Harrison to leave Sony - join Atari?

Worldwide Studios boss to apparently join Gardner at Atari

Sources have indicated to GamesIndustry.biz that the head of Sony Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, who will leave the company at the end of this week, is to join Atari in the near future.

Harrison, who recently expressed his frustration at Sony Japan's lack of foresight on the casual games front - ceding ground to Nintendo in the process - will apparently join up with ex-EA executive David Gardner and spearhead Atari's push into the casual space.

[xhi4]

what a waste.

but it could mean a new era of prosperity and innovation for Atari.

Good luk philly!

[blacsheep]

but if sony wasnt willing to see his vision earlier especially with the online look how far we are behind xbox live,then he has every right to leave and go somewhere where he feels his views count and he feels appreciated.

if sony had listened to phil i believe our online setup would already be on par with xboxlive and home would already be in our homes.

but the japanese dont like to be proven wrong and phil had enough if you dont feel that your being listened to you will go to ears that will!

phil your a nice genuine guy and i wish you luck in whatever your next venture maybe.

definately sonys loss

[GodsHand]

Well hopefully if he leaves, he can turn Atari around.

But for some reason, I feel he is going to run that company into the ground, and just have a fat wallet. Hope to be proven wrong since it's a company I had many found memories of.

[RJ2000]

Just one man... Not news worthy...

[UnblessedSoul]

Looks like he wasn't happy after all

[lodossrage]

Just look at how loyal Peter Moore used to be towards Microsoft. He turned tail to EA with relative ease. THEN his REAL opinions came out. Phil could be doing the same.

People have to keep in mind that even the high execs have to SAY they're happy even if they don't mean it.

[xhi4]

he made that comment very recently about his passion for the development of more casual games and his dissapointment in Japan in its reluctance to concede with his vision.

If he moves to Atari his passion will be fully realised.

I can so see him move to Atari........biggest loss for Sony though.

[Iamback]

The moment he said those negative stuff about Sony Japan i knew something is not right

[TrevorPhillips]

atari!! r u kidding me atari is crap he should just stay with sony they way better then 5hitari.

[blikz]

Well is it true or not, i got some present for him...Hope he enjoy...

[kevin1122]

All I can say is Wow and Geli Mat.

[Thoas]

That vid is hilarious

[PlayStation360]

*teary eyed* LMAOA

"REJOICE, AHHHHHH......"

That was so friggin' crazy! Dude, Bubbles heading your way.

[Bolts]

WTF!? Indian culture is so freaking weird, I can understand the Japanese and Chinese weirdness but I could never figure out the Indians.

[omodis420]

another one bytes the dust!

These guys are salesman with a degree in marketing and that is all. All will be fine with Sony. They will find a new metrosexual to try and woo us all into buy their product.

[Antan]

"These guys are salesman with a degree in marketing and that is all."

Do your research then get back to me. I expect you to make a new comment once you read Phil Harrisons bio.

[PumPum]

Wait its not April fools day yet...:D

[TrevorPhillips]

no its not april fools day yet its all true :(

[Iamback]

How can someone resign from best job in world? Sure it must be hard to fly around who knows how many times in a month....being away from a family very often maybe too often but still how cool is his job if you love video games?
You are payed to oversee games development, you are one of the first people to play those unannounced games and you know about new project before anyone else.
I am sure his salary wasnt the reason he left Sony. He has been there for 15 years, in a way he is part of that "playstation" name.
Reasons are probably different nature. Knowing Japanese people he probably was not respected as he felt he should be for what he has done for Playstation brand. Kaz taking job as president of SCE ahead of him was little of a back stab for Phil. Phil Harrison has more talent in his little finger than Kaz has in his whole body.
So to sum it up. Phil left most likely because of the principles, he didnt wanted to leave Sony at hard times...in 06 and 07, but now when PS3 has began outselling 360 and Blue Ray won, he felt the moment is wright to leave. Honorable man.

[GETPWNED]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA GOOD RIDDANCE, U BALD HEADED FREAK!!!

[feejo]

Ha don't worry he will comback.

[omodis420]

Is just that these guys are a dime a dozen. Look how many Corperations there are in this world, with more and more everyday.
Sony already has the position filled... And you know this maannnn!

