Xbox’s Recent Moves Show A ‘Basic Misunderstanding’ Of How The Industry Works, Says Ex-PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden

Shawn Layden, the former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SIE WWS), has chimed in on the recent decisions (and rumours) surrounding Xbox format holder Microsoft, suggesting a lack of understanding on how the interactive entertainment industry works.

In you haven’t been keeping up with Xbox’s moves as of late, it’s now decided to bring back Xbox console exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, after previously having moved into a multiplatform strategy that has seen a number of its biggest IPs coming to rival formats. Some still are, in fact, with games like Halo: Campaign Evolved and Forza Horizon 6 all slated to appear on Sony’s platform.

To add to that, there are widespread reports that Microsoft is looking to shutter a number of studios including Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory, and in regards to the latter, the decision was apparently made before they announced their new game, Senua. The studios are reportedly now looking to try and become independent to avoid closure.

Responding to comments from Tadhg Kelly regarding the Xbox crisis, Layden commented, “At the risk of sounding like a ‘hater’ (which, I’m really not) the moves evince a basic misunderstanding of how the interactive entertainment world move.“

Speaking on an episode of Pause for Thought back in January, Layden stated that he feels platform exclusives aren’t going to go away anytiem soon, stating there is “huge value” for companies to support them, including Sony and Nintendo.

[Source – Tadhg Kelly on LinkedIn via RespawnFirst, GamesRadar]