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PlayStation US head Jack Tretton parts ways with Sony
Or at least, he will have done so come April 1st, no foolin'. Sony just announced that the long time SCEA executive will be making way for his replacement Shawn Layden, current EVP and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International. According to the company, Tretton's parting is the result of a "mutual agreement," but naturally, neither side's saying how that agreement was reached. The move certainly comes as a surprise, as Tretton had been with SCEA for almost 20 years, and was a part of the PlayStation team from the very beginning -- most recently overseeing the successful launch of Sony's newest console, the PS4. Evidently, that wasn't enough to keep him around... time will tell if Layden's a worthy successor. Image Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
PlayStation 4 on top in November next-gen console sales, according to NPD
Confirming what we already suspected, sales tracking firm NPD reports that the PlayStation 4 outsold the Xbox One in North America during November. As of latest numbers, the Playstation 4 is in 2.1 million homes compared to the Xbox One's 2 million -- a great start for both consoles and a paltry sales difference. Sony released a statement from SCEA head Jack Tretton, which said, "Demand continues to overwhelm supply, but we're working hard to get PS4 units into the hands of customers throughout the holiday season." The full statement is just beyond the break. Xbox One, meanwhile, was apparently November's "fastest selling console," with around 101K sold each day of availability (November 22nd through November 30th). Since the PS4 was available starting on November 15th, and the Xbox One went on sale starting November 22nd, the Xbox One caught up in sales so quickly because of higher demand. Or as NPD puts it, "When looking at sales on an average per-week basis, Xbox One led PS4." Last month's Xbox One launch was also Microsoft's most successful console launch on record, which Microsoft's assuredly enjoying. Finally, we have Nintendo reporting a 340 percent increase in Wii U hardware sales since October. The folks in Kyoto haven't put an official number out there, but NeoGaf forum users have calculated a total based off past numbers. According to the best estimates available, Nintendo moved about 220,000 units last month. It's a low number compared to the industry's newcomers, but at least the 3DS closes the gap a little: between the 3DS, the 3DS XL and the 2DS, the company sold almost 770,000 handhelds in November.
CE-Oh no he didn't!: Sony's Jack Tretton says Nintendo makes 'babysitting tools'
Sony does what Nintendon't? That's the general sentiment from a brief interview that PlayStation chief Jack Tretton gave to Fortune this week, in which he talked up Sony's strengths and played down (some may even say belittled) its competitors, and Nintendo in particular. That began with the relatively tame assertion that Sony's decision to go high-end with PlayStation 3 is just now beginning to pay off while the other consoles are "starting to run out of steam," before he took aim at Nintendo's handheld business. According to Tretton, Nintendo's handhelds all offer what he calls a "Game Boy experience," something that's great as a "babysitting tool," but that "no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those." Yow. Any self-respecting twenty-somethings beg to differ? Let us know in the comments below. [Thanks, Robert C]
Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3
Ever since his candid and humorous E3 2009 Sony keynote introduction -- wherein he thanked the audience for showing up despite the big news (PSP Go) having already been leaked -- we've always had something of a soft spot for Jack Tretton. We managed to have a sit-down with the SCEA President-CEO following the company's big Tokyo meeting, a non-working NGP unit in tow. For a brief moment, Tretton "confirmed" that PlayStation Suite games (currently slated for Android devices) would work on PlayStation 3. We asked rather directly, to which he responded, "Yes, they will. Yeah." By the next question, however, he explained that he might've misspoken and wanted to clarify that Suite is only NGP right now. It should come as no surprise, then, that there was no talk of Suite for any