Sony Santa Monica Has A New Studio Head

After former SIE Santa Monica Studio boss Shannon Studstill left the company to head up a new Google Stadia studio in Playa Vista, California, Sony PlayStation has announced that her replacement is Yumi Yang.

Yang has worked at Sony Santa Monica for nearly 20 years, starting first as a senior producer and jumping all the way up to director of product development before taking over as studio head. During her time in the industry, she, like Studstill, had a brief stint at Electronic Arts as a development director before going back to the Los Angeles-based studio. And also like Studstill, Yang previously worked on 2018's God of War.

"We extend our warmest congratulations to Shannon Studstill on her new role," a Sony spokesperson told GameSpot. "Under her leadership, the studio she helped found over twenty years ago masterfully reinvented itself and its greatest franchise with 2018's Game of the Year, God of War. In her role as VP of Product Development, Shannon helped smaller independent teams incubate within the studio, leading to groundbreaking works like Journey and The Unfinished Swan. All of PlayStation is better for and grateful of her many years of exemplary service and bold creative vision.

"Taking over as studio head is Yumi Yang, a 19-year PlayStation veteran with an extensive background in product development and heavy involvement across many of Santa Monica Studio's biggest games. Her project management prowess and meticulous oversight of 2018's God of War helped the title fully realize its groundbreaking potential. After nearly two decades and countless substantial contributions to Santa Monica Studio's rich legacy, Yumi has the unquestioned respect and trust of her peers. With her vast experience and deep understanding of the studio's distinct creative DNA, she is perfectly positioned to lead Santa Monica Studio to a bold and exciting future."

Though Santa Monica has developed most of the God of War entries, the studio's 2018 effort is perhaps the franchise's most successful. It's gone on to win numerous accolades, including Game of the Year at 2019's GDC Awards (and others), and even secured a spot on Metacritic's Games of the 2010s Decade. Unfortunately, there is absolutely zero DLC coming, meaning Kratos has reached the end of his journey.