keep up with demand," Sony Interactive CEO Jim Ryan wrote in a blog post. "Now PS5 supply is well-stocked and we are seeing that pent up demand finally being met." The Japanese tech and entertainment conglomerate has said it expects to sell 25 million PS5 units this year, which would be a record for any PlayStation device. Sony's latest console is closing the gap with the PS4 console, said Piers Harding-Rolls, analyst at Ampere Analysis.

Persons: Jim Ryan, Piers Harding, Sam Nussey, David Goodman Organizations: Sony Group Corp, Sony Interactive, Ampere Analysis, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ The biggest takeaways from Microsoft's courtroom showdown with the FTC over Activision Blizzard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +21 min

The impulse to expand Microsoft's gaming business on mobile devices at least in part inspired the Activision acquisition. The impulse to expand Microsoft's gaming business on mobile devices at least in part inspired the Activision acquisition. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, wasn't happy with a Microsoft-generated list of Activision Blizzard games that would remain accessible on the PlayStation after the acquisition closes. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, wasn't happy with a Microsoft-generated list of Activision Blizzard games that would remain accessible on the PlayStation after the acquisition closes. Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have agreed to terminate the deal if it's not done by July 18.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Phil Spencer, Spencer, James Weingarten, Weingarten, Jim Ryan, Sony, Ryan, Amy Hood, Bobby Kotick, Sarah Bond, Kotick, Amazon Weingarten, Bond, Tim Stuart, Nadella, Bernstein, Mark Moerdler, Hood, Stuart, it's, Jacqueline Scott Corley, she'll Organizations: Northern, Northern District of, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Sony, PlayStation, Mobile, Activision, Xbox, Zynga, Sega Sammy, Nintendo, Enix, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Management, Sony Group, Amazon, Microsoft's Xbox, Bernstein Research, Symantec, Sony PlayStation Locations: U.S, Northern District, Northern District of California, San Francisco, cybersecurity, United Kingdom, FarmVille, Asia, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Microsoft CEO Nadella says he has 'no love' for exclusive deals between game companies and consoles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella arrives to court in San Francisco on June 28, 2023. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Wednesday that he would like to eliminate exclusive arrangements between video games and popular gaming consoles. Microsoft employs the strategy as well for its Xbox, though Nadella said his company is a "low share player in the console market." Regarding exclusive deals, Nadella said "I have no love for that world." The FTC is worried that the tie-up could allow Microsoft to withhold popular games in Activision's library from other consoles or degrade service for those games elsewhere.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Nadella, Sony hasn't, Jim Ryan, he's Organizations: Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade, Nintendo, Sony, FTC, Activision, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Linux Locations: San Francisco, California

☆ Microsoft, Activision CEOs on witness list for hearing on FTC bid to block merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft from completing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC has argued the transaction would give Microsoft's video game console Xbox exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo (7974.T) consoles and Sony Group Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation out in the cold. Microsoft's bid to acquire the "Call of Duty" video game maker was approved by the EU in May, but British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April. The FTC is calling Nadella to testify about the video game industry, Microsoft Gaming’s strategy and business and the planned Activision acquisition, while Microsoft is calling him to testify about similar topics. Also testifying are two executives from Nvidia Corp.Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart are also scheduled to testify, as are a number of expert witnesses.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Bobby Kotick, Nadella, James Ryan, Dov Zimring, Amy Hood, Phil Spencer, Tim Stuart, David Shepardson, Chris Reese Organizations: Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade, FTC, Activision, Nintendo, Sony Group, EU, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Google, Nvidia Corp, Thomson

The Federal Trade Commission on Monday applied for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction seeking to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard before the deal's July 18 deadline. If the deal falls apart, Microsoft might wind up owing Activision Blizzard a termination fee worth up to $3 billion. The FTC sued to block the acquisition in December 2022, choosing to bring the case before its internal administrative law judge. A hearing on the FTC's case will begin on Aug. 2, the agency said in Monday's filing. Regulators had originally felt that Microsoft might be able to prevent other companies from distributing Activision Blizzard games on other consoles other than Microsoft's Xbox.

Persons: Satya Nadella, it's, Brad Smith, Bobby Kotick, Smith, Jeremy Hunt, Jim Ryan, Lulu Cheng Meservey Organizations: Microsoft Corp, Bloomberg, Economic, Federal Trade Commission, Activision Blizzard, CNBC, FTC, Microsoft, Activision, Sony, Xbox, Competition, Markets Authority, Regulators, Sony PlayStation, Sony Interactive Locations: Davos, Switzerland, U.S

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley dismissed the plaintiffs' first complaint in March after finding it failed to present enough information to back claims the acquisition would harm industry competition. The judge said at the time the plaintiffs could refile a new suit, which challenges the largest-ever video game industry deal. Lawyers for Microsoft said in a court filing last week that the gamers' original case "relied largely on flawed legal arguments based on outdated Supreme Court cases." The plaintiffs' lawyers have served subpoenas on companies including Activision and rivals including Nintendo of America Inc and Sony. The case is Demartini v. Microsoft, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 3:22-cv-08991-JSC.

☆ Playtika offers to buy 'Angry Birds' maker Rovio for 683 mln euros
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Israeli gaming firm Playtika Holding Corp (8II.F) said on Thursday it offered to buy Finnish game maker Rovio (ROVIO.HE), best known for its "Angry Birds" franchise, for 683 million euros ($737.50 million) in a sweetened all-cash deal. The offer price of 9.08 euros per share represents a premium of about 60% to Rovio's close of trading on Jan. 19. Rovio did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Playtika's offer is roughly 40 million euros more than its previous offer in November. The latest offer comes as the gaming industry is going through a round of consolidation.

☆ Sony to expand Chinese game incubator in Microsoft head-to-head
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Japanese tech giant's plans were made public during an event live-streamed from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu to re-launch the China Hero Project programme, which ground to a halt due to COVID-19. The China Hero Project unveiled its first two batches of games in 2017 and 2019 and has supported 17 titles, of which seven have reached the market. It was part of Sony's years-long approach to China, which ultimately led it to a lucrative exclusivity deal with the Chinese hit game “Genshin Impact” outside of the China Hero Project. Reuters reported last month that Sony's success with “Genshin Impact” has driven Microsoft to aggressively woo Chinese game developers with big licensing deals. Sony sells the PlayStation (PS) consoles in China, where people have traditionally preferred playing mobile-based games.

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