other devices, be it Bravia sets or Google TV. Tretton said there was at least one compatible Android device currently on the market but wouldn't elaborate -- given the 2.3 requirement, we're presuming he meant the Nexus S. We weren't able to get him to budge on the issue of the NGP's price, but we did ask him to opine on the Nintendo 3DS's $250 tag. Instead of offering friendly competitive jabs, he said only, "I think if the quality's there, then the people will find a way to buy it, within reason... I think that if you could create content that consumers see as compelling, they'll find money that they didn't think they had." A bit too reminiscent of former boss Ken Kutaragi's old adages, but hey, it's not like we expected a sub-$300 sticker, anyway. Some other highlights: Tretton wouldn't definitively say whether or not original PSP titles are in Suite's future -- "at this point, it's PlayStation One games, but I think it can go in a number of directions." This runs a bit counter to what Kaz Hirai said earlier in the day, but either he might've misspoken or the translator erred. The controller overlay we saw used as an example at the event was just that -- an example, with no guarantee of future use. That "holiday 2011" launch applies to at least one territory, but Sony was "ambiguous for a reason" (i.e. simultaneous global rollout is a dream but far from a promise.) We probably won't have a clearer image until fall rolls around, sometime after E3. No discussion on battery life, but Sony is "certainly look to improve upon [original PSP]." For what it's worth, that one measured about 4.5 to 7 hours at launch, and Sony eventually sold an extended-life pack. PS Suite will have non-gaming apps. A WiFi-only version? "We haven't made any determination on models yet," which is infinitely more vague than the confirmation of non-3G SKUs from SCEE president Andrew House. Will Sony or a Sony partner make a flagship device to show off the Suite? A, dare we say, PlayStation phone? "Stay tuned" was all Tretton would say, followed by a laugh. Hey, at least we acknowledged the elephant in the room. Full transcription after the break. %Gallery-115252%
SCEA CEO Jack Tretton dishes: DRM is in, backwards compatibility is out, and video UMD lives on
We got a chance to sit down with Sony Computer Entertainment of America's CEO Jack Tretton, who gave us the lowdown about a few things we've had on our minds.PS3On backwards compatibility: Jack explained that Sony looked at how to "not take a greater hit on production cost, without losing PlayStation's heritage ... Hardware / software for backwards compat wasn't all that expensive. ... but we're selling PS2 software to PS2 customers, and selling PS3 software to PS3 consumers." Still, Jack seems to feel like it may have been the wrong move. "I would like to have had it in there, but Sony's collective strategy determined we could afford to lose it. We've now gone down that road, and we're not going back."On DRM and the video store: As of right now, Tretton is a firm supporter of the need to DRM content on the PlayStation platforms, and Sony believes that "the drm for a song maybe isn't as important for a movie and a game... this is way too hard a business to make money in to allow people to own multiple copies for the price of one." (That's what they all say!) "I'm all for allowing an individual consumer having the freedom to do with their content what they want," but Sony has no intention of opening its video up any more than it has to.PSPOn drive or flash storage: Sony has "definitely thought about storage on the PSP," and understands the inevitable "march towards digital content delivery device." But in terms of a drive-based PSP, they have "nothing that's imminent." (Read: don't hold your breath.)On how downloadable video affects the already sad state of UMD: UMD "has struggled, and it wasn't handled effectively from the beginning. ... I firmly believe in a digital model" as they're rolling out, but Sony is "still going to support UMD" as a device for movies.What's preventing PSP software sales: Three things. Title ports from PS2 games (people don't want to buy the same title twice), and the PSP's media functions. But Jack put the most emphasis on "piracy in the hundreds of thousands of units are preventing software sales. it's a problem that affects our software sales right now."
