TGS: Sony Combines Its Development Studios

According to a press release, Sony has combined all of its games development studios around the world to form SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS), effective September 1, 2005. SCE WWS will be responsible for creative, technical and strategic direction setting of development and production of computer entertainment software for the PlayStation platforms. Phil Harrison, executive vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, and responsible for games development, has been
named president of the new organization, and he will oversee SCE’s game software
development operations.

“As SCE enters its second decade, we need to challenge to reinforce our games
development power and create new entertainment experiences that will bring out the best of the
technology in platforms such as PSP, PlayStation 3, and beyond,”
said Ken Kutaragi, president and group CEO, SCEI. “With PlayStation, favored by 200 million
people all over the world, combined with Phil’s strong leadership, I am confident that the power
of our development studios are further empowered to create more new and innovative titles.”

What does this mean to you? Probably very little, but it’s not the first major shakeup that Sony has had recently in their effort to make the entire company more profitable, so it’s worth noting.