Structural changes mean Kaz Hirai will head both SCEI and SOE

by Jem Alexander { Mar 13th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Sony is announcing today that structural changes will be occurring within the company, effectively merging the Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Online Entertainment departments. (Sony Online Entertainment has been run by Sony Pictures.) While the two will remain largely separate Kaz Hirai, President of SCEI, will now be the head of both companies, with SOE President John Smedley reporting to him from April 1st onwards.

Both SOE and SCEI seem excited by the opportunities this brings, with Hirai stating that he is "excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience. This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers." Smedley shares these sentiments, adding that he is "thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made PlayStation 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming."

This all seems to make sense, considering how much energy SOE is putting into PS3 projects over the next frew years. We can't wait to finally starting seeing the fruits of their labor later this year.

[Via press release]

Tags: john-smedley, Kaz-hirai, SCEI, SOE, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ajiezer @ Mar 13th 2008 2:39PM

No complaints here, good for Hirai-San

upz @ Mar 13th 2008 2:44PM

This guys works way too much. I wonder if his kids can still recognize him.

Kspraydad @ Mar 13th 2008 3:08PM

Didn't his kid disown him for not getting him a launch PS3?

Dehshizknight @ Mar 13th 2008 4:42PM

Numerous Asian parenting jokes come to mind....

erico316 @ Mar 13th 2008 3:01PM

he a great leader for the playstation brand i do hope we see him at e3

Parker @ Mar 13th 2008 4:23PM

I find it odd that SOE was run by Sony Pictures and not SCEI from the very beginning. This move seems like a natural thing to do and was long overdue.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 13th 2008 4:22PM

yea i thought the same thing. i think the online portion of the company should certainly reside with either their Playstation brand since that is probably where the demand for it stems from mostly in the company.

Archmaester @ Mar 13th 2008 5:12PM

Especially strange considering the recent interview with Corey Barlog where he says that he couldn't work with Sony Pictures on a more integrated movie/game experience and that SOE's God of War movie wasn't even picked up by thier parent company, but by Universal. Oh Politics, how I dont understand thee...

Haiddasalami @ Mar 13th 2008 3:27PM

Took Ken Kutaragi's job
Took Phil Harrison's job
Now heading SOE

So that brings his paycheck upto?

WTF iz dat about @ Mar 13th 2008 3:39PM

*puts up side down pinky towards corner of my lip*

One million dollars *camera zooms in with shocking music*

ShootMeYou360Fanboy! @ Mar 13th 2008 5:03PM

The Major Flaws Ware:
P.S.S. Redesign
In-Game XMB
Dual Shock 3
Lower Price
Home

And New Cool Games!

But I still want them to refresh the P.S.S. with a lot of new content! And I want the content to be release AT THE SAME TIME in EVERY territory! Yes Sony, EU counts as a territory!

And please stop making new SKU's.. Stick to the 80GB & 40GB SKU's and give everybody the black, white and silver colors of the SKU's!