SCE WORLDWIDE STUDIOS PRESIDENT
PHIL HARRISON RESIGNS
SCE Group CEO Kazuo Hirai Assumes Responsibilities
Tokyo, February 25, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS), will resign from Sony Computer Entertainment Group as of February 29, 2008. Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of SCEI, will immediately assume responsibilities as president of SCE WWS, in addition to his current duties.
Prior to the launch of the original PlayStation, Phil Harrison joined Sony Electronic Publishing, Ltd. in 1992, which later evolved into Sony computer Entertainment Europe, and since then, he has made a tremendous contribution to the company playing a strategic role in the launch of four PlayStation platforms, as well as building strong relationships with game developers and publishers throughout the world. Since his appointment to the position of president, SCE WWS, Harrison applied his considerable skill, knowledge and expertise to lead SCE Group’s first party game development as well as aggressively pursuing the development of new online entertainment experiences.
“As one of the founding members of SCE, Phil played a key role in the development and growth of the PlayStation business and our industry,” said Kazuo Hirai. “It is sad to see him departing from SCE, but I wish to express my gratitude for his many invaluable contributions and also wish Phil the very best of luck in his future endeavors.”
“The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far,” said Phil Harrison. “I am grateful to all the PlayStation family for their incredible support, guidance and friendship. It has been a privilege to serve as part of the team and be inspired by them on a daily basis. I am so proud of everything PlayStation has achieved and will continue to support its future in every way I can.”
Any reason why..?
Comment by Terry — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:18 am
No more ducks?!?
Comment by Martin Hansen — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Make sure the door hits this guy on the way out. With Kaz back hopefully things get back on track.
Comment by anon — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Is this because he blamed Sony Japan for underestimating peoples desire for online and social gaming?
Looks like he’s already torn all his hair out!
Comment by Sam Barriscale — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Good Luck Phil in your next move.
Thanks for your efforts in the last 10+ years
Comment by komp — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:41 am
threespeech, can you shed any more light on this?
Sounds like he’s going under a cloud. Leaving on Friday is a bit too sudden for it to have been planned.
I’m pretty shocked at this.
Comment by mrsatansdojo — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:42 am
Its what happens when you make a liar out of a basically good man.
Good luck Phil. Unlucky Kaz.
Comment by b dizzle — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:43 am
God damnit!
Where am I going to get my sony bald headed fix now!
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Well. Maybe they’ll find someone who can whip SCEE into something we can respect.
Comment by Tiran Kenja — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:51 am
As a follow up to my own comment I’d like to say that people who should leave is people like Jamie MacDonald (no idea if he is personally still around) who came with brilliant comments like this one: http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xv-europeans-dont-mind-waiting-for/
Seems that mindset is still very much alive in the company.
Comment by Tiran Kenja — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:57 am
I don’t know if it’s connected (I doubt it personally, but there’s no smoke without fire) but at the GDC Phil was very vocal about his constant battle with Japan to get social gaming off the ground for Playstation.
His vision was that the future of gaming was everyone playing together (hence his support of things like Home, LBP, Buzz, Singstar, EOJ etc), but apparently Japan did not believe that was true.
His exact quote was:
“It’s frustrating for me to experience, because I’ve been saying for years that playing games together is the future, but the guys in Japan said that people just didn’t play that way. The Wii ads show the perspective from the television - of people on the sofa having fun together - which is very clever, so how pissed off am I?”
Maybe Phil wanted the PS3 to go down the Wii route and he was over-ruled by Japan? It will be interesting to see how Sony’s online strategy develops now, if it was Harrison that was the driving force in social gaming (eg Phil was happy with Home, Kaz was not happy with it)…
Then again it could just be that he got another job for more money and they all parted amicably with Phil taking the opportunity at GDC to take credit for social gaming on the PS3 because he knew he was leaving anyway.
If he gets another high-profile job in the games industry, perhaps with a big producer/developer it could prove very useful to Sony, assuming the “…and will continue to support its future in every way I can” statement isn’t just PR spin.
Comment by Apnomis — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:00 am
As I posted in the other thread:
This won’t have been directly related to those comments, I don’t think they would or could fire their head of worldwide studios like that, but this has obviously been brewing for a while. I expect they always planned to announce it now so it wasn’t the talk of GDC.
He probably felt able to speak his mind at GDC because he knew he was leaving.
Comment by uber1337 — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:11 am
@ 6. msatansdojo, it is common practice to go on instant “gardening leave” when someone that high up within a company resigns.
Because of his level it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the company to allow him to work his notice period and continue to make/hear strategic decisions once he has announced he’s got a job with a competitor.
