Between its Japanese development arm ForwardWorks and failed initiatives like PlayStation Mobile, there’s no question Sony has been looking for ways to leverage its biggest brands on mobile for some time. Now it looks like it’s in the early stages of establishing a new department within its PlayStation Studios infrastructure, with a focus on converting its key franchises to smartphones.
A job listing for a Head of Mobile role, situated at the company’s headquarters in San Mateo, states that candidates will “own and develop the mobile games strategy for PlayStation Studios and help build a foundation for future growth opportunities”. It continues: “You will lead all aspects of the expansion of our game development from consoles and PCs to mobile and live services with a focus on successfully adapting PlayStation’s most popular franchises for mobile.”
It sounds like this is in the very early stages, as it notes that potential recruits will “be responsible for building and scaling a team of mobile leaders and will serve as the head of this new business unit within PlayStation Studios”. So it’s something that, with the right personnel, the company is looking to get off the ground at the moment – in fact, the job posting refers to the development of a mobile product roadmap within a “three-to-five year timeframe”.
Of course, this is the natural next step for the organisation. PlayStation Productions, the company’s new film and television division, has been established to adapt key IP like The Last of Us and Ghost of Tsushima, so getting those series on mobile seems like a smart move. Presumably these projects will be designed to align with new console releases and the rollout of movies and TV shows.
It’ll be interesting to see how it eventually adapts some of its franchises to smartphones. We’ve seen, in the past, titles like LittleBigPlanet get mobile spin-offs such as Run Sackboy Run, but we’re not sure a Twisted Metal match-three would be all that compelling. It’ll be a tough job for whoever takes the role – but a potentially fun and extremely rewarding one, nonetheless.
[source boards.greenhouse.io]
Comments 100
What about Playstation All-Stars Island sponsored by coke zero? That was a classic that was also sponsored by coke zero!
Hooray, movies, TV shows and mobile games. That’s what people want from Playstation, right?
@Jackpaza0508 I was thinking about that when I wrote the article but I thought it would be too much of a deep cut. Apparently not, as we got it in Comment #1!
Congrats, sir!
I mean, I'm good. Playing games on my mobile makes absolutely zero sense but if that's where it's at for some people, cool I guess.
Maybe if Sony would just invest in a portable device??? Feel like that could be popular but who knows really.
OK, I'm definitely convinced the big wigs over at Sony are sitting in their corporate offices smoking Marijuana. Seriously, what is going on over there?
Xbox are regaining ground and making big moves and Sony are acting like clowns. Jim Ryan HAS GOT TO GO!
Discontinue the PSVita store and within the same week consider moving into mobile publishing? are you hearing yourselves, Sony?
Mobile games are the worst.
hmm this is a dumb idea imo... these types of games are meant for big screens so you can marvel at all the hard work that went into making these environments look so good. Along with that I play with a nice surround sound setup which adds to the experience... this idea is dumb.. did i say that already?
@get2sammyb Lol I came here to comment the same thing. Maybe there’s hope for more PSAS! Haha even if it is a dumb mobile version.
This could be an attempt to re-connect with the Japanese Market since smartphone/handheld gaming is the primary market there
@nessisonett GoT but it's basically Fruit Ninja.
@zupertramp Would play, to be fair!
I think we might be looking at something like the Xcloud
I'm really, really trying to be optimistic about the direction PlayStation is going in, but mobile games.....ugh......
I pray this doesn't influence how they monetize their AAA PS5 exclusives. Once they go down that route, I'm done.
Nothing to say to this really except that no good has ever come out of most Mobile games. They come and before you know it they're gone but if you like that sort of thing well ok I guess but I'm sure I speak for most people here when I say people don't want this.
Really? Mobile?
Seems Sony is dead set on making sure we all hate the direction they are going
They're going after the mobile gaming demographic. They'd be fools not to try, especially considering the IPs already exist, and they have a strong presence in regions where mobile games are massive.
"There's potentially 100s of millions to be made from the mobile gaming demographic. More, I'd say."
"Yeah but our core market don't play on mobile. So... No. Let's leave that money where it is."
That's not a conversation any board is ever going to have.
The amount of money some of those mobile games make in a month is sick, bordering on disgraceful. The lifetime spending of some players is insane.
If it works out for Sony, and they can use that money to fund, oh I don't know, say a streaming service like everyone wants these days, that would be a win, right?
Have to spend money to make money. And Sony are laying the ground work lately for something.
People won't like this because mobile games aren't cool, but there's just so much money in mobile gaming. It seems to be working for Nintendo.
