There is no denying that the PlayStation 5 has been a huge success. The console, which is the fastest-selling in U.S. history, is still difficult to purchase in retail and online shops due to a shortage of semiconductors, as well as scalpers profiting from the scarcity. Still, it is obvious that Sony is doing well with its next-gen hardware. Despite all of this, a recent interview with PlayStation president and CEO Jim Ryan reveals that the boss is frustrated with Sony’s current reach, and has set his sights on even larger numbers when it comes to how many people enjoy Sony games.
As part of GI Live: London, Sony Interactive Entertainment boss Jim Ryan sat down with the head of Gamesindustry.biz, Chris Dring, for a keynote fireside chat. In the talk, Ryan discusses his career in the industry, the difficulties the pandemic placed on the company, the recent success of the Play At Home initiative, and his hopes for the future. Specifically, Ryan shared his hopes for PlayStation games to go beyond the tens of millions that currently enjoy them, and into the hands of hundreds of millions of players in the future.
In discussing the success of the PlayStation 5 and its games, Ryan feels that this generation of consoles is the one that will see Sony go beyond anything it has done before.
“I really believe that the PlayStation 5 will be Sony’s biggest and best most loved PlayStation yet”, he said. He also spoke about his hopes for the future of PlayStation games and getting them into the hands of more players. After all, a great PlayStation hit like Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us Part 2 will have “ten or twenty million people being able to play the game”. For Ryan, he wants that number to soar to the hundreds of millions.
Of course, to reach such large audiences, games would need to become as mainsteam as movies and music. Ryan feels that that is exactly where gaming is heading, or at least he hopes it is.
“Music and movies, they can be enjoyed by almost limitless audiences. And I think some of the art that our studios are making is some of the finest entertainment that has been made anywhere in the world. And to kind of gate the audience for the wonderful art, wonderful entertainment that our studios are making... to gate the audience for that at 20 or 30 million frustrates me. I would love to see a world where hundreds of millions of people can enjoy those games."
Beyond his hopes to expand PlayStation’s reach, Ryan also shared that the recent Play At Home initiative has seen players redeem 60 million games. While there are no immediate plans to continue the initiative, Ryan admitted that if lockdowns and quarantine continue to be a part of everyday life, then it wouldn’t be surprising for the company to revive it.