Jim Ryan might be the most radical thing that's ever happened to Playstation, but is that a bad thing?

[teenaxta]

For those of you who aren't aware of the Jim Ryan strategy for playstation, here's a quick overview

• Major emphasis on blockbuster titles that receive universal praise from critics and fans
• Focus on titles where success is guaranteed.
• Move away from smaller and riskier project (eg gravity rush). Effectively reducing "experiment" projects.
• Downsize studios that aren't producing the most critical hits (Japan studio)
• More emphasis on western developers and audiences.
• Huge emphasis on timed exclusives. Sony has always done timed exclusives but scooping up multiple projects simultaneously from big name developers might be a first.
• Bring PS catalogue to PC (We still don't know to what extent, but one thing is clear, Sony wants PC gamers)

Clearly Jim Ryan is doing a lot of things that no one could have ever imagined. However, I don't think Sony's strategy of working on big budget blockbusters is a bad idea. What good is a game if it gets bad reviews and no one plays it. I'd rather have a quality game than 2 games that are there just to fill a sales window. Some people have tossed the idea that Jim is doing for the bottom line, I disagree with that. Passion takes time and money. I think its better to have something fully realized than multiple projects that no one cares about. More than that this is what fans want, this is what they talk about, this is what they care about. Like how times have you seen people talk about gravity rush? On the contrary people often talk about and praise games like GOW and TLOU. So i think it makes perfect sense to invest in something that people care about and appreciate.

 

[xxracerxx]

Stop caring about video game execs unless they are funny gifs.

 

[Leona Lewis]

"What good is a game if it gets bad reviews"

please kill meeeeeee

 

[Geode]

Eh people will complain but they'll continue buying PS5s and those blockbusters. Money talks so Jim will continue what he's doing.

 

[Vic20]

Uh PS3? Get two jobs?

 

[Sandfox]

Those poll options really aren't good. You only have positive options and a hyperbolic meme "doom" option.

 

[Thorn]

Where's the "I dont like him nor the direction he seems to be taking Sony but I'm not doom posting about him." option.

 

[2Blackcats]

Hmm. I don't think their strategy going forward is at all clear. Between covid and generation transition everything is still up in the air.

Be another 9 months or so before we get the jist of their over arching strategy.

 

[Mezoly]

Sheeh.

 

[Deleted member 35987]

Jim Ryan is probably the antichrist

 

[MykonosFan]

It's hard for me to say he's the most radical thing that's happened, especially when the direction was set before he took over.

 

[Servbot24]

I don't get it. So far PS5 is just business as usual. It's the same strategy as PS4, which was also focused on blockbusters.

 

[Drunkensamurai]

Can we please just wait until PS's June or whatever Summer showcase before we start making these judgments? That will show what Jim's future for PS is and give us a glimpse of where the brand is heading. Please stop with these hyperbolic threads! Thanks!

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

This forum's obsession with Jim Ryan is starting to bother me.

You'd think he was some new hire at Sony instead of someone that has been there since the PS1 days (and someone who's a big part of why the brand is so successful in Europe).

 

[qatak]

I am very sad about Japan studio, that's a hard one to reckon with. Overall though, I'm fine with the ps5 approach to this gen. That said, I've already hedged my bets and gotten a series x too.

 

[TripleBee]

He has 2 first names. 'nuff said.

 

[pappacone]

that's all in continuity with the ps4 era, including the Japan Studio's part, the is being "closed" now, but it was reduced to a shadow of itself during the House-Layden era

 

[punkon]

i hate every decision he made except for ps4 games on pc

 

[Cactuar]

• Focus on titles where success is guaranteed.

Click to shrink...

No such thing as a title where success is guaranteed. This is something dumb fucks say who are trying to downplay talented developers.

 

[Assy Grass]

He's neither the most radical nor the worst thing to have happened to playstation. The hyperbole surrounding him is ridiculous

 

[Convasse]

I really don't see the point in constantly pontificating and obsessing over Jim Ryan. If he's leading PlayStation to success, then it'll be born out over the next few years, not over the next few months. If he's leading them to ruin, same principle.

That said, if the current corporate PlayStation vision is a focus on titles where "success is guaranteed," then they will fail. You cannot guarantee success. You strive for it and sometimes you miss it. Trying to "guarantee" success involves either unethical or illegal practices.

 

[Nazgûl]

#IBelieveInJim

 

[Uzupedro]

How a person that is in the company for more than 20 years is the ''most radical thing that has ever happened to Playstation''

 

[supkid]

Uh PS3? Get two jobs?

Click to shrink...

Absolutely this, it took Sony nearly half a generation to self correct from the launch of the PS3, the PS5 is absolutely flying off the shelves. Stop fallling for the doomsday narratives you're being fed, it's tiresome.

 

[Deluxera]

The "fewer but bigger games" quote didn't come from Jim Ryan.

 

[DGenerator]

Jim Ryan is the head of PlayStation, not Sony. The direction of the company is not entirely "What he says, goes."

 

[Thorn]

Is Jim responsible for the HQ moving to California? Because I've not been happy about that. Maybe it makes me a weeb but Sony losing its "Japan" influences just...doesn't sit right with me.

 

[platocplx]

I don't think anyone is aware of PlayStations full strategy other than bits and pieces so making any real analysis especially this early in the generation is working on extremely low information.