Tretton admits to 'missteps' in PS3's first year
With the PlayStation 3 having recently celebrated its first birthday, Sony Computer Entertainment America's CEO Jack Tretton had a little discussion with MSNBC over what could kindly be called, "The Year of Issues." Tretton explained that the PS3 would be in a better place today if more units were available at launch, noting that demand was strong but tough to satisfy due to Blu-ray diode production problems. The hype of the launch also faded very quickly as Tretton became famous for making the delusional "$1200 quote" in February (without a lick of irony).Although he believed the launch to be "the biggest disappointment for the last year," he drew attention to that old-faithful: the 10-year product lifecycle. Sony's had 10 good years with both the PS1, the PS2 is getting up there, and he expects nothing less with the PS3. With a price cut and some desirable titles out the door, things look to get better (with fewer "missteps") in year two. [Via GameDaily]
Rockstar bringing new franchise exclusively to PS3
In a new interview with Game Head, SCEA president Jack Tretton, let loose that Sony was working with Take Two and Rockstar on a brand new IP, exclusive to PS3. Sony wanted to respect Take Two's wishes to bring Grand Theft Auto IV to both the 360 and PS3. However, they asked if they could continue the relationship they had developed over the years to work on the "next big franchise" for the controversial game publisher. SCEA's director of 3rd party relations, Michael Shorrock, updated the official US PlayStation blog, confirming this new relationship. "Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of CELL and Blu-ray disc and this deal lets them do just that ... This is really a win-win situation for both companies."However, considering how Microsoft had to loan out $50 million to make GTA downloadable content exclusive to Xbox 360, one has to wonder if Sony had to shell out any cash as well. Sure, Sony and Take Two are friends ... but this is a business, right?[Via Joystiq]
Rockstar to develop brand new franchise exclusively for PlayStation 3
When Sony passed on the exclusive rights to Grand Theft Auto 4, many saw it as a sign of insanity from the leadership camp. The latest episode of Spike TV's Game Head, however, reveals that perhaps they had a plan all along. SCEA president Jack Tretton pulled that curtain back for host Geoff Keighley, casually mentioning that Rockstar has made an exclusive agreement to bring "their next big franchise" to the PlayStation 3 and no, he's not talking about L.A. Noire.Shortly before the show hit the tubes, SCEA's director of 3rd party relations, Michael Shorrock, confirmed this statement on the official US PlayStation blog adding, "Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of CELL and Blu-ray disc and this deal lets them do just that.. This is really a win-win situation for both companies."So what is it exactly? Sony has made an agreement with Rockstar to say no more concerning the deal nor the title involved. From a developer that has tackled everything from gang violence to ping pong, your guess is as good as ours.
Shane Kim: RE5 was 360's 'big announcement' at keynote
This story about Shane Kim, VP of Microsoft Game Studios, has to be prefaced by saying this is one of those moments where you totally want to take the guy out for a drink afterward and, in your best Jeff Bell ghetto voice, say, "Tough break, my brotha'. You'll show 'em next time." In a recent interview with Game Informer, Kim – who should honestly know much better – was evidently unaware that Resident Evil 5 was announced for the Xbox 360 two years ago. Peep part of the cringe-inducing (though not nearly Jamie Kennedy bad) exchange after the break.
Sony's Tretton describes console war with food analogies
A little known fact: in the game industry, everything gets equated to food. Nintendo's Satoru Iwata did it, as did Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima (though, later, he gave new analogies). Our newest public food statement comes from Sony's Jack Tretton in an interview with GamePro, who unsurprisingly relates the PlayStation 3 to a Surf n' Turf (i.e. steak and lobster).The PS2 is "your favorite burger restaurant," and as for the rest? The Wii is "a lollipop, and I'm too old for lollipops," he said. "The other one [Xbox 360] I get sick from once in a while because the cook isn't always reliable." Red ring of burn! That jab is sizzling! Okay ... we're done. Regardless of your fanboy affiliation, do phrases like this make you as hungry as they do to us?[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Jack Tretton calls PS3 "steak", Wii "lollipop", 360 "unreliable cook"
We're going to put Jack's quote front and center because it's so hilarious, then we'll talk about the interview with Gamepro. "I think the PS3 is the Surf 'n Turf, the PS2 is your favorite burger restaurant... [Wii] is a lollipop, and I'm too old for lollipops. And the [Xbox 360] I get sick from once in a while because the cook isn't always reliable." We can't really argue with the quote, because each have their own ingredients of truth. We're giggling, because we added on to the joke. We're so clever.Anywho, the interview itself dives into everything Tretton -- his thoughts on the PSP and PS3 as well as some personal anecdotes we nodded our heads to. We've started to incorporate a lot of our electronic devices into the PS3 -- all our pictures are on it via those fun memory stick slots. We stream all our music from our computer directly through the PS3 and out that nice stereo system. If we were to download any movies or television shows, we also stream those. After converting them (painfully). Tretton believes that educating the masses to all these uses will draw in sales and he believes that process has begun. We'd like to believe so, too. It's a really fun interview to read, we promise, so check it out!
