Shawn Layden on Leaving Sony: "Live-Service Games Weren’t My Wheelhouse"

Shawn Layden, who served as Chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios from 2014 to 2019, has finally opened up about why he left Sony. Layden played a major role in shaping the PlayStation 4 era, overseeing the launch of blockbuster single-player hits like God of War, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part II. But as Sony geared up for the PlayStation 5 in 2020, it started shifting its focus toward live-service gaming—a direction that didn’t sit well with him.

In a recent interview on the Save State Plus podcast (thanks Kotaku), Layden explained that Sony’s increasing push for live-service games, subscription-based models, and recurring revenue strategies was a major factor in his decision to leave.

“The company was making some strategic decisions about where they want to take the platform in the future with a heavy emphasis on games as a service, live-service gaming, subscription formulas, recurring revenue, and that was kind of not my wheelhouse,” he said.

Layden had built his career around delivering high-quality single-player experiences, and he admitted that he simply wasn’t interested in the live-service approach. “I just make things like God of War, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Uncharted, and Horizon,” he explained. “I didn’t have the vision or the energy to try to take it into this new area of live-service gaming. So, all that considered, it seemed like a good time to step down after 32 years at Sony.”

His departure in September 2019, just over a year before the PlayStation 5’s launch, took many by surprise. Unlike most executive exits, there was no formal press release. Instead, PlayStation’s official Twitter account acknowledged his contributions, stating, “His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service.”

When asked in 2021 whether internal disagreements played a role in his exit, Layden told Bloomberg that it was simply the right time to move on. But looking at his recent comments, it’s clear that Sony’s evolving strategy played a significant role in his departure.

Since Layden’s exit, Sony has gone through even more leadership changes, including the resignation of CEO Jim Ryan in 2024. Meanwhile, the company’s live-service plans have had mixed results. While games like Helldivers 2 have been successful, others—such as The Last of Us Online and a rumored God of War multiplayer spin-off—were canceled. The most recent Concord was disaster lasted less than a week, costing over $400 million to the studio.

As Sony navigates its live-service ambitions, only time will tell if this strategy will pay off or if it will need to return to the roots that made PlayStation a household name.