Sony nearly killed Worldwide Studios after Harrison quit

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GrenadeLauncher

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#1  Edited By GrenadeLauncher
Member since 2004 • 6843 Posts

But Yoshida persuaded them not to.

Speaking as part of a fascinating question and answer session with PlayStation 4 lead architect Mark Cerny, Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida revealed that the company actually considered scrapping its internal development operations shortly after the departure of former boss Phil Harrison in 2008. Apparently, internal conversations at the company were questioning the need for the division.

Yoshida didn’t agree, and so he consulted then-chairman Akira Sato, before pitching group gaffer Kaz Hirai on a scenario in which he would lead the firm’s roster of wholly owned development outfits. Whatever he said, the meeting clearly went well, because Sony's first-party division has blossomed over the past five or so years. It’s also expanded under the affable executive’s watchful eye, with teams such as Sucker Punch and Media Molecule being added to the portfolio.

Wow. How can one man be so based? Such a refreshing change from Kinect enabler Phil Sphincter and his recent blunder comments.

You can read the full article about his career here.

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Blabadon

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#2  Edited By Blabadon
Member since 2008 • 33030 Posts

Well good it kept up, I enjoy their games and people enjoy having jobs.

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lamprey263

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#3  Edited By lamprey263
Member since 2006 • 44503 Posts

Well, that would have been a horrible mistake, especially since these studios made some of the most important games for the PS3 that were developed by Sony, which was a major strength for them with PS3 fans.

Maybe they realized though internal development wasn't the issue, that maybe it was just Phil Harrison. I mean, look, he left Sony when it was at its lowest, left for Atari to watch it die, now he's at MS and they're eating crow. He's like William Macy's character from The Cooler...

Loading Video...

...quick, someone tell MS to get Harrison some pussy quick and their luck will turn around.

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clyde46

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#4  Edited By clyde46
Member since 2005 • 49061 Posts

That might of been the final nail in the coffin for Playstation at that point.

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SolidTy

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#5  Edited By SolidTy
Member since 2005 • 49991 Posts

Imagine how that would have played out. Less great games for gamers, what a shame that would have been.

In lieu of what, more advertising and timed exclusives? No thank you.

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Nonstop-Madness

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#6  Edited By Nonstop-Madness
Member since 2008 • 12303 Posts
@clyde46 said:

That might of been the final nail in the coffin for Playstation at that point.

This ^

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misterpmedia

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#7 misterpmedia
Member since 2013 • 6209 Posts

@clyde46 said:

That might of been the final nail in the coffin for Playstation at that point.

was dark days back then, I agree,

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I_can_haz

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#8 I_can_haz
Member since 2013 • 6511 Posts

@clyde46 said:

That might of been the final nail in the coffin for Playstation at that point.

^ ^ I totally agree.

I'm starting to think Phil Harrison is the source of all the fail though. Immediately he left Sony Worldwide they started prospering, he then joined Atari and they flopped, later he joins M$ and the Xbone flop happens. That guy is really something else.

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clyde46

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#9  Edited By clyde46
Member since 2005 • 49061 Posts

@I_can_haz said:

@clyde46 said:

That might of been the final nail in the coffin for Playstation at that point.

^ ^ I totally agree.

I'm starting to think Phil Harrison is the source of all the fail though. Immediately he left Sony Worldwide they started prospering, he then joined Atari and they flopped, later he joins M$ and the Xbone flop happens. That guy is really something else.

However, he was right about the online thing. XBL was running riot and Sony had nothing to counter it.

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edwardecl

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#10 edwardecl
Member since 2005 • 2240 Posts

XBL was genius, charging people to play peer to peer. Sony wish they had thought of it first, or at least thought that they could get away with it.

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Nengo_Flow

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#11 Nengo_Flow
Member since 2011 • 10644 Posts

That just proves how much of a cancer Phil Harrison was, that SONY was willing to kill the entire body with to finally get rid of him.

But seriously, he brings doom where ever he goes. After he left, SONY went from SAGA Dream Cast status, to Legendary all Might Playstation Empire Status.