Of course if it's not done right it will just be an embarrassing blunder, or a horrible exercise in manipulative gacha mechanics. Or both.
Regardless, it has no affect on any of us who consider ourselves to be core gamers, so why get worked up over it?
@GADG3Tx87 Jim ain't no gamer. He's all about the money. At least someone like Shu, wants money but understands gaming.
Read the comments and couldn't stop laughing. It's hilarious how hardcore gamers think they can speak for everyone.
It’s such a shame mobile games are money making machines. I’ve never been a fan since I like buying physical games to add to my collection
Companies are making billions off of mobile games, such as PUBG mobile or COD mobile. I hate mobile games and don't want Sony making them but I understand them wanting to tap into that market
@naruball So you're pro mobile games??? Mobile games are nearly always crappy cash grabs. I bet you could easily name your top 50 console games but would struggle to name your top 5 mobile games. And none of those would match console quality games.
@usaislie You got that right and people that spend money on them are the ones Companies look to exploit.
@__jamiie Just add him to ignore like I did.
@nessisonett dont forget esports 😐
They have to be gatcha games if sony want to make money on mobile, lazy concept such as running games just doesn't cut it anymore in mobile space.
I'm actually suprised that japanese studio didn't make games like genshin impact for japanese and international market, not every 1st party game has to be serious western focused series like tlou or god of war.
I think something interesting could emerge if Sony decided to port some of their PSP or Vita back catalogue to Apple Arcade. The monetization tactics we all hate are not allowed on Arcade... but if the incentive is to go after the billions made by free-to-play games, I guess that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Welp ,they gotta make money somehow, at least now they can compete in the Japanese market, since they supposedly love mobile gaming.
@Rob_230 Uhm nope, esport is very relevant for a gaming company.
Especially fighting games, which playstation is becoming the console of choice for, thus it makes sense for them to buy EVO.
This is beyond disappointing to me. With a new console generation that already won’t feature games from 11(probably more coming) studios now owned by Microsoft, plus the rumored Kojima deal in place, it really seems like there’s not a ton to look forward to as a PlayStation user. At this point I’m more excited for the upcoming TV shows and movies then I am the games.
Nah. Sony's properties aren't a good fit for mobile.
Anyway, I'm inherently skeptical of mobile game development, and seeing how Nintendo's mobile ventures turned out, I'm definitely not looking forward to this.
@wiiware Some running games are well made though and I don't mind those but I know what you mean though.
Run sackboy run was fun......on Vita
@nessisonett This all makes me wonder if the Xbox One would have gone over better if the "Sports! TV!" messaging had been extended over the first few months of the system's life instead of being compressed into one devastating reveal.
@Ralizah They had it right all along!!!
@nessisonett lol
#MattrickWasRightAllAlong
#BringBackDon
#JimRyan4Smash
Lady Manuelescu.
Jesus sony, are you trying to make everyone hate your brand?
@RubyCarbuncle I think genshin impact has really changed the "AAA" mobile games landscape, running games just doesn't generate hype anymore. Unfortunately, I don't think many sony games is suitable for mobile since most of them is for mature audience with blood and all.
Although something like, say, gatcha gran turismo mobile seems a pretty good idea if you ask me 😃
@zimbogamer Work pretty well for nintendo, at least compared to sony porting their games to pc.
Ok, but bear with me for a second. What if streaming? All they need is a mobile app that allows you to pair a Dual Sense and that streams games from your PS5 or PS Now and that can access the PS Store. Buy your games remotely, download them to your PS5 on the go, stream them to your phone or tablet and play them with a Dual Sense. Or just buy a Dual Sense and subscribe to PS Now. Seems like a viable mobile games strategy without having to make a new Vita or reprogram any existing games. And PS Now could be a real option for people who don't want to buy a PS5 but have a phone or tablet. They're already like 90% there with this.
I think I can officially state that Sony no longer is attempting to cater to the niche hardcore gamer crowd.
TV shows, Mobile gaming, remakes, no classic PS heritage appreciation...!
At this state I just simply can't reward Sony for the direction they're going in with extra sales.
Just a drop in the ocean and sure Jim Ryan doesn't care about one lost sale, but this is Xbox One levels of awfulness.
@GADG3Tx87 It's literally their smartest move. Eventually, it won't be viable to make consoles and hardware for the public. So just have the public use their phones for streaming services. They are just planning ahead for the inevitable.
