Shawn Layden the former PlayStation boss will now be playing the role of strategic advisor at Tencent.
“In this new role, I hope to advise, assist, and support the team at Tencent as they deepen their activities and commitments within the industry to which I’ve devoted the majority of my career,” Layden wrote on LinkedIn
He added, “We are at an epoch defining moment in gaming and interactive entertainment. There are many possible roads ahead but only a few are profound, broadening, inclusive, edifying, inspiring, and/or sustainable. I am thrilled to continue this journey of discovery and thank Tencent for the opportunity.”
Fans of PlayStation may recognise Layden because he formerly held the positions of president and chief executive officer of SIE America and chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios from 2016 until his departure from the organisation in 2019. In 1996, he started working for Sony as a producer on an international software development team. Over the years, he held a variety of jobs, including vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe starting in 1999 and president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan eight years later.
Over the past few years, the Chinese-owned tech behemoth has made significant investments in the games sector, starting in 2011 when it acquired a 93% interest in Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends.
Earlier this month, it emerged that Tencent is investing €300 million ($297m USD) in Ubisoft. It’s also increasing its direct stake in the company from 4.5%, which it acquired back in 2018, to 9.99%. Tencent, along with Sony, has also recently acquired an increased share in Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware. Sony now owns 14.09% of the studio, while Tencent has 16.25%.