 

[SilverX]

Jim Ryan happened to PlayStation generations ago lol

 

[Charred Knight]

Jim Ryan's plan will bite them in the ass as Microsoft continually buys more and more publishers, and other publishers move towards Nintendo like with Capcom.

 

[Warrior of Light]

This forum's obsession with Jim Ryan is starting to bother me.

You'd think he was some new hire at Sony instead of someone that has been there since the PS1 days (and someone who's a big part of why the brand is so successful in Europe).

Click to shrink...

Having been with the company for a long time doesn't mean he's immune to criticism and unable to make bad decisions. His stance on preservation is absolutely awful, for example.

 

[Rosebud]

• Major emphasis on blockbuster titles that receive universal praise from critics and fans

Click to shrink...

That was Shawn Layden

Sony's Shawn Layden wants fewer, bigger PlayStation games

Video game makers are struggling to adapt to the internet era. With the PS5 on the horizon, Sony's video game boss has a plan.

www.cnet.com

Jim Ryan's plan will bite them in the ass as Microsoft continually buys more and more publishers, and other publishers move towards Nintendo like with Capcom.

Click to shrink...

Is Capcom abandoning PS? Wat

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

The guy has been with Playstation for decades. Reducing him to decisions only made in 2 years is really not ideal.
Specially considering Playstation was already headed this way.

 

[hey it's that dog]

I don't get it. So far PS5 is just business as usual. It's the same strategy as PS4, which was also focused on blockbusters.

Click to shrink...

This, one million times. Jim Ryan has done nothing radical. Anyone in charge of Sony right now would probably continue with (or double down on) the strategy that led to massive, massive success in the PS4 generation.

 

[Oreiller]

All you've described was in place several years ago under Shawn Layden.

 

[Strings]

It's so weird how the narrative has latched on to Jim Ryan.

 

[Speevy]

I think that at the very least, if he deserves any of the praise for Sony's turnaround to video game profitability, he will deserve an equal amount of blame if sales are lagging in a few years.

I think Sony needs someone who wants games as much as we do. He needs to show us that the new Playstation is poised to be the system to own, yes, during a pandemic.

 

[Charred Knight]

That was Shawn Layden

Sony's Shawn Layden wants fewer, bigger PlayStation games

Video game makers are struggling to adapt to the internet era. With the PS5 on the horizon, Sony's video game boss has a plan.

www.cnet.com

Is Capcom abandoning PS? Wat

Click to shrink...

With the move towards more stuff like Monster Hunter Rise, I can definitely see a pattern.

 

[ComradeYork]

He's one of those exec types that I feel like always says the wrong thing no matter what.

 

[ghostcrew]

I think 'the most radical thing to ever happen to PlayStation' is probably a stretch and threatens to make Ryan sound far more exciting than he's realistically been so far.

 

[BabyDontHurtMe]

Jim Ryan's just doing his job. Why do people need to psychoanalyze the man who likely makes millions?

 

[defaltoption]

Bad vibes but they'll be fine regardless and "most radical thing" is very exaggerated.

 

[Rosebud]

With the move towards more stuff like Monster Hunter Rise, I can definitely see a pattern.

Click to shrink...

No, they always did games like that and still supported PS.

Or you think their next MH, RE, Street Fighter etc. will be Nintendo exclusives?

 

[RoboPlato]

A lot of people don't remember the lead-up to and the early years of the PS3 and it shows.

 

[DarkVaber32]

You guys getting to play all of this awesome games, and yet you start to worry about a potential doom of PlayStation?

I wouldn't worry, nothing seems to be out of the ordinary and in my opinion the bad press recently was overexaggerated by many outlets. And even if Sony is really heading towards their doom, we can still look forward towards awesome games from other creators.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

With the move towards more stuff like Monster Hunter Rise, I can definitely see a pattern.

Click to shrink...

Wait...what? Do you really imagine Resident Evil in the future not releasing on a PS console? Specially their more mature content?

Jim Ryan's plan will bite them in the ass as Microsoft continually buys more and more publishers, and other publishers move towards Nintendo like with Capcom.

Click to shrink...

I'm sure Sony knows MS might buy more stuff. They can't be that naive. We also know Sony is looking for more developers and even publishers (SEGA was even rumored more than once...but everyone was rumored to buy SEGA at this point, LOL)

 

[PiranhaMan]

Jim Ryan will take over the world and call it EARTHSTATION!

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

"What good is a game if it gets bad reviews"

please kill meeeeeee

Click to shrink...

Lol.. Fuck, man. I've had more fun with 6's and 7's than many 8's and 9's I've played.

Crazy how people feel that way huh.

 

[Butt-shot Katana]

Those poll options really aren't good. You only have positive options and a hyperbolic meme "doom" option.

Click to shrink...

This. The bias is in the way the question is presented. The OP is attempting to solicit opinions that agree with theirs.

 

[Uzupedro]

With the move towards more stuff like Monster Hunter Rise, I can definitely see a pattern.

Click to shrink...

This has nothing to do with anything, portable MH is a thing for a long time and there is no other portable console in the market other than the Switch, the next Monster Hunter for home consoles is already in development and won't skip Playstation unless MS moneyhats it.