kaz hirai Archives - PSX Extreme

Sony CEO, Kaz Hirai, Retired This Week

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger June 20, 2019 News 1 Comment

Following 35 years of work, Sony CEO, Kaz Hirai, has decided to retire from his position. The now former CEO joined Sony’s music division in 1984 in Japan. But, in 1995, he went on to move to the US and joined Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Hirai then began leading the PlayStation division. In 2006, he became the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Six years later, in 2012, he was given the position of CEO and president of Sony.

Shuhei Yoshida is replacing Hirai, who’s last official day was Tuesday.

Reportedly, he isn’t completely gone from the company. He will remain open to provide counsel as requested by the management team.

What do you think of the story? Is it sad to see Kaz Hirai retire?

Sony CEO: “We Want To Remain #1”

Ben-Dutka June 20, 2014 PS4 12 Comments

Sony's goal isn't just to stay ahead of the game; the company also wants to increase its market share.

Yesterday, during the 97th General Shareholder Meeting in Tokyo, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai briefly spoke about the current situation of the PlayStation 4, and the plan for the future (as cited by DualShockers ).

Hirai said the PS4 launch was very successful and the goal is to hold their freshly acquired #1 position. However, he also wants to find a way to "further extend the market penetration for the future." He added that the PlayStation Network's services have been growing and creating a form of stable revenue, which isn't all that surprising. Hirai did remind everyone that 1994 marks the 20th anniversary of the brand and that between hardware, software and network services, PS4 will likely become their most profitable platform yet.

As Sony continues to restructure and recover, it seems like PlayStation could continue to be a guiding light in times of woe. …too much poetry for plain ol' corporate news?

Sony: “Considerable Demand” For PlayStation 4 In Japan

Ben-Dutka January 4, 2014 PS4 7 Comments

The slick new PlayStation 4 has yet to launch in Japan, as bizarre as that may seem.

So, are console gamers in the Land of the Rising Sun all amped up for Sony's new console? Sony president Kazuo Hirai seems to think so.

During a new SankeiBiz interview (as translated by DaulShockers ), the Sony boss spoke about how the PS4 became the fastest-selling console in the brand's history in the US. He also mentioned current Japanese demand for the system:

"As for the sales situation in the West, it’s the fastest of PlayStation History. We were able to send units before the launch to ensure stock was good. In Japan we’ll launch in February this year and we’re already accepting preorders. There’s considerable demand."

We would hope there's "considerable demand." Microsoft has never had much success selling the Xbox platform in Japan and although Nintendo always has a firm footing in that region, PlayStation often does very well. Once that launch kicks off, we might get a better idea of where the PS4 and Xbox One stand in the worldwide versus match-up. Globally, I don't see how Microsoft can win this generation…

Report: PS4 Sales Will Reflect On Kaz Hirai’s Performance

Ben-Dutka November 9, 2013 PS4 21 Comments

Many people thought Kaz Hirai's promotion to Sony CEO was the right move.

But you still have to deliver. And according to what Macquarie Group analyst Damian Thong told Bloomberg Japan (as translated by DualShockers ), Sony really needs to hit their PlayStation 4 sales expectations. If they don't, it will reflect poorly on Kaz.

Sony expects to sell 5 million units before the end of the fiscal year on March 31. That's somewhat ambitious for a new piece of hardware, and if the goal isn't hit, skepticism about the company's stability will rise. Here are a couple quotes:

"Sales of the PS4 will be seen as an indication of the ability of Kaz Hirai as President."

"If the PS4 sells below expectations, skepticism will strengthen on whether Sony can really restore (it’s finances) or not."

The PS4 might get off to a running start, though, as GameStop may have seen significantly more PS4 pre-orders than Xbox One pre-orders. But of course, as always, any console requires great software, so we hope to see more of that on the immediate horizon.

Sony Will Apparently Let Microsoft Make The First Move

Ben-Dutka January 21, 2013 PS4 35 Comments

We've heard Sony say they don't want to be second to market again behind Microsoft, as it pertains to new video game hardware. We've also heard them say the PS3 has plenty left in the tank, and they don't require a new system right now.

So which is it? Well, the recent update said both Sony and Microsoft will unveil their next-generation consoles in March but even if that's true, the PS4 (or Orbis) may indeed launch behind the new Xbox.

In speaking in the business section of the New York Times (as cited by IGN ), Sony CEO Kaz Hirai basically stated that his company wouldn't mind following Microsoft:

"Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?"

Not only does this imply that Sony's machine will launch later, it also implies Sony will wait to see what the next Xbox is like before even settling on specs for the PS4. Hence, their console could be a long ways off. However, what Hirai said can hardly be considered a confirmation of any kind, so perhaps we're reading too much into it.

Kaz Hirai No Longer The Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman

Ben-Dutka June 27, 2012 Archive 12 Comments

Kaz Hirai has long since been associated with the PlayStation brand. And he'll still be around, just not in the same capacity.

During an executive appointments briefing, it was announced that the Sony Computer Entertainment chairman and representative director will be stepping down. He'll now be a part-time member of the board.

Taking Hirai's place as representative director and president and group CEO of the division will be Andrew House. Hirai will still be president and CEO of Sony Corporation, though, so it's not like he's relinquishing all boss duties. One of our favorite executives has been with SCE since 1995, and he has helped the PlayStation brand become one of the most respected brands in the video game industry. He had no small part in the success of the PlayStation and PS2, so we should probably thank him for that.

All this corporate shuffling can be a little confusing, though. Such fancy titles…sometimes it's hard to know what the day-to-day duties of this guys really are. I'm guessing they have very busy days, at the very least.