Just because it’s sudden, doesn’t mean it is necessarily on bad terms…
Comment by Apnomis — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:13 am
I think he will be missed at Sony. He was the friendly face of the company who spoke with knowledge.
What happens to his most recent baby, Home?
Comment by Andronix — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:16 am
@11
I think you have got it right there. He knew he was leaving so wasn’t worried too much about what he was saying.
Comment by yxxxx — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Elsewhere people have mentioned Atari as a potential destination. With video game publishers consolidating right now, it’d be a smart move to jump on to a small publisher, get them back up and running (saleable) and then after they’re bought out, jump into management at the larger publisher. It also doesn’t look like a vote of no confidence type defection that way.
Comment by Ayrkain — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Phil - you will be dearly missed! I can still remeber the joy you had when presenting the PS3 and the Lots Of Ducs technology.
Comment by Laze — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:47 am
A real surprise and I’m sure we’ll all miss his style at any future Sony press events.
Very quick depature which adds to the speculation. Perhaps the blu-ray decision came too late for him?
Comment by raithrover — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:47 am
I’ve stood in a queue waiting for coffee with him.
And also @mrsatansdojo, as mentioned above he will most likely be on gardening leave, but also they are unlikely to announce a resignation to the public or even their own staff the minute it happens, it could cause problems on something he might be working on, or demotivate staff
Comment by John — Feb 25, 2008 @ 11:59 am
Comment by Ricky — Feb 25, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Maybe hes bored of waitin 4 -
HOME,
L.B.P,
KillZone2,
PSN Cards(in U.K),
DS3 Pads(in U.K),
In-game XMB
etc etc :-/
Comment by Carl G — Feb 25, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Edited at posters request.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 25, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
Like all other Japanese companies, they’re ultimately run by Japanese, from Japan, with directors/managers all Japanese, even in European countries.
Invariably, they don’t tend to listen, even to good ideas because they haven’t got a clue that other cultures do things differently or simply refuse to recognise that fact.
Sony has done exactly that with the PS3. An extortionate launch price for Europe, which I’m sure would’ve been a frustration for Mr Harrison. I’m sure he was up in arms and on a confcall to sony Japan, saying “no one will buy it at that price”, but they didn’t listen.
Their lack of support and disbelief for innovative, ’social’ games (like Buzz and EyeToy must’ve been really frustrating and demoralising for him also, to see these games begrudgingly supported and released, while Nintendo is now literally surviving on such titles with the Revolution.
Also, probably a sense of having ‘missed the boat’ with this third iteration of the PS3 and the seemingly mundane repeat of house-hold name titles with nothing really new on the horizon may have also played a part in his fatigue with the brand and his personal achievements.
So, off to Atari he goes! His “will continue to support its future” clearly means he’s off to a developer/publisher where he will champion development for the PlayStation brand “in every way I can.”
Goodbye Phil, thanks for making an effort in explaining things like anti-aliasing to the likes of EDGE in the early days of PS1, even though it (anti-aliasing) is still not done on PlayStation games!
Over & Out.
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 25, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Its about time, we need more heads to roll at sony Europe especially the marketing team.
Comment by carl — Feb 25, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
I know for a fact that he was asked to leave on Saturday night.
Comment by Dave B — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
lovely round head.
Comment by rob — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
@24 Phil Harrison was the *worldwide* studios president, nothing to do with Sony Europe. Also, he did a good job, he will be missed. This is not good news.
Comment by cr8ck3r5 — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
Edited at posters request.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Harrison’s brilliant, he well definitely be missed
Comment by Johnny Sasaki — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Thanks for all your hard work Phil, sorry to see you leave especially now that the PS3 is becoming more popular.
Microsoft wil snap him up, if they dont theyre muppets! 15 years in the industry against one of their most fiercest rivals, he has the knowledge and experience to do a great deal for the 360
Comment by Paul — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Does anyone know what the so called “Secret PS3 Title” is, that is mentioned in this BBC article - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/02/playstation_bounces_back.html ?
Any hints TS??
Comment by Savage — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
SHOCK! He was my favorite guy at Sony. Extremely good sense of humour and vocabulary. In my opinion he was the best. It’s super sad. But hey, I wish the best for him!
Good luck Phil! and thanx for your soon to be released HOME legacy!
