Sony SIE Head Hermen Hulst on Learning from Concord
Hermen Hulst, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), recently shared insights from an interview with the Financial Times, highlighting the pivotal lessons Sony has absorbed from the unsuccessful launch of the live-service shooter, Concord. While the full interview remains behind a paywall, key statements from Hulst have surfaced on social media platform X, giving a glimpse into Sony's evolving strategy for game development and quality assurance.
Enhanced Internal Testing Following Concord's Launch
According to Hulst, the experience with Concord, which ultimately did not meet expectations, served as a crucial catalyst for improving Sony's internal testing protocols. He emphasized the importance of learning quickly from missteps, stating, “I don't want teams to always play it safe, but I would like for us, when we fail, to fail early and cheaply.” This philosophy suggests a pragmatic approach to innovation, encouraging creative risks while ensuring that any setbacks are identified and addressed without excessive cost or delay.
Hulst also clarified that the sheer number of live-service game releases is not the primary metric for success. Instead, he underscored the value of diverse gaming experiences and the communities they foster. Reflecting on Concord's impact, he noted, “After [Concord's] release, we organized much more thorough and frequent testing in very many areas. The value of any failure… is that people now realize the necessity of this [control].” This indicates a significant internal push for more rigorous and comprehensive quality checks across development teams, ensuring that future titles are more polished and robust at launch.
A Renewed Focus on Creating New Franchises
Beyond the improvements in testing, the SIE head also reassured that Sony remains deeply committed to fostering new intellectual property. Hulst highlighted a deliberate and strategic approach to cultivating fresh ideas into potential PlayStation mainstays. “We have a very thoughtful approach to creating intellectual property… to understanding how a new concept can turn into an iconic PlayStation franchise, which can then become a franchise not just for gamers,” he explained.
This statement reinforces Sony's ongoing commitment to expanding its portfolio with innovative titles that can resonate with a broad audience, potentially transcending the traditional gaming market into broader entertainment realms. The focus is not just on new games, but on building foundational IPs that can sustain multiple entries and media adaptations.
What This Means for Players
For players, Hulst's comments signal a potentially more cautious yet ultimately more refined future for PlayStation titles, especially in the live-service space. The lessons learned from Concord suggest that Sony is now prioritizing meticulous testing and a diverse array of game experiences over a simple volume of releases. This could lead to higher quality, more stable launches for upcoming games, and a continued emphasis on crafting compelling new worlds and characters that become synonymous with the PlayStation brand. While the journey for live-service games can be challenging, these internal shifts suggest a stronger foundation for Sony's future projects.
Post a Comment