Sony Reacts to Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Industry veteran Shawn Layden raises concerns about the stifling effect of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard on studio creativity, emphasizing the need to preserve innovation within the gaming landscape
Shawn Layden, the former CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has been vocal about his views on the industry since his departure from Sony in 2019. In a recent interview with the Lan Parties podcast, Layden reiterated his concerns about the state of the game industry. He expressed caution against the consolidation of studios and emphasized the importance of game preservation, particularly in light of Microsoft's significant acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. These points have been a focal point during Microsoft's ongoing efforts to acquire the gaming powerhouse.
Layden expressed his worry about the impact of consolidation on creativity. He gave an example of how small independent studios are brought into larger conglomerates, which often results in a slowdown of progress. While Layden acknowledges that consolidation can save struggling studios, he remains concerned about its effect on the industry as a whole. He questions whether independent creativity can thrive within larger entities or if it will simply be absorbed. Layden believes that the reduction in the number of voices from hundreds to dozens leads to a loss of diversity. Only time will reveal the true consequences of consolidation.
Layden also expresses concerns about the lack of diversity in today's games, as many major AAA studios are leaning towards the same genres and formats. According to Layden, sticking to a limited number of genres will not attract new players who have already made it clear that they are not interested in those genres. He emphasizes that it is unrealistic to expect someone who has been uninterested in Call of Duty for the past 15 years to suddenly change their mind.
Furthermore, Layden stresses the importance of game preservation and urges more people in the industry to consider the preservation of old games for future generations. He believes that the games being created are not disposable, but rather valuable pieces of entertainment that should be available for years to come. Layden finds it unjust that more efforts are not being made to protect these games.