Comment by Willykyu — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
To all those giving him a slagging, Phil Harrison played an important role in bringing gaming to a mass audience. He oversaw the campaign that saw the original Playstation became a cool thing to have around rather than a kid’s toy. He is also the guy who spotted the talent at Sony Cambridge and Media Molecule and turned round the disaster that was PS3 publicity with a barnstorming GDC 07, announcing Home and LBP. It’s Phil who has stood up for European developers and seems to have been the only one to realise that a slew of shooters and sequels might not be the right route for PS3. Compare this to Kaz “Riiiiiiiiiidge Racer” Hirai, whose performance at E3 06 was the epitome of arrogance and suggested he was supremely out of touch with the way gaming is going. Harrison’s departure is bad news for Sony and very bad news for European developers.
Comment by FriendlyFiend — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
No it’s not.
It will be good.
Heads needed to roll over the PS3 farce, hopefully more will follow in a much overdue clear out.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
@ Tom Capone: What exactly drives your, quite strong, opinion on this? I felt he did a good job so I’m interested to know what I perhaps missed to have turned you so against him.
Comment by TheShirts — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
The whole roll out of PS3 was not good.
The first party games I feel were not good enough or released on time.
Motorstorm,Heavenly Sword etc were all grossly overhyped and failed to deliver.
It may not be entirely his fault but the buck stops with the top man and that was him.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
@Savage - is it Lair 2?
Comment by reakt — Feb 25, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
I like Phil. Shame to see him go.
Comment by Terry Willard — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
Whilst I think it is certainly about time that heads roll for the mess that is the PS3 in Europe, I doubt very much this is the reason for his departure. I liked Phil Harrison, he was one of the few people at Sony I actually respected. I think he was maybe fighting a constant battle with regards to getting the online and social side of things taken more seriously.
I think this is very bad news for the online future of PS3 and certainly bad news for Europe, I doubt we have anybody left to even try and fight our corner now
Good luck for the future Phil.
Comment by Sparky — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
:O
Since the US blog hasnt updated with this news rofl perhaps ThreeSpeech was Phil. HAHAHAHAH. I wish.
Comment by anon — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
@Ton Capone : Too many heads rolling is very bad for any company is it produces instability through out the whole organisation as no one knows where they stand.
It also makes employee’s feel that the management are leaving a sinking ship, therefore staff get gittery and move on as well. If key people who have vision leave, like Phil, then it does not bode for the PS3 or PS4. His replacement will have to have clear vision of what is the “next big thing”, if Sony are to stay one step ahead of Microsoft or Nintendo. They can’t afford to drop the proverbial ball any more. The race is too tight.
Comment by Savage — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
@Savage
It could be the as of yet unannounced PS3 exclusive game from Rockstar Games.
Comment by dobisskill — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
@40
GTA London 3D?
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 25, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
I think people are reading to much into this. He has been at Sony for 16 years, which is a long time these days. He probably just got offered a new job with a little extra money and some new challenges and decided to take it. While I guess a lot of you are still in school and uni I promise you that if you stay with one company for 16 years you will not take to much convincing to change jobs if the opportunity comes along. No matter how interesting and stimulating your job and company are, at some point things starts feeling stale. So while I am sure Phil did a good job and I am sure Kazuo will also, at the end of the day the guys who will decide if PS3 is the best thing ever are the game developers. Good administrative management never hurt, but the make or break factor here is great games and responsibility for those are with the creative types.
Comment by Christian — Feb 25, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
@Savage, I don’t know but it sure sounds interesting, sounds like PS3’s secret weapon for 2009! It certainly made an impression on that reporter, though evidently it didn’t make enough of an impression on Phil Harrison!!!
Given the line “we could be on the brink of a step change in what games consoles are capable of in terms of story-telling and immersion” it makes me think of Heavy Rain, that is a PS3 exclusive that has a big focus on story-telling? But then we know about that, and give Phil Harrison’s reaction this sounds like something completely new…
Comment by Apnomis — Feb 25, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Yeah, it could be Heavy Rain or God of War 3?
Comment by reakt — Feb 25, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
I think he upset SCEJ with his comments at GDC and they made him quit.
Comment by Bradley Manning — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
AHHHHHHH!!!!! What’s with the blue and shiny site skin!!!!
MY EYES!!!!
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
Phil was all for the community, online gaming, connecting the world and making PS3 global. You look at Sony right now and look at what Phil wanted and you wonder why he left? No wonder he did, he’s too good for them right now.
Comment by Deano — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Rats…sinking ship…blah blah blah.
Sad to see him go, but obviously he knows something we don’t.
Comment by Matt — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Well Good luck to you phil and I hope your life with Atari will bring them back from the brink of oblivion. Has atari another console in the works that your going back to help launch Phil ? What ever your real reasons for leaving Sony all I can say is it’s been a pleasure.