Fine by me, although I will only have any chance for a stake in the matter if the mobile entries belong to touchscreen-friendly genres. Which, seeing as most of Sony's prized APs are action-heavy games, isn't quite a given. Although even a mere turn-based crossover along the lines of Tales of Crestoria and Star Ocean Anamnesis could work, highlighting many legacy characters and concepts in the process.
@nessisonett well, I want portability from PlayStation, but I don't see that impacting Sony's modern endeavours either. Somehow their world and biz doesn't revolve around me, alas.😭😄
If they add trophies and sync with PSN I can retire my VITA completely. Excited about this, but heard it before.
Of course I’m presuming they’ll be proper games and not the usual mobile cash grabs as they won’t want to damage their IP.
Without reading the comments lemme guess this is coming from the usual suspects...
Xbox goes mobile it’s BRILLIANT
Sony goes mobile it’s RUINING THEIR BRAND
Sony. Just make a new PSP.
Yes please. Really excited to play my favourite games on a tiny screen with no controller.
I'm not a fan of mobile games either, but you have to look at the numbers. Mobile games makes insane amounts of money. Big blockbuster IPs, TV shows, mobile games, and movies makes so much more money than small indie games. I'm not defending Sony, I'm just say Sony is making a lot of smart moves to rake in a lot of money.
I watched an interview a while back with Anthony Mackie where he summed up the state of the entertainment industry really well. Here's the link:
https://youtu.be/oj8JK6c5x3M
@ThroughTheIris56
DualShock 4 is actually supported natively on iOS – and they’re adding DualSense support in iOS 14.5
This place: “Sony needs to focus on making video games!”
Sony makes more exclusive games than the competition.
At this point I don’t know why you all are so angry. Sony makes more games than MS but Sony is also branching out into other things. Exactly what are you all waiting to hear? Please let me know!
When there’s news about any new games there’re 10-15 comments. But when news that Sony may be expanding outside of that you all find comfortable the comments reach 200+. It’s actually comical to witness.
Anyway, I’m not excited for mobile games and I don’t watch E-sports but if I’m still getting the games I want and Sony is branching out to reach those venues then what the fife is the problem?
Instead of investing in studios/contracts with independent studios to create games on PS5. Sony is throwing money to create Mobile games. Jim Ryan Out !!
@2cents this is what I’m thinking too. It’s weird the reactions people here get over things. Like they want what Sony has always given them and they’re getting it but any deviation from what they think the company should do is met with pure insanity. And I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it’s just a weird thing to witness.
@B_Lindz Mackie is fairly self-contradictory there. He says there's no movie stars today, complains Goonies wouldn't be made today (a movie with arguably no movie stars) then says Stranger Things (one of the most popular shows in the world) is basically just Goonies - the movie he'd just said wouldn't get made today.
But he is right that they are making movies with the largest audience possible in mind. Not sure that's any different than it has ever been though. It's just what constitutes the largest audience possible has expanded.
@Dr_ENT I’m not a fan of mobile games but mobile games are a cash cow. Maybe it’ll give Sony the funding to can even marginally compete with Microsoft financially? I won’t play any mobile games but I know at least 10 people who will.
Mobility is what boosted Switch. A console that I’m not fond of but it’s obvious that the sales of that machine didn’t wait for me to like it.
@AhmadSumadi expanding into mobile games?? In what way does that positively affect PS5? Meanwhile MS is acquiring publishers / sealing deals with independent studios (possibly Kojima)
@Dr_ENT I think I’ve stated exactly what it can do for PS. Give Sony the capital to compete with MS. MS isn’t becoming better at making video games. MS is buying up game studios because MS has the finances to do so. Mobile games generate a ton of cash. See the correlation?
@usaislie genocide is quite bad too!
They are slowly becoming that old Microsoft that everyone made fun of!
Hope they still got the awesome games!
No, Jim..... No. hits on nose with rolled up newspaper
@Excess That is useful. However I'd rather not bring my PS4 controller around with me. And if I'm at home, chances are there's a better device for playing Playstation games.
so this is gonna be the way Sony is gonna be to win the japanese Market?
@zupertramp I think what Anthony Mackie is saying is that there's a disconnect happening between indie production and big blockbuster production that is growing. Sony wants to make the business decisions that will bring in the most amount of money while indie companies are making games that can be risky and completely off the wall. I think that is why so many people don't care for the big movie releases anymore and would rather stream some indie tv show. I know that's it isn't a direct comparison, but it is something to think about.
@zupertramp Also, your profile pic got a pretty good laugh out of me. I love it.
