Sony Studios boss says Sony now focusing on PS3 software

Paul Sinclair • Mar 10, 2007 • Comments ()

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison has said that after the challenges of recent months, Sony can now focus on PS3 software instead of hardware. "I can't deny that we've had some challenges, but I think those are all behind us," he said. "It's all about software now, it's not about hardware. It's all about services, it's about the way the industry is changing and the way we hope to be taking a leadership position in that change."

He made the comments to GamesIndustry.biz after his keynote speech at Game Developers Conference 2007 (GDC). During the keynote, he showed off PlayStation Home, