Entertainment"I see consolidation to be the enemy of creativity," says former PlayStation chief Shawn Layden, as Jim Ryan says he was “thrilled” to sign Microsoft’s Call of Duty dealWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Entertainment"I see consolidation to be the enemy of creativity," says former PlayStation chief Shawn Layden, as Jim Ryan says he was “thrilled” to sign Microsoft’s Call of Duty dealWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden says he sees “consolidation to be the enemy of creativity,” as the company’s outgoing boss Jim Ryan shares his enthusiasm forMicrosoft’s Call of Duty deal with PlayStation.
In the run-up toMicrosoft’s $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzardand, with it, the Call of Duty franchise,Sonywas, as you might expect,more than a little vocal about the deal being bad for business. But PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, who’s retiring this month after 30 years with Sony, says he’s “thrilled” to have secured a deal that will see Call of Duty released on PlayStation systems for the next 10 years.
“The reason that we felt this one was different to anything that had happened in the past was the sheer size and importance of the Call of Duty franchise,” Ryan tellsCNBC, asked what made theActivisiondeal uniquely damaging. “So we were absolutely thrilled to be able to negotiate a deal with Microsoft to ensure that that franchise remains available on PlayStation platforms for the next ten years. And that was very important to us, and we’re very happy to have done that deal.”
Playstation Jim Ryan/Shawn Layden on Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard King #Xbox Jim ryan says sony ‘thrilled’ to have Negotiated Call of Duty Deal with MicrosoftShawn Layden says consolidation is the enemy of creativityhttps://t.co/ZaioZRxHS4 pic.twitter.com/CioUyoZpDTMarch 14, 2024
Playstation Jim Ryan/Shawn Layden on Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard King #Xbox Jim ryan says sony ‘thrilled’ to have Negotiated Call of Duty Deal with MicrosoftShawn Layden says consolidation is the enemy of creativityhttps://t.co/ZaioZRxHS4 pic.twitter.com/CioUyoZpDTMarch 14, 2024
Despite the enthusiasm for it now, Sony initially rejected Microsoft’s 10-year Call of Duty deal, something which Ryan was also quizzed on.
“We’re at risk of getting granular here,” Ryan replies, “but there are deals in deals. And, you know, the deal that was offered at a certain point in time may not have been the deal that was actually signed.”
While keeping Call of Duty in the hands of PlayStation fans is certainly something of a win for PlayStation, Layden, formerly CEO of SIE Worldwide Studios, is less than keen on the idea of big companies like Microsoft buying up the competition.
“I see the consolidation in the industry,” Layden says. “I see people like Microsoft, Embracer, or some group out of Saudi Arabia buying up a bunch of studios, and I see consolidation to be the enemy of creativity. If we’ve commoditized the product, you’re just going to get more of the same.”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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4
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”