Sony Computer Entertainment Becomes Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony has announced it is consolidating Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment and calling the new entity Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Explaining the move, global chief executive Andrew House said Sony Interactive Entertainment will "become an even stronger entity, with a clear objective to further accelerate the growth of the PlayStation business" by "integrating the strengths of PlayStation's hardware, software, content, and network operations."

He continued: "Along with our business partners, SIE will develop pioneering services and products that will continue to inspire consumers' imaginations and lead the market."

Sony Interactive Entertainment will be headquartered in San Mateo, but will work with the Tokyo and London operations to leverage local expertise.

Shawn Layden, president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, added that SIE "will serve as the headquarters for everything PlayStation" and allow the company to place a "bigger emphasis on developing pioneering platforms like PS4 and PlayStation VR, world-class games from our World Wide Studios development teams, and innovative network services such as PlayStation Vue."

Prior to the merger, Sony Network Entertainment was responsible for many of the services available on PlayStation Platforms. These include PlayStation Plus, Vue, Music Unlimited, and Video Unlimited.

In November 2015, global sales of PlayStation 4 surpassed 30 million units, just two years since the console's release. At the time, Sony said the sell-through figure “demonstrates the fastest and strongest growth in PlayStation hardware history.”

The PlayStation 2, broke all-time industry records with sales of more than 155 million units during its twelve years on the market. Its predecessor sold more than 100 million units in nine years. The PlayStation 3 has reached 80 million units in roughly the same amount of time.