@AhmadSumadi that’s the issue though. Very soon playstation users are going to see game after game release everywhere but on PlayStation. Just look at their PS5 showcase back in June. Two games by 3rd party studios Sony felt strongly enough to make deals with for exclusivity are now directly owned by the competition. In a couple years, we as PlayStation users aren’t gonna have as many third party games to look forward to in between Sony’s first party games.
@GADG3Tx87. I agree wtf is nony doing.why not put sony games on sega genesis or atari also.man sony is like hall and oates out of touch.word up son
Thank god a lot of you don't run Sony cos if you did you'd be chucking a lot of money at ventures that have very little profit.
Sony has been giving us game after game loads being made sure OS updates coming & other things yet here we are whining like they have been doing nothing disingenuous clap trap.
what sort of lunacy is this 🤦
erm how about no. tv / monitor seat and joypad. i couldnt play gta on a psp i cant look at a screen that i was holding as i was playing a game , my Nintendo switch is in docked mode permanently. sony if you want my money console gaming tv joypad only. Mobile games is not gaming its forever spending money. not for me ty.
@ThroughTheIris56 not that I’m all for this mobile crap but I keep a PS4 controller in my car and play Remote Play on my lunch breaks. Feels almost identical to playing right on the console.
There some truly fantastic mobile games out there, and some great ports (Dead Cells = WOW). Maybe Sony can bring some much needed AAA spice to the world of mobile gaming. Cautiously optimistic here.
I won't be buying any. I bought gta 3 on mobile.... It's not for me.
Sounds a lot like Konami, no wonder Kojima looked elsewhere, must have brought bad memories...
Makes sense. If you can't get a PS5, you can play them on your phone
Just when you think Sony can’t do more weird or stupid decisions
@B_Lindz True they do seem increasingly reluctant to take risks. But it's always weird seeing someone who participates in the blockbuster spectacle side of Hollywood also criticizing its lack of creativity.
Definitely agree a shift toward mobile seems like a cash grab but like you say, they are a business so whatever I guess. Wouldn't be profitable if there weren't demand so this benefits some consumer demographic. If this helped fund more ambitious console projects that'd be nice.
So their new focus is on anime and mobile? It's like they already knew they were going to be beat this gen.
If they want a presence on mobile why don't they just release playstation now on android and apple store? Like xbox have done
It would have some seed of potential if new Xperia Play would be released (unfortunately I've drown mine). Otherway it is waste of money.
Remember Diablo mobile moment at their event, our reaction is the same Sony.
I personally don't like playing games on mobile but I know there are a lot of consumers that do. Maybe this will work.
@AhmadSumadi Fairs. For handheld gaming I just use my Switch. Even then, it's hard to play when it's rested and I'm using a controller.
@UltimateOtaku91 anime is actually a different side of Sony. SME is the one trying to buy Crunchyroll. SME is still Japanese based and pretty separate from SIE. Yes big Sony owns them both but as an example SME is publishing a game on Xbox later this year. So two seepage companies within one umbrella.
I got a feeling I will see a new Jak and Daxter game on mobile before it hits a PlayStation console. 😑
Sony's news of late:
*Sony invests $250M for a 1 - 1.5% stake in Epic Games;
*Sony is in attempts to acquire Crunchyroll for $1.2B (pending);
*Sony, in conjunction with RTS, acquires EVO;
*Sony and HBO to create a TV series based on The Last of Us;
*PlayStation titles Uncharted and Ghost of Tsushima to be made into movies;
*Sony enters into deal with Netflix for Sony Pictures to air on the streaming service post theatrical release;
*Sony to discontinue PSP / PS Vita / PS3 storefronts;
*Sony sacks Japan Studios;
*MLB The Show to be released on Xbox Game Pass day one, PlayStation users pay full price;
*Sony rejected Days Gone 2;
*Unnamed Sony development team disbands and departs SIE due to lack of Sony support;
*Sony wants to bring its IPs to smartphones.
Did I capture everything?
Hahahahaha. Man, good bye, Sony! Jim Ryan is the best thing to happen to Xbox.
So what Nintendo is doing.
It's looking more and more like Sony wants to join the select club of EA, Ubisoft, Blizzard/Activision and Konami as a new member of the legion of doom.
Let's review I need an excel spreadsheet to name all.the ps exclusives the ps2 had. The ps3 started slow but after 2008 they began giving us great exclusives every 2 or 3 months. The remasterstation 4 had 1 or 2 exclusive games A YEAR. I don't even need all of my fingers to count the exclusives. And there were exactly 3 good new IPs. Man, at this rate the PS5 will have 1 good Sony exclusive game every 18 months.
