Harassment Is "Completely Unacceptable," PlayStation Exec Says

Following Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Morhaime, PlayStation gaming executive Shawn Layden, who heads up all of SCEA, has spoken out to say harassment is "completely unacceptable."

"I'll be very clear about my view of harassment or bullying: It's completely unacceptable," Layden told GamesBeat. "Completely unacceptable. I will not be vague or equivocate about that."

Layden went on to say Sony is "best in class," or at least close to it, when it comes to women in the gaming industry. He pointed out that Shannon Studstill runs God of War developer Sony Santa Monica, while Connie Booth heads up the team in San Mateo.

"Women executives up and down the [organization chart], and in the production teams," Layden said. "We make our statement just by executing to that plan."

Layden also explained that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have already spoken out about harassment in gaming, through the Entertainment Software Association's statement released in October. At the time, the group said harassment needs to stop, and that "there is no place in the video game community--or our society--for personal attacks and threats."

The ESA is the group that represents the video game industry's interests and puts on the annual E3 show. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and many others are members.

Layden's comments come not long after Morhaime, during a keynote address at Blizzcon earlier this month, denounced harassment and hate in gaming. His comments on the subject are below.

"Over the past couple of months, there's been a small group of people who have been doing really awful things. They have been making some people's lives miserable, and they are tarnishing our reputation as gamers. It's not right."