Sony's Ken Kutaragi steps down

We knew it was coming, but we can't help but shed a tear at the retirement of the man who took consoles out of the cartridge era and into the extravagant and multi-billion dollar polygon war currently taking place in our living rooms -- for better or worse. Ken Kutaragi, father of the PlayStation, is calling it quits today at the ripe old age of 56. It was pretty clear he was on the outs when he left his post as president of SCE last year, with Kazuo Hirai taking his place in most operational duties. Ken announced he was leaving his positions as CEO and chairman in April, and now he's making good on his promise, with little more clarity if it's of his own accord or due to internal Sony pressures for a changing of the guard. As previously announced, Kutaragi will be sticking around in an advisory role, but from here on out the expectations of a struggling company and a few million fanboys will rest squarely on Kaz to steer the faithful through this console generation and beyond. And yes, this also means we're retiring the 'shopped PS3 pic to the right of this post. It will be missed most of all.

[Stewie Griffin @ Jun 19th 2007 12:24PM]

Errm, isn't this 4 month old news? Just an excuse to dust of some more Xbot photoshopped nonsense?

[Zeus the God @ Jun 19th 2007 4:55PM]

Dude, that is hardly photoshopped. That was an EARLY rendition of the PS3. Don't sit there and spray your blind Sony blather with the, "OH THATS PHOTOSHOPPED, zOMG!"

[MrGam3r @ Jun 19th 2007 5:16PM]

SONY: "AND STAY OUT!!" haha jk I'm glad he was as sony....because he made the ps3 so I can laugh at it. (I do own one I just like it the least.)

[paloooz @ Jun 19th 2007 12:30PM]

So that's how big a PS3 is? I've never seen one in person, as nobody I know has or wants one.

Hah! I'm kidding, but rank me low anyway. :-)

[TVGenius @ Jun 19th 2007 3:13PM]

Swing by Wal-Mart, GameStop, EBGames, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy... you should be able to find a couple (at each store). Heck, even our Sam's Club has a small pallet of those things collecting dust.

[Dismal @ Jun 19th 2007 12:33PM]

I liked cartridges.

[Mark @ Jun 19th 2007 12:40PM]

you do realise that he stole the design for the original playstation and gave it to sony right? Oh and you also realize the N64 had better graphics than the PS1 and the gamecube had better graphics than the ps2 right? Again, before you bash something, make sure you know what you're talking about, people.

[John @ Jun 19th 2007 12:45PM]

PS3 implodes market, they will actually PAY you to take one.

[Ian @ Jun 19th 2007 1:02PM]

Nevolo, stop talking out your ass to defend your purchase. I can MORE than afford a PS3... I just choose not to until there is a valid reason TO justify spending $600. Right now, theres no compelling reason to buy it seeing as I own a 360. When theres exclusives that people want to play at a price thats reasonable to them in order to play it, then sales will take off. But for now, the exclusives are mediocre, gfx aren't much, if at all, better than 360, and the price is exorbitant to play games that can be played cheaper elsewhere.

[eddy baby @ Jun 19th 2007 12:51PM]

I didnt know it was photoshopped, i thought he was just a really small japanese man. im disappointed now.

[John @ Jun 19th 2007 12:52PM]

It's not really photoshopped, it's a parody. It's size is relative it it's cost. That looks like about a thousand bucks. Right?

[marc.federico @ Jun 19th 2007 12:51PM]

Hooray. Die Sony.

[asher69 @ Jun 19th 2007 12:52PM]

Yeah, I saw at Best Buy last night they were giving one away for free if you bought a certain HD flat panel bundle. I was thinking, you know, for $2000, I get an awesome flat panel, and can sell the free PS3 on ebay to recoup some of the cost!

w00t!

[Blake Kachman @ Jun 19th 2007 12:52PM]

@ Mark,

Thats actually not completely accurate. The N64 and the Playstation had very similar graphics but due to the N64's Cartridge space limitation it had to produce more simplified textures which made them appear more smooth in comparison to the Playstation with its cd's being able to provide much more detail at the cost of clearity.

