270°

Shawn Layden joins Tencent Games as strategic advisor

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment America president and CEO Shawn Layden has joined Tencent Games as a strategic advisor, he announced.

Orchard999d ago

Kinda sad to see him goto Tencent of all companies. But he’s right in a way too - the future of games will be Tencent vs Microsoft vs some other FAANG company.

Still miss him though - he was great when he was at PS and the current leadership doesn’t even come close.

ApocalypseShadow999d ago

Lol.

Just happen to ignore one particular company at number 2 behind Tencent. Mighty intentional perhaps for such a supporter of a Japanese console as yourself don't you think?

Anyway. Shawn was cool. Good luck to him. But the interesting thing about one particular Japanese "Company" is that they have changed leadership structure many times. But have won many generations in the process and many awards for their high quality games.

Maybe some company not part of "FAANG" needs a new boss. His boss has to write checks just to compete but still come up third.

MadLad999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Dude, you're ridiculous.
Come into the real world. The current world.

Sony is jacking up their prices across the board. Gave up on their own home turf. Is censoring games left and right.

Microsoft is actually improving on their ecosystem; and is even gaining traction in the Japanese market and wants to expand there.

Now a former Sony CEO sold themselves to probably the most crap company in videogames that just want to turn everything into a free to play micro transaction.

How hard do you need to fanboy?

CBaoth999d ago

yet MS is still third. ArE YOu MAd? All these alt accounts makes me think so. Pathetic it takes a monopoly to compete

MadLad999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

@cb

Don't know why people try to claim I have alt accounts.
I've had one account on here for over a decade.
I guess because more and more people are agreeing with me, yet the majority on here still don't, that must mean I'm liking my own comments.
I couldn't give a crap about the like/dislike system. It doesn't add anything to the actual discourse on here and just lets people dog pile on people and comments they don't like, without even giving their own take as to why.

Typing between caps is just childish by the way. And I don't care which console is selling the best, honestly. I mainly game on PC.
Should that stop me from pointing out flaws of companies supposedly in the lead?
I'm a consumer. Not a stock holder. I care what companies are doing for me.

Sony? Not so much this generation besides trying to see how much they can fleece their audience.

I don't give a crap about these petty little console wars because I'm now older than 12.

MIDGETonSTILTS17999d ago

Lol “at least M$ is improving their ecosystem”…. Their last decade of stagnation ONLY leaves room for improvement!

I love my ps5, and loath my exclusiveness XsX, history’s worst launch console.

SoulWarrior999d ago

@MadLad you sound so unhinged, as soon as a whiff of criticism of MS in a comment and your brain shuts off and you go in to meltdown and talk about being above 12 but you're one of the biggest fanboys on this site, you aren't fooling anyone my friend lol.

999d ago
Orchard999d ago

I'm not ignoring anyone. I said the future of games. Tencent, MS and FAANG will outspend Sony & Nintendo since those companies don't have the sorts of money to compete in that space. Ultimately, PS will eventually be bought up by someone (probably Tencent).

shinoff2183999d ago

Gaining traction in japan lol make me laugh and gag at the same time. Ms came hard with the pocketbook thats what they did. Japan devs aint making games for their system, until ms paid them to. Also MS isnt really changing their ecosystem at some point they will raise their prices on gamepass thats a given. MS is only changing things when they get backlash like that outage and people couldnt play their games. MS is still a pretty horrible company in the endgame.

rpvenom999d ago

Man.. I use to enjoy commenting on this site but the fandom on consoles are really making you guys hateful. I use to consider myself a sony fanboy but now I just want to see good competition and good games for all gamers since things have gotten really one-sided. It's okay to prefer one console or brand over another but you guys really need to check yourselves and how far down the rabbit hole of brand loyalty you're going down cause it sounds like it's making y'all miserable

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 999d ago
999d ago
MrVux000999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

''But he’s right in a way too - the future of games will be Tencent vs Microsoft vs some other FAANG company.''

I wont even delve into what kind of games those will be, if Microsoft and Tencent are the 2 biggest players in gaming industry (i.e. representing the future of gaming and games quality) ... with Nintendo and Sony out of the picture.

Shikoku999d ago

Exactly trash games with little effort built around not a good experience but endless money spending

MIDGETonSTILTS17999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Watch me stop playing games once they are all annual franchises, F2P models, and GaaS.

I’d gladly replay MGSV, Alien Isolation, Doom Eternal, and Returnal instead of lowering my expectations for my #1 hobby.

I want Xbox to be great, but they’ve been floundering since ODST.

999d ago
IRetrouk999d ago

He said none of that, and doesn't believe microsofts model is sustainable....remember?

Orchard999d ago

I never said he said anything.

IRetrouk999d ago

👀
"But he’s right in a way too - the future of games will be Tencent vs Microsoft vs some other FAANG company."

Orchard999d ago

Yes, he is right to jump and join Tencent. Never said he said anything.

IRetrouk999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Mmhmm,
I think its good he's back in the industry, always appreciated his views, hopefully it's a match made in heaven and we get some awesome games from it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 999d ago
H9999d ago

People will come hard on you for saying that, but what you said is the sad truth, it's not about who makes better games it's about who makes more money

Shane Kim999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Imo, the sooner one of these companies exits the console manufacturing business, the sooner they win. Gaming is pushing hard for service model and subscription. For example, if Sony exited hardware business, and had an app on Xbox like game pass (don't need to be day one free access, more like a shop) for all of their games, it would be tremendous win for them.

Maybe not right now, but in the not so distant future.

