Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT Xbox boss Phil Spencer offered his respects to the departing PlayStation leader Jim Ryan, describing him as a formidable figure in the world of Sony Group Corp.'s SONY PlayStation.
Ryan, who has held the position of president and CEO at Sony Interactive Entertainment since 2019, is scheduled to retire in March 2024, with Hiroki Totoki assuming the interim CEO role in April 2024.
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Spencer acknowledged Ryan's contributions to the gaming industry and wished him well in his future endeavors.
"Jim Ryan has been a great contributor to our industry and a fierce leader for PlayStation. I wish him the best in what he does next," Spencer tweeted.
"Thank you for all you’ve done for the community over the last 30 years, Jim," he added.
Ryan cited the challenges of living in Europe while working in North America as a key reason for his decision to retire.
"I will leave having been privileged to work on products that have touched millions of lives across the world; PlayStation will always be part of my life, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE," Ryan said in a statement.
The two executives had clashed over Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc ATVI. Ryan had been vocal in his criticism of the acquisition, with disputes even surfacing during a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Xbox trial.
Under Ryan's leadership, Sony released the successful PlayStation 5, which has consistently outsold Microsoft's rivals Xbox Series X and S.
Photo: Courtesy NextGenPlayer on Twitter and logo Manabu Sakamoto on Wikipedia
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