[taco @ Jun 19th 2007 1:07PM]

remember when u had to blow on the cartriges to fix them...that was so much better than wasting time and money getting stupid cleaner shits that dont work

and the gc doesnt have better graphics except for resident evil 4 but every other game is better on ps2

[Low @ Jun 19th 2007 1:22PM]

Statistically speaking, the PS2 had the lowest graphic capabilities of the last generation. Second being the GCN and first being the XBox. Its coomon knowledge, fanboy.

[Thunder Fist @ Jun 19th 2007 1:17PM]

@ pretty much every single comment so far:
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[red65 @ Jun 19th 2007 1:22PM]

Good one Thunder Fist. I LOLed!

[JinKazama @ Jun 19th 2007 1:17PM]

Love him or hate him Kutaragi did revolutionize gaming and Nevelo is right, before Sega and the PS1 Nintendo was content giving gamers marginal increases in tech and repackaging it as the new great advance in gaming. Come to think of it they still are, but I digress.

Without Kutaragi and the PS1 we may have been anticipating the arrival of Mario 128 instead of GTA IV, MGS IV and enjoying the HD gaming we have today

He wanted to use the latest and greatest tech (outside of PC's) to make the most immersive gaming experience possible(CD, DVD's, Blu-Ray, Emotion engine, cell processor)He was the first to see consoles as possible entertainment hubs rather than just gaming boxes (i.e. the CD player on the PS1, DVD player on PS2...) and really took the industry from a closed door hobby of tech geeks to the mainstream.

The man is truly a pioneer, and fanboy or no respect is due.

[chilicoke @ Jun 19th 2007 1:55PM]

the only intelligent comment in this page, thank you.

[eddy baby @ Jun 19th 2007 1:21PM]

is your caps lock key broken or are you retarded?
whats that you say? both?
In general people will pay more attention to what you have to say if it isnt capitalised.
though what youre saying is that people are judging the PS3 too soon and that it represents value really?
its a lovely point but not really connected to this particular post.
The mans done a lot for consoles, whether he went in the right direction, and whether he did so ethically is a matter for some gamer forum somewhere.

[Tony @ Jun 19th 2007 1:24PM]

Nevelo, maybe you should have saved some of that $600 to buy a keyboard with a capslock key that works properly.

[John @ Jun 19th 2007 1:28PM]

lol. I can't wait till school is back in session. Hey kid, if your PS3 is so badass, why are you on your PC?

[coyurtney @ Jun 19th 2007 1:25PM]

and don't forget, a affordable console and one that people are actually buying and having fun with.

[red65 @ Jun 19th 2007 1:34PM]

In your mom's basement amirite? pfft sdf ftl.

[manfesto @ Jun 19th 2007 1:36PM]

ZOMG IS YOUR CAPS LOCK BUTTON BROKEN TOO?!?!?!111!1

[Negs @ Jun 19th 2007 1:38PM]

Owned!!!

[McGinley @ Jun 19th 2007 1:39PM]

Is your keyboard broken?You should really have your caps lock button looked at.

[McGinley @ Jun 19th 2007 1:42PM]

Lol @ home theater room.Most likely just a ps3 and a 20 inch tv from the early 90's on a rickety table.Concrete floor etc...

[Negs @ Jun 19th 2007 1:58PM]

Sony Audio???? HA HA HA HA.

[Jeff C @ Jun 19th 2007 2:06PM]

Dude, nothing personal, but you protest way too much. Seem a little insecure there buddy-o. I tried to see your point, but with your EXCELLENT grammar (see I can use caps too) and wonderful fanboy gibberish I am still trying to figure out what you are saying. Truth be told, if you are over 21 I would be embarrassed to admit it, if I were you. You are right, it a year or so the PS3 will be worth it. For now, well, let's face it, it is losing the war to the Wii.