More stupid decisions from Sony.
@Shepherd_Tallon you hit the nail on the head.
Angry birds (remember that) made billions so did flappy bird. It costs very little to develop an app but you could make a billion. It costs £100+ Million to develop a AAA game and dev time is in measured in years.
Sony have the branding, rights and consumer awareness of these games they’d be daft not to go down this route, the real question is what took them so long? iPhones have existed since 2007.
@Ralizah They are making tons of money why do you think they keep making games for it. The mobile gamer is a market full with with whales easy money.
@Medic_Alert I dont think they care about the bad press they are King in terrible monetization in the mobile market.
Plus for them its easy money with the simple minds on mobile were free to play looks like the cheaper option. Where the games get funded by people with addiction.
Rather pay €10 too play without any restriction then this free too play garbage.
And not monetization does not mean it does not seen quite a nasty item about that on the Jimquisition.
@Thelegend159
They've been dabbling in that space for a while, but yeah, they've really taken their time going all in to try carve out a significant piece of that pie.
@2cents
But it's very easy for people to like MS and hate Sony these days.
The PR charm offensive that MS have been running is a masterclass. Without releasing any household names other than Sea of Thieves they've done a great job of making themselves, on face value, look like the consumer friendly option by basically smiling, saying nice things, and releasing game pass.
And, without mentioning Sony directly or even trying really, the result is that MS have made Sony look like the opposite of consumer friendly. If MS are the good guy, Sony must be the bad guy. It's that simple.
I've been saying for a while, a good PR campaign from Sony would make this all go away, and some of the mountains they've had to climb would have been bumps in the road if they'd communicated some things a little better.
Sony under Jim Ryan has:
Then, when Bend complained that they were becoming a support studio for ND, and two of their leaders left, Sony gave in and let them work on a new IP instead.
Microsoft under Phil Spencer has:
I fail to see how both companies are any different from each other.
Other than closing the legacy stores without telling us what they're planning as an alternative, Sony have not done much wrong for me. They even back tracked on cross-play that time playing straight in to MS's strategy after the community pressured them enough.
And don't get me wrong - I play on all platforms. I got excited for every Microsoft E3 presentation last gen in the hopes that "this will be the one where they show me something I have to play." It's just very curious to watch how public opinion shifts based on perceptions, and the current narrative is too interesting to not comment on it.
Saying all of that, it does feel like more and more people are beginning to question all of this. You get the sense that all Sony have to do is announce a Legacy service, say a few nice things and add some new PS5 UI features, and then we'd be all square again.
As long as it doesn’t affect their console titles I don’t care. I’ll just ignore the mobile ones completely like I do any other mobile game.
I do not like the direction Sony have been going in and this just adds to that I guess.
They can do whatever they want, as long as the main focus is still on making amazing single player story driven AAA experiences.
I mean, mobile would be a good platform with an attached controller. Most smartphones have impressive specs to an old timer like me. There's just rarely any worthwhile games on it.
This comment section feels like 2012.
@Shepherd_Tallon so true.
In other words, downgrade the crap out of their games lol.
Well, if they let you stream your games then it’ll be good. It they try to remake those games for mobile it’ll be a disaster as knowing Sony they will be ‘free to play’, with endless pay walls and micro transactions mobile gamers seem to love.
They bought Forza recently natively to mobiles, and unsurprisingly its to play so all the addicts can pay the micro transactions. I suspect Sony will follow the same route, and in my mind it makes those games worthless garbage, with pay to play and win being the name of the game. They have been trying to force this model to console games for years and so far, have been blocked or rejected from doing it, with laws now changed over thins like loot boxes as it’s seen as a form of gambling.
@Shepherd_Tallon Interesting how your only looking at this from a viewpoint of how it’s great for Sony’s bottom line and share holders, purely looking at it from a business standpoint, as opposed to what’s good for the consumer, because mobile games aren’t good for the consumer. Do you have shares in Sony?
This decision is kind of weird, why weren't they thinking about putting PlayStation games on mobile back when they had the Xperia play to launch them with? They want to do this after they shut down the store to both the psp and the Vita? Just feels funny to me, do Sony phones even still release widespread?
I couldn't even name the last Xperia phone I've heard about, I know they could always just release an Android app (as apple will probably hit them with the same bs it's hit Google, Microsoft, and amazon with), but this really could have helped the company as a whole if they'd just done this 10 years ago laying the foundation.
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