Jack Tretton wishes Microsoft's Peter Moore "best of luck"
The oft-tattooed Microsoft executive, Peter Moore, is finally saying goodbye to the system he helped make a success. Moore was always opinionated, and could be seen bad-mouthing the PlayStation more than once. In fact, one time, he called the system a "Dreamcast."Moore is now going off to EA, an important third-party partner to Sony. We're hoping he won't bring a Microsoft-flavored bias to the company (although one wonders if that's already in place). It seems that SCEA President Jack Tretton is also looking to ensure good relations with Moore: "We wish Peter the best of luck in his new role at Electronic Arts and look forward to working with him. We have an outstanding relationship with EA and their sports products have been incredibly successful on all our platforms. I am sure this will continue with Peter now at the helm."
Engadget & Joystiq interview: Kaz Hirai and Jack Tretton, Presidents, Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., and America
We got a rare chance to sit down and talk shop with recently-named Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. President Kaz Hirai, and his US successor, Jack Tretton. These two had a lot to say, and we were more than happy to let them talk about where the PS3's going in terms of hardware, software, and services, why Sony's E3 presence this year is so radically different than last year, even a little bit about how things have been at PlayStation HQ post-Kutaragi -- check it out!So out of all the three press conferences we've been writing up, we're giving each one a grade based on a new highly scientific Mega Man ranking system. Sony is our last one, but chronologically so we haven't gotten there yet. But this press conference had a much different tone then let's say last year's E3 press conference. How much did you guys look at last year's, how should we say, performance, and decide that you needed to do something different? What kind of decision making process was that?Jack: Well obviously I was not as intimately involved in planning last year's press conference as I was in this one, but it's funny now that you look at that perspective and you see some of the other press conferences and how people are conducting themselves. I think companies are very proud of their success and they want to tell everybody how successful you are. But what you realize is that everybody already knows that and no one really cares. They want to know how you are going to be successful going forward. And so we've certainly taken our fair share of heat about, you know, the performance of PlayStation 3 in the first six to eight months, and I guess we wanted to focus our message on really telling you why PlayStation 3 is going to be successful going forward.And its all about content, its about games, and I think going through that experience, you know, the light bulb goes off, and you go oh, wait a minute, its really all about the content and what we're going to do going forward to keep our platforms relevant. Its not about what we did 10 years ago, its not about how many units we've sold here or there. So clearly I think for points of reference and perspective we wanted to point some things out that we really wanted that press conference geared towards why people are going to want to buy games and buy our platforms and that was kind of the theme and the central message. I give Dave [Karraker, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, SCEA] a lot of credit for building off of that theme and coordinating tremendous amounts of presentations and content through the whole thing. But hopefully we've stayed on message and we've gotten the point across.So why no word about rumble?Jack: Well, I guess at this point the SIXAXIS controller is something that we're comfortable with and we've certainly settled our differences with Immersion. Is it something that can happen down the road? Absolutely. But the bottom line is we haven't made that decision and we didn't have anything to announce or introduce. Will we down the road? Possibly, but it's unbeknownst to me if we have a rumble controller coming out.Oh I think you'd know before anyone![laughter] Well, you'd be surprised! It's a big company...
