Shawn Layden, former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Worldwide Studios, recently shared his positive outlook on Microsoft's current multiplatform strategy, suggesting that it could succeed in a similar way to how Sega made the shift years ago. However, Layden also warned that there are risks, as this approach could ultimately push consumers away from the Xbox platform itself.
Layden’s career with Sony began in 1987 as a communications assistant in Tokyo, and he eventually rose to prominence, becoming the chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios in 2014. During his tenure, Layden was the face of Sony at E3 and helped steer the early development of the PS5. After retiring from Sony in 2019, Layden joined Tencent Games in 2022 as a strategic advisor. Meanwhile, SIE Worldwide Studios was rebranded as PlayStation Studios in 2020 and is now led by Hermen Hulst, former director of Guerrilla Games. Following a corporate restructuring at Sony, Hulst will soon report to Hideaki Nishino, the incoming sole CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, starting April 1.
In an interview with Kiwi Talkz on YouTube, Layden addressed the growing trend of multiplatform releases, noting that Microsoft's approach could pay off if managed properly. He explained, “Multiplatform is a strategy, especially in an era where the cost of development is rising steeply. By going multiplatform, you can reach a larger audience, as the marketing folks say.” However, Layden acknowledged that Microsoft faces a balancing act, as releasing its games on other platforms may make it harder to convince consumers to buy into the Xbox ecosystem when they can play the same titles on other systems.
Layden also drew comparisons between Microsoft’s current strategy and Sega’s shift following the failure of the Sega Dreamcast. After the Dreamcast’s poor performance in the early 2000s, Sega exited the console market and pivoted to focus on developing third-party games. This shift allowed Sega to publish popular titles like Sonic Heroes and the Yakuza series on Sony’s PlayStation 2. According to Layden, this transition proved beneficial for Sega in the long run.
In addition to this, Layden noted the growing success of Xbox Game Pass, which has set revenue records thanks to hit titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The success of Xbox’s multiplatform strategy and Game Pass remains to be fully seen, but Layden’s thoughts suggest that it could lead to significant changes in the gaming landscape, similar to Sega’s transformation years ago.

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