Hirai: Sony’s focus shifted from Japan
SCE president and CEO Kaz Hirai can easily explain why Sony is rising to the top once again. It’s all to do with a shift in focus away from Japan and towards the global market.
Sony is undergoing something of a resurgence in fortunes after a few years where it looked as though it was dipping after peaking with the PS2. The PS3 is selling well, and the quality of games being released on the console has risen.
Hirai recently explained to MCV why he thinks this is happening, saying:
I ran SCEA for 12 years, so I bring that region perspective. Before, that perspective was focused on: ‘If it’s right for Japan it’s right for the rest of the world.’ But in fact, if it’s right for Japan it’s probably not right for the rest of the world, because the rest of the world has a different retail environment.
So I made sure that with everything we do, we try and bring an international perspective on things. That’s not to say that was wrong in the past. Because back then the Japanese market was such a dominant part of our business. But now the Japanese market is probably about 20 to 25 per cent of our business. This is a very much overseas market driven organization. So our new perspective is very important.
There are other factors to consider, of course, such as the release of the PS3 Slim and price drops finally allowing mainstream consumers to purchase a Playstation 3. Then there is the fact that developers have got to grips with the system in a way they didn’t in its early years.
But if anyone knows what he’s talking about it’s Hirai, so I for one believe him.
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9 Responses to “Hirai: Sony’s focus shifted from Japan”
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September 8th, 2010
“But if anyone knows what he’s talking about it’s Hirai”
I challenge that statement, Dave
Sony seem to be changing just because the PS3 didn’t do too well at the start; but they weren’t reasons that were region specific, it was because the PS3 was unbelievably expensive and there was no good software.
Since the price drop, redesign and better software, sales have increased. It’s not rocket science.
I don’t know what different regions and different prospectives have to do with it. Sony are unquestionably the worst offenders of having different divisions that are separated from what other parts of the company are doing.
September 8th, 2010
“Sony are unquestionably the worst offenders of having different divisions that are separated from what other parts of the company are doing.”
They seems to be doing pretty good now, GT5 will the first game in the series that will released during the same time frame worldwide.
September 8th, 2010
“Since the price drop, redesign and better software, sales have increased.”
Not to mention PSN now offering basically the same major features of XBL Gold for free, and PSN Plus offering more for $10 less than Gold; all while Microsoft is nickel and diming gamers by raising the price of the service without adding any major incentives for gamers. It’s crap like that which just makes long time 360 users like me adamant about switching over to PS3 permanently until they improve.
September 8th, 2010
Yeah I agree with you both. As far as online, I think XBL has set a dangerous precedent this gen. I’m sure both Sony and Nintendo are envious of the revenue stream XBL brings in every month.
Regardless of your console, we might all be paying monthly fees for online play.
September 9th, 2010
Free online could be a factor, but probably not that much of a factor as the 360 is still blowing it out of the water in NA.
I’d have to agree with price drops and some killer software. The growing popularity of blu ray also doesn’t hurt….
September 9th, 2010
Well, if online multiplayer is truly “killing the game industry” then it’s highly likely more are flocking to the free option.
September 9th, 2010
hey CarlB. . .how long are you stationed in japan? im going to basic training with the british army in march. .cant wait. i was originally planning to join the royal marines through the royal navy, but ive ended up going as a paratrooper with the army. btw congrats on your countries withdrawal from Iraq, hope everyone gets home safe.
September 9th, 2010
about another year and a half with a few ops to neighboring countries spread throughout. Thanks on the congrats, but we still have plenty of personnel in country, just not in a “combatant” status. The great thing is it is a lot more stable than when we first went in, hopefully it will stay that way for at least a few years.
September 10th, 2010
“The great thing is it is a lot more stable than when we first went in, hopefully it will stay that way for at least a few years.”
I don’t think it will. I think all hell will break lose as soon as they pull out.