[Blake Kachman @ Jun 19th 2007 2:07PM]

@ Negs,
Lay off Sony, they still make a good product that's why they're still around, and just because you don't like them doesn't mean that they don't. Next, do you even have a home theater system with nice audio etc. cause if you don't you have no room to bash someone elses(and no Kenwood doesn't count). If Sony was really such a bad company they wouldn't have companies like Pioneer, Samsung, LG and others backing and producing their product.

[kojo87 @ Jun 19th 2007 2:42PM]

this is friggin hilarious. Mr. Nevelo S, you are more a fanboy than anyone i've seen on Joystiq or any other gaming blog. im glad the Wii is doing so well just because it pisses people like you off. Sony just relied to heavily on the Playstation brand recognition instead of putting thought and time into their console. Seeing as how the GameCube essentially failed Nintendo knew they couldn't just do the same thing they;ve been doing. now look where it got them. over twice the consoles Sony has sold and only a few million behind the 360 which has been out for a whole year longer than the Wii.

i still like Sony's electronics (i just bought an W300i phone and i have nice stereo minisystem) but their games division just shot themselves in the foot. and the head. how can a company push BlueRay and 1080p gaming but not ship an HDMI cable with a $600 system. these people went to business school?

and yes i own a Wii. let the insults roll Nevelo. i know you have nothing better to do. its either this or go play Motorstorm and lets face it, which is more entertaining?

[kojo87 @ Jun 19th 2007 4:05PM]

and there it is. this is a new low. you're insulting people with life threatening illnesses now. and did you seriously insult Super Smash Brothers? there are some game you just dont dis. Super Smash Brother, Halo, Final Fantasy to name a few. no matter what console you swear allegiance to.

i also own a fairly high-end gaming PC that i built myself. and that how i get my HD max poly shader super anti-aliasing fix. and guess what i can upgrade it when the graphics are out dated! looks like you're gonna have to drop $1000 on a PS4 when yours are obsolete. and i get DX10. you dont

i have a Wii because its different from the others. i see no point in owning a PC and a PS3 or even a 360. too similar

[Stephen @ Jun 19th 2007 2:45PM]

Seeing as this is the last time that picture will be used, how about linking to a larger high-quality file, so that I cne make that my wallpaper?

Always laughed when I saw it...

[Dan @ Jun 19th 2007 2:52PM]

Mr. Nevelo S, keep posting please. Your comments make puppies and kittens smile when it's raining out.

[Jeff @ Jun 19th 2007 3:01PM]

That is the best thing I've ever read on this site. Bravo, sir. :)

[The_Wise_0ne @ Jun 19th 2007 3:04PM]

"the gamecube had better graphics than the ps2"

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH are you on crack???


btw no the ps3 is not as big as the one in the photo!!

[razorpit @ Jun 19th 2007 3:12PM]

I'm an ass man myself although a nice pair of tits will stop me dead in my tracks.

[Big @ Jun 19th 2007 3:55PM]

Make fun of PS3 if you want but you CANNOT name another product which was able to artificialy inflate its price (and still be sold) at the prices PS3's were being sold during the 5 months following its release.

YOU CAN NOT argue that PS3 is the superior hardware compared to Xbox 360 and Wii.

You cannot argue that SONY is still making millions off the PS2.

You cannot argue that Blu Ray Dvd is more succesful than HDDVD in part by SONY.

You cannot argue that the future of the PS3 will be more succesful than the present - and by the way... despite the fact the PS3 doesn't have a major game library yet, IT IS STILL SELLING even at its pricepoint.

It blows my minds when people get on Engadget and spew their stupidity. SONY's made billions more than you or your entire family will ever see in all of your lifetimes.

[Jeff @ Jun 19th 2007 3:13PM]

I think Sony's concentration on pushing a proprietary format is what's hurting them this generation; it's what has hurt them in the past, as well.

* Please realize I'm considering the US consumer market only. *

Betamax: Failed.

MiniDisc: Failed.

