Sony's recent announcement of a tech deal with Microsoft that will see the two companies come together on research of future cloud solutions took a lot of people by surprise, even those who work at PlayStation itself.
In a report from Bloomberg, it is stated that talks between the two businesses started late last year in Tokyo, although these meetings were kept under wraps. "Staff at the gaming division were caught off-guard by the news. Managers had to calm workers and assure them that plans for the company’s next-generation console weren’t affected."
It's a shame that lower-ranking employees had to learn of their own company's business in the news along with everyone else, but it's understandable why. The announcement was a big deal last week, and news such as this would be easy to leak if the likes of a company-wide email was sent out explaining things. Although, we have to assume the likes of Sony higher-ups Shawn Layden, Jim Ryan, and John Kodera were aware of the upcoming partnership.
[source bloomberg.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 35
Just wonderful news. Sony is acting beyond stupid with some of its decisions since Kaz Hirai stepped down. And I don't want to hear 'it's not that big a deal.' Lack of communication at any level is a big deal. Ask Sega. Pathetic job by the suits.
Sony doing weird stuff having next gen right around the corner are signs of concern. Hope it's all in my head.
Same thing in my company. We learn everything through the news and there isn't any internal communication, even for big acquisitions. It is extremely frustrating.
@AlejandroMora them wanting to improve their cloud services is weird how?
@dark_knightmare2 No Sony not telling the PlayStation division ahead of time was the weird stuff.
@AlejandroMora I’m sure the execs knew but like the article stated they wouldn’t send a company wide email to the rank and file because it would have got leaked and any business with sense would have done the same thing
Im assuming they wanted to avoid a public embarrassment if either company pulled a fast one (aka Nintendo/Phillips partnership when ninty dropped sony). And as this is an MoU, not a legally binding contract, it was possible one party could have pulled out at any time
Looks like team PlayStation will be forced to play nice with Microsoft then. Hopefully this ends well enough.
I sometimes wish the playstation brand could separate itself
Par for the course for big business.
Stock value, and insider trading, are the only things of value, employees are replaceable.
And while I agree a company wide email probably wasn't the way to go that's what you have trusted department managers for. You pass the info on to them, they have small dept meetings to pass the news I to their subordinates.
Most actual game developers - the ones making the games - didn't really need to know this but the entire PS Now team needed to be warned beforehand as it sounds like this will directly affect them.
Bloomberg article is very interesting.
May be more info tomorrow?
'On Tuesday, executives including PlayStation head Jim Ryan will update shareholders on strategy during the company’s annual investor day.'
This kind of decision making is usually on higher-up level, I think top level executive like jim ryan already know this news. It’s not playstation or xbox level, but rather sony and microsoft level.
While I'm not too concerned yet considering we know that PS5 will support the traditional route we're used to I just hope MS don't 'rub off on them' and convince them anytime soon that streaming needs to happen NOW.
Keep things simple Sony, many are not ready for all streaming yet, I know I'm not. Keep doing what you do, after all you're beating your main competition so something must be going right, right?
there's going to be alot of people that are going to blow this way out of proportion
@Areus yup. More trollish misinformation videos and outrage reaction coming in 3-2-1...
I can understand Sony doing this personally there was a leak in the place I work and they had to announce plans of making redundancies a month earlier than planned due to media finding out. The higher ups at PlayStation will have definitely known.
I know this partnership is to work together in improving the cloud etc but it could also benefit another, they could migrate PSN to better servers and give it a more realibe stable infrastructure.
i take it azure is cheaper than AWS?
So, people don't understand how functional organizations work?
As long as PS5 gets Persona 6 all will be ok
Is basically going be
MS:Here we lend you our server tech if you lend us your streaming services
Sony:o ok
no is not an crossplay comfirm or a all one console (ps5/xb2) is just business
This comments sections is hilarious. Why the hell would all employees have to know about this partnership. You guy's don't understand how the stock market works.
@Neolit "but let us look at this with adult eyes:"
My eyes are 53 years old, if they get any more "adult" they'll be too blind to look at anything. 😂
@Neolit couldn't sony get a good deal with amazon and not resort to working with their "enemy"? there might be more to this deal that we realize. perhaps microsoft wants to add its streaming platform to ps5 and sony agreed in exchange for using microsoft's servers, among other things. who knows, maybe microsoft will end console exclusivity entirely and release gears of war, forza, etc on ps5 retail discs as well... i've no idea what they are planning at this point.
Unfortunately after the botched Xbox one launch and Sony walking this generation with ease Sony have increasing been acting worse and worse. I fear they will Xbox one the launch of their next console. I hope not but I can see me being turned off completely and buying later when like Xbox they start to go into damage control and add in excellent features to try and claw back sales
@rjejr I’m just glad there is someone older than me on here. I felt like the grandad of the pack. Cheers
@Neolit at last some common sense, since when did companies involve all of their staff and divisions when making business decisions. This one makes sense too, partnering with a company which clearly has more experience and infrastructure in this field. More to the point Sony and Microsoft may need each other in the future if Google's streaming service really takes off
Mistake after mistake at Sony.
I'm really worried about the next gen of Playstation.
@CK97 I think they dont care about that i think their biggest fear isbtheir jobs.
@Neolit I hope they still make weird things thats why Sony is Sony. Having a big library with all kinds of different stuff. I dont want a MS 2.0 plus Americans are grear in sucking companies dry and killing them off.
@carlos82 If my boss didnt tell they are getting into bed with the enemy i would fear for my job too.
Still i think a lot of people talk like workers are there too take advantage of and keep dumb.
Because who wants a worker who knows it rights and is happy. If yiu treat your workers good they will go out of their way too help the company out.
@Neolit So its a corporate way to fire their staff. Keep them in the dark untill the end. Please dont try to sell it like a good thing its a scummy move.
I work in IT, I am a dev myself. And I was also part of higher up decisions.
There are very good reasons not to tell the whole company what’s going on until it’s absolutely needed.
It’s normal in business. No need to be shocked.
@Neolit @tatsumi
Telling your staff you will fire them as late a possible is way too keep around untill the last moment when they are not needed anymore. Otherwise you have a big chance off them leaving and then you dont have anybody left. Im happy i live in the Netherlands where have too pay for a transition period which depends how long you worked somewhere.
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