Tretton offers hand to third party devs to take advantage of PS3
The claim of third party companies creating shoddy ports for the PS3 probably grew exponentially in importance from the whole EA 30fps vs. 60fps debacle and deserves a little more discussion. Jack Tretton released his thoughts on the claims that multiplatform games look better on the Xbox 360 than the PlayStation 3. He basically reiterated the idea that it's up to the developers to take advantage of the power of the PS3 and Sony is doing everything they can to assist them in development, to ease the crushing power of the PS3's architecture.Tretton said what everyone was thinking, too: "what's the point of porting it over to another platform if it is not going to look as good on a platform that is more expensive? Why waste any money in development doing that?" We ask the same questions every night before we go to sleep, but our pillows never answer. Tretton does not want people to think the first-party titles are going to pick up the slack, rather, he wants third party companies to know that Sony is there for them, to assist them in any way possible, so that they as well as consumers will get the most out of their ginormous black behemoth. Seriously, everyone would benefit if they just tried a bit harder.
Tretton reaffirms the 10 year life-cycle of PS3
It's been said before, but Jack Tretton thought it wise to re-issue a statement regarding the life expectancy of the PlayStation 3. A lot of folks may see a price drop this early indicative of a short console life, a desperate move, or the clever cutting of manufacturing costs to help consumers save money also. We like the latter, but the former two are what need addressing -- Tretton assures the world that the PS3 is set for a future-proof, 10 year life. He said Sony could have made a PS2.5 and taken a ride on the money train, but they opted not to. He takes a shot at the competition, saying "To be perfectly honest with you, I think that is a bit of what we are competing with." Or is he talking about the PS2 itself?A few more choice statements from Tretton covered how the system doesn't need to convert everybody from day one. They can take their time selling consoles across ten years, he says. We guess this is since the price is an obstacle for many people right now, even with the price cut. Finally, Tretton assures us Sony has built "a machine that we firmly believe is future proof and is going to carry us for the next 10 years." We hope so and we can't wait for all the years ahead of us. We hardly know more than a handful of titles slated for 2008, let alone 2010.[via CVG]
Tretton: Sony doesn't "bribe" for exclusives
An interview in this month's PlayStation Magazine held a couple revelations. First, Sony doesn't shell out money to keep a game exclusive, or buy exclusive content to make a game seem better on their console. Second, Jack Tretton feels Sony is the "middle ground" for gaming -- we'll explain in a bit. We're not sparking this flame -- this is Tretton himself and we honestly couldn't agree more with him.In the interview, Tretton said "We have a very different approach to exclusives than some of our competitors. We don't buy exclusivity. We don't fund development. We don't, for the lack of a better term, bribe somebody to only do a game on our platform. We earn it by saying "you can build a better game on our platform. If you focus your development on our platform, you will ultimately be more successful." We believe him. Even if, over the next few years, only half of the PS2 owners of the world adopt a PS3, it will be the most successful machine this generation and spending, say, $50 million dollars to some company for exclusive downloadable content would be completely meaningless.Tretton also touched upon what exclusive games meant to Sony. "You know, if we were working on three games, it doesn't make for a very big exclusive list, but if we got 15, we've got a larger exclusive list before the third party comes to you with an exclusive. You almost get to the point where Nintendo's at, where they can do it without the third parties, but I don't know if that makes for a healthy environment. I think we sit perfectly in the middle. Microsoft is too dependent on the third-party community, and Nintendo is too dependent on first-party. We like to feel that we got a pretty good mix." Nobody can deny this. Tretton hit the nail on the head. Even though the price is high, even though the big library of games is still a month or two away, that is the reason Sony will continue to pull through. They don't, as the old saying goes, put all their eggs in one basket.[via Joystiq]
Sony's Jack Tretton: 'We don't buy exclusivity'
