Sony veteran Shawn Layden leaving PlayStation Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Sony veteran Shawn Layden leaving PlayStation After 32 years. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 1 Oct 2019 20 comments Shawn Layden, boss of PlayStation's games studios, will leave the company. The news was announced just after midnight last night via PlayStation's official Twitter account. No reason was given for his departure. Sony's short statement paid tribute to Layden's visionary leadership and years of service. Layden has been with PlayStation since 1987 - some 32 years. To fans, Layden is best known as the face of PlayStation at E3 press conferences while boss of Sony Computer Entertainment America - a post he held until a reshuffle in March 2018 put him in charge of its worldwide game development studios. In that position, Layden oversaw the launches of PlayStation 4 exclusives such as Detroit: Become Human, God of War and Days Gone, as well as the imminent arrival of Death Stranding, due in a month's time. It's not clear who will replace Layden in that role now. He was PlayStation's representative at last year's Game Awards, when execs from all three major console platforms took to the stage together for the first time. And he was the first Sony exec to offer up some hope on cross-play, when Eurogamer's Bertie pressed the company last year. Sony's full statement lies below: "It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavours and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!" It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!- PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 30, 2019 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Today has also seen the departure of PlayStation's long-standing Japan president and corporate director Atsushi Morita (thanks, Gematsu), who has retired due to age. It appears there's a bit of a reshuffle going on. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store