Memory Stick: Failed.
Quick! Name a non-Sony device that uses this format. No Googling.

UMD: Failed.
When's the last time you saw a prominent UMD display at your local electronics/media store?

Blu-Ray: Faltering.
Why create your console with a built-in next-gen optical drive when the market is just emerging and there's a competing format? That's quite a gamble. Good thing Sony Pictures has quite a library to choose from.

Argue what you will about marginal technical superiority or high definition specifications. At the end of the day, the PS3 is a game console. It's a game console with pretty pitiful content, actually. Without content, without games people want to buy and play for reasons other than to show off their textures, what good is the PS3 to anyone?

It's like a sports car you can only drive around your block.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 19th 2007 3:58PM]

"Quick! Name a non-Sony device that uses this format. No Googling."

Quick, name another company that supports their formats far after the general acceptance levels make it "a failure". I'm not trolling, just saying. If there's one thing I've learned with Sony is that they don't just drop support for something because it's not selling well. I'd also argue that Blu-Ray is actually picking up in sales and support, so I wouldn't call it faltering just yet....

[hemmy @ Jun 19th 2007 5:59PM]

Blu-ray faltering? Are you insane? As of June 10, Blu-ray accounts for TWO THIRDS of ALL hidef movie sales, since the inception of either BD/HD format. Source:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom061707/index.php

[NHAnimator @ Jun 19th 2007 3:33PM]

All you have to do is put PlayStation, XBox, or Nintendo in the title and the comments section gets filled with "Highest" ranks and "Lowest" ranks. Too funny.

[SHoe @ Jun 19th 2007 4:38PM]

Jeff
While I agree in prinicple that Sony's penchent for proprietary formats is not good for the consumer and has also not worked out for Sony much of the time, I think you are not quite correct in your assessment of some of these.

>>Memory Stick: Failed.
>>Quick! Name a non-Sony device that uses this format. No Googling.

I hate f%$ing Memory Sticks - but I don't you can't say it's a failure for Sony.

>>MiniDisc: Failed.

Really? Well don't tell the Japanese this - because MiniDisc has been the most popular music format/medium in Japan for a decade-and-a-half now. Never caught on in North America (I don't believe in europe either), but in Japan, Minidiscs have long out-sold CDs. Sony licensed the tech to others from the get-go and the result was many, many, different minidisc devices from JVC, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic and others.

>>Blu-Ray: Faltering.

I admit that I too thought Sony was going to lose this one and that it was a stupid gamble. Apparently it is a good thing for Sony that I am not in charge, because Blue-Ray appears to now be winning. You heard the news from yesterday about Blockbuster deciding to only support Blue-ray titles in their stores right?? I don't want to exagerate or pretend I am prophet here, but I'd say that is a pretty important battle that Blue-Ray has won in the HD fromat war. I think they have HD-DVD on the run now.

[Stewie Griffin @ Jun 20th 2007 4:38AM]

LOL, you really do believe that don't you...

There really are some fools around. But then I figured that there must be at least 10 million fools to have bought the unreliable junk that is the 360.

[Zeus the God @ Jun 19th 2007 4:59PM]

I can, in fact, argue with you, Big, that the 360 has superior hardware. I won't go over it again, so I'll just link you to a page that you might find interesting.

Read through this entire story. http://dpad.gotfrag.com/portal/story/35372/?spage=1

It is all fact, no opinion.

[Ayle @ Jun 19th 2007 5:03PM]

I love these Apple/Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo/"Insert big brand name here".... The comments are always the most interesting part ^_^ ...

[Donovan @ Jun 19th 2007 5:29PM]

It may be too much for you to learn at once, but on top of not using the caps lock, I'd like to point out the little "reply" button at the bottom of each post, so we can know what the fuck you're talking about.

[g3n3tiX @ Jun 19th 2007 5:55PM]

The best comments I have read in a long time...
@novelo : howd do you program on Blu Ray 4 layers ? Can you actually connect a keyboard ?
I'd better do it on a computer.