Perhaps now would be a good time to start? In an interview published within the latest issue of PSM, Sony Computer Entertainment America president, Jack Tretton, responds to the magazine's observation that there are fewer exclusive titles bound for (and to) the PlayStation 3 than there possibly could be. Mr. Tretton explains that Sony's approach to the acquisition of exclusives is different than those of competitors, perhaps in the sense that it's far more noble and devoid of unspeakable acts of bribery. Or perhaps in the sense that there isn't much of an approach at all."Yeah, 'fewer exclusives' is a term, and I don't know what makes an exclusive," says Tretton. "We have a very different approach to exclusives than some of our competitors. We don't buy exclusivity. We don't fund development. We don't, for the lack of a better term, bribe somebody to only do a game on our platform." That's correct, generating reasons for consumers to purchase and enjoy your console over others became a dubious, underhanded maneuver when you weren't looking. Since the publisher (of third-party titles such as Heavenly Sword and Lair) isn't willing to stoop that low, it would much rather "earn" exclusives. "We earn it by saying 'you can build a better game on our platform. If you focus your development on our platform, you will ultimately be more successful. We can try to partner up with you from a technological standpoint. We can try to partner up with you from a marketing standpoint. But just economically and technologically, this is the system that makes the most sense for you.'"With money apparently not changing hands for that exclusive status, how do you suppose the system's comparatively small install base makes "the most sense" economically? No answer is obtained from Tretton, who then rightly notes that as a first-party, Sony has a very strong ability to provide plenty of exclusive titles. However, he warns that relying too much on first-party endeavors as Nintendo does might not make for a "healthy environment" and that conversely, Microsoft is "too dependent on the third-party community."Grab a copy of this month's PSM to read the full interview.[Via GamesRadar Forums]
Jack Tretton teases E3 surprises, promises "more than 100 titles" by year end
Sony has been going full throttle on it's new PlayStation.Blog with some of the biggest names at the company doing regular posts. This time, the president and CEO of SCEA, Jack Tretton weighs in with an interesting post about the past successes of the PlayStation brand and some of his thoughts of the future. It's interesting stuff and definitely worth reading. He also gives game-starved PS3 owners some good news by implying that the drought is almost done: "We have more than 15 games coming from our own internal studios alone this year for PS3. Our third party partners will weigh in with a host of great games giving us more than 100 titles by year end on that system alone."Later on in the piece are hints that we're in for some cool surprises at E3 too, stating that not only will we see new stuff on the known titles like Ratchet and Clank or Heavenly Sword, but also they will announce "a few surprises we have up our sleeves that no one has seen." Intriguing and exciting stuff and we'll find out in less than a month! Anybody want to start the random unsubstantiated guessing on what they're gonna show? I say ... Killzone Bowling and Barbie's Xtreme SOCOM Adventures.[Via N4G]
Sony CEO Jack Tretton goes blogging
Sony executives are really loving their new blog. Even Sony America President and CEO Jack Tretton's ghost writer has written a post for the site about "a quick look back" and " a strong push forward" ... and we all know why the look back is quick. Anyway, Tretton finally gets to craft a public message without pesky things like words and journalists getting in the way. The Sony blog is a place for Tretton to breath free and just talk to the consumer like an open and honest ... oh, what's that? Tretton says, "Everything communicated in any form these days has to be considered an 'on-the-record statement' so as much as I'd like to, I can't completely throw my corporate hat out the window." Ok, so maybe the information won't flow like the spice on Arrakis, but we're still listening Jack, so what's on your mind?
PLAYSTATION Network to become "overwhelming" soon
Jack Tretton is a man of big promises. Although his claims may be boisterous at times, we can't help but join in his excitement for the future of PS3. Sure, we've heard the song and dance before: PS3 is a system of potential. As the system continues to grow, it will offer and more and more. For example, the PLAYSTATION Network is going to expand. In a recent interview with GamePro, Tretton reveals that the system will become so expansive, "almost to the point of being overwhelming."The Network will not only feature downloadable on-demand movies, but it will also have a vast supply of games as well. "We have 41 games in development devoted to the Network, not just talking about PSone games being enabled. We're talking about games developed specifically for the PS3."So when is it going to happen? "So, really it will happen this fall ... we'll get there well before the holiday timeframe. Every month you'll just see more and more content on there it'll get to the point where it's be really rich by September. And I think that will be timed really nicely with the advent of Home as well."