Pocahontas999d ago

Microsoft will never be there. Can’t even develop thief main franchise. They will kill CoD and Elder scrolls. They’re dead in the water and even with that they’ll still be 4th. Orchard do you even pretend to know the industry?

MadLad999d ago

Do you honestly know the industry? Because they're legitimately scaring Sony right now just by having CoD.

Orchard999d ago

"They will kill CoD and Elder scrolls"

Apparently it is yourself who does not know the industry 🤣

Pocahontas999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

@Orchard Cutting out a majority of their fan base that continue to fund and grow the franchise is detrimental in and of itself. Maybe not dead but limbless rolling in every which direction. Microsoft exclusivity will naturally buckle CoD at the very least. They need to recoup that 60 billion and have shown no metrics to show game pass is successful for themselves and the developers they fund. They only say it is or cherry pick. Orchard I know you can’t bolster an argument worth its salt so to prove this I’ll ask you to only retort these three simple points.

-Halo is dead/dying
-Microsoft is in last and has shown absolutely nothing that they are taking their game franchises in a popular direction
-Microsoft isn’t even part of the main 3 now. They lose every generation.

Your counter argument that I don’t know the industry needs to be backed up. Dropping an emoji and adding nothing isn’t a great way to prove your mental fallacy. Microsoft will never be a main player in the industry. I’m surprised Microsoft green lit that amount for Xbox

Orchard999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

"Microsoft exclusivity will naturally buckle CoD at the very least"
Good thing they aren't making COD exclusive then 🤷

"Microsoft isn’t even part of the main 3 now."
And yet, everyone refers to the big 3 as Nintendo, Sony & Microsoft. Weird.

"Microsoft will never be a main player in the industry"
Sorry, what? lol. It's clear to anyone they are already a main player in the games industry... there's only a few million gap between PS5 and XSX, and Sony also consider them a direct competitor.

If they aren't a main player then Jim should stop complaining about COD, and they should allow GamePass on PS. Not a problem if they aren't a competitor.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 999d ago
SoulWarrior999d ago

Mate, you try way, way too hard.

999d ago
999d ago Replies(3)
+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 999d ago
Jin_Sakai999d ago

Of all the companies he goes to Chinese Tencent. Regardless I wish him the best.

shadowfax33999d ago

yeah because probably offered him biggest paycheck offer, i would do the same.

Shikoku999d ago

Nice to know you'd sell yourself to communism for a price.

SatanicEyeJesus999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Hey @shikoku, if there is a price, its not communism, but capitalism.

CantThinkOfAUsername999d ago

Shikoku, it's a freaking corporation with a capitalist structure. Get off the propaganda wagon and pick an economy book.

darthv72999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

Maybe they were the reason he left Sony? I know that was a couple years ago but they might have been wooing him to leave and he decided to take some personal time before joining.

999d ago
Shikoku999d ago

Well I'll be looking to hear in a year or so Tencent has bought up a big stake in Sony.

Show all comments (49)
170°

John Marston Voice Actor Teases "Exciting" Red Dead Redemption News

During a livestream on his personal Twitch channel, Rob Wiethoff (who voices John Marston in the Red Dead Redemption series) hinted at "exciting news" to be revealed next week. According to Wiethoff, the news will be announced "before Friday".

Read Full Story >>
powerupgaming.co.uk
jznrpg5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

PS5/Pro/Switch 2 version of RDR2 seems most likely. I’d love a RDR3 but that seems years away

Cacabunga3h ago

Id be happy for just a 60fps patch

OmegaSoldati2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

Agreed, but at the same time RD2 came out in 2018. Could it be a remake of Red Dead 1?

Spoiler:

Marston died in the end of Red Dead and Red Dead 2 is set before that. Im curious now. What news could it be?

Profchaos5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Their contracts are iron clas if they leak anything legit they are threatened with immense legal action.

My hopes for what this is are minimal its probably a meet and greet with the cast

I dont see why they would be involved in a upgraded version of rdr2 when the dialogue hasn't changed

thorstein1h ago

He seems to have been cleared to do this as he purposely picked up the game, streamed it, and made the announcement.

70°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
Jingsing2d ago

How about an official level editor for Boltgun?

jznrpg5h ago

I’ll get Space Marine 2 when it’s cheaper. I don’t pay more than half price for short games.

220°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb3d ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

PanicMechanic2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

“Getting ready for those GaaS reveals! Sony is a shadow of themselves this gen.”

You literally said this a couple of days ago. Start applying the clown make up, you hypocritical jester

derek3d ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack3d ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

1Victor3d ago

@rokos:”Hopefully “
I downvoted you not for been hopeful but because I have seen the same “NEXT YEAR WILL BE SPECIAL “ comment for the last 10+ and hasn’t seen anything special from Microsoft.
I hope next year will be the one that everyone been waiting for since the last 3 years of the Xbox 360, it have to be after over $80 billions spent on acquisitions.

Lightning773d ago

So the new excuse is they don't count because it's from the ABK now huh. I guess all those 3rd party games count even less because they don't own them. According to your always crappy logic.

InUrFoxHole2d ago

Lol. You haven't seen anything special? Do you even game?

OtterX3d ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer19923d ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX3d ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer19923d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted3d ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast3d ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica3d ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand1253d ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer19923d ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts3d ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

InUrFoxHole2d ago

@OtterX
You're the dude mad at your exes new guy. She's with someone else... get over it.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
Lightning773d ago (Edited 3d ago )

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot073d ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen3d ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica3d ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer883d ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

Show all comments (39)