[macsto]

Somethings-a-brewin at sony. Phil was fantastic for them, he wouldnt be leaving unless he knew something we dont....

[omodis420]

Maybe the guy wants a bigger challange.

As Lamback stated "Now when PS3 has began outselling 360 and Blue Ray won, he felt the moment is right to leave."

Sony is on the up and up and up and so on...
And as this happens he begins to get bored.
So what is a thrill seeker like him to do? Turn Atari around.

Can anyone say "Jaguire 2"

Now he has a epic task on his hands and the bordom is gone :)

[FAT MAN GO BOOM]

I could handle another system in enter the more the marryer...

[Skynetone]

This guy was always a puppet on a string and sonys wooden leg

[carl ps3]

Maybe hes bored of waitin 4 -
HOME,
L.B.P,
KillZone2,
PSN Cards(in U.K),
DS3 Pads(in U.K),
In-game XMB
etc etc :-/

[Crazyglues]

now that's priceless... ROFLMAO

[FAT MAN GO BOOM]

This is just horrible for sony this is really not good at all...

this will hurt sony a lot... he was not just an exec he made things happen on the PS3 and PS2 with real effects to gamers...

I am sorry to see him go...

[SimmoUK]

Phil can't go he's the software guy not hardware, the guy has his head strapped on and has made sum great things happen with the inhouse studios.. thats crap news i hope he stays..

[BlackCountryBob]

Its a shame he is leaving Sony, he was the most charismatic of the Sony exec brigade and Kaz Hirai has the charisma of a carrot so its going to be sad to see him go.

Atari is a very strange choice but I guess he sees it as being a chance to start fresh and build a company in his own image. I have a feeling that in a few years Atari could well be one of the most important developers/publishers in the world.

I'm surprised that no conspiracy theorists have said that this staff change is a prelude to Sony buying Atari.

[TheExodus]

Maybe he left because Sony wouldn't buy Atari?

[actas123]

I hope u guys are not mixing this guy up with Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer.. Anyway, Phil is a good man, but I am sure Sony will find another good one.

[SuperSaiyan4]

His stupidity will be greatly welcomed in already failing company, one failure after another, oh well beats getting demoted like crazy ken.

[NoxiousD]

I smell, another Atari console.... in the making.

[JohnRico]

Atari ? This is a step down compared to Sony

[i rule]

sony rats jumping ship!!!

[AnthonyPerez]

Atari could definitely use some new age thinking and it's guaranteed they offered him a fat check to turn things around. I mean FAT!

[ApocalypseShadow]

or it could be half truths being spread.if everyone listens to the latest game theory podcast,a LOT of FUD is being spread from GDC about different things and people.listen in....

http://www.gametheoryshow.c...

if phil leaves,then hey,he was great for sony.and will be great for any new company.but i'll wait and see.

megaton..............

[Exhaust]

If? Kaz and Phil already released offical statments. Sony corporate already said Kaz was going to take on Phil's duties... How much more confirmation do you want... IF?!

[ApocalypseShadow]

i'm talking about half truths.if you listen to the podcast, only part of what phil said was taken for articles.and as usual,that's how rumors and lies are spread.by money grubbing websites and magazines.

did you listen to the podcast exaust?probally not.

there are reasons people leave a company.but did you get the whole story?was all the information provided to you?or do you believe in just the "phil is frustrated with sony articles?"

i said,if and when he leaves,then cool.any new company would get a great employee and spokesperson.but he hasn't left....yet.

megaton.................

[Rooted_Dust]

The Wii succeeded as a casual console, but are third party casual games really succeeding?

[TheExodus]

Most 3rd party casual games may not be generating blockbuster sales on the Wii, but considering most dev teams can throw one together on their lunch hour they are generating blockbuster revenue.

[bootsielon]

I wish he was going to Acti-blizzard or something like that!

[Crazyglues]

Atari is no where for Harrison to be... They might have offered him something really special, but I would be real careful about going over to that company. -They face some serious challenges at this point and time in gaming.

And while Harrison may change how people look at the company, great for Atari, but if things don't work out, then that would be really bad for Harrison's career in the gaming world.

[Salvadore]

I want him to either do 2 things; Work for a company or start his own gaming company to drive his innovation and creativity.

[mintaro]

heartily agree with the last part