Comment by Mark Newsome — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Does this mean even bigger delays for Home or, shock horror, it gets scrapped altogether?!!!
Comment by TheShirts — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Erm, did I get lost? Playstation Black has been replaced with bloooo, and where the hell is Phil?
Comment by LordOfRuin — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
@Lordofruin
Bloo-Ray
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 25, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
[...] Bron: Three Speech [...]
Pingback by Wacka Gameblog - Alles over de PlayStation 3 (PS3), Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable (PSP) en PC! — Feb 25, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
Screw this. I’m trading in my PS3 now.
Comment by tearsofash — Feb 25, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
=(((((((
eternal memory
Comment by KiD — Feb 25, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
A sad day for sony
& a bad day for playstation owner’s
Good Luck Phil
Comment by Rosco — Feb 25, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
Theres a typo in “I am grateful”
Comment by Matt — Feb 25, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
Sinking ship?! I don’t think so - the future for the PS3 has never looked rosier (unless they know something we don’t).
Very sad to hear about Phil’s departure - he came across as a good man and I liked his presentations.
Comment by Obli — Feb 25, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
If I remember correctlu Phil mentioned in an interview that he used to make smaller games when he was young on an Atari.
I think I have read and seen every interview this guy has given since the begginning of the PS3 era. Easily one of the best spokesman of the game industry ever. We need more honest men like that.
I do not know how he did internally as a president though. Phil ! Give an interview soon huh ! I’d do it
Comment by Marius — Feb 25, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
Adios Phil, there’s a save game slot for you here anytime.
now can we have the head of SCEE on the business end of a very sharp and pointy stick please
Comment by mobiletone — Feb 25, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
@JohnSketch, ha ha ha! But hey, it’s back to normal again. Aah!
Comment by LordOfRuin — Feb 25, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
[...] Portrays Clashing Forces Of… - 118 views Phil Harrison Has Resigned - Official Press Release Follows… Feb25 2 views, 25 February 2008, Dean @ 7:00 pm SCE WORLDWIDE STUDIOS PRESIDENT PHIL HARRISONGroup as of February 29, 2008. Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO […] Source: Phil Harrison Has Resigned - Official Press Release Follows… - at Threespeech (No Ratings Yet) Loading … RSS feed for comments on this post.TrackBack URL Write a comment [...]
Pingback by Phil Harrison Has Resigned - Official Press Release Follows… | GameBlews PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PSP, DS News — Feb 25, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
does’nt anyone stop to think,that this is just another suit being payed for what he says/does?(i.e ALL of his seminars/presentations,have been meticulously planned AND scripted?) as does anyone within a higher echelon of management…
no beef with Phil,he was just a face…the real skill comes from the team in the background
Comment by sedaripper1973 — Feb 25, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
GREAT,
The only person at SCE that doesn’t make you cringe when they speak in public. Gone.
Let me guess… RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACER to get full Home integration?
Comment by Genki Rocket — Feb 25, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
Cheerio Phil, old bean. Has he been swallowed by EA perchance?
Comment by rooee — Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
Its a shame he is leaving. From eveything i have read and heard and when i listend in at his talk at 3rooms about i have this to say:
I honestly felt he is the one guy who will boldly strive for inovotive things in the industry and not be a sheep. Look at sony games as a whole without him.
They are just doing the same stuff again and again. Phil is a big loss imo. No offence to the kaz guy but he seems stupidly arrogont and i dont see how he is going to be a good replacement. I have never heard him speek about where gaming can go.. he only seams stuck in the present.
When you listened to phil you didnt feel like he was talking shit..
Obviously i could be wildy wrong about these people. Kaz could be amazing but thats just the way it feels to me personally on this topic.
Comment by ricky — Feb 26, 2008 @ 2:33 am
Odd how this news is completely ignored on the US blog. Anyway, I liked Phil. He seemed down to earth and real, the sort of bloke you could have a beer with and talk gaming. Kaz and Tretton seem so forced and contrived when they are in public.
Comment by Matt — Feb 26, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
With Respect. im gonna create Phil Harrison in Home.
So long Kid..
Comment by Musti — Feb 27, 2008 @ 9:08 am
It should come as no surprise that somebody with Mr Harrison’s industry presence and experience (not only at Sony for nearly sixteen years, but also at Mindscape International prior to that) should be eager to progress in a market that is constantly evolving.
I wish him well at Atari and hope we have not seen the last of his insight and foresight within the gaming industry.
BFN,
fp.
(1upGamers.com)
Comment by fanpages — Feb 27, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
[...] Phil Harrison resign from Sony as of from February 29, 2008. Pressrelease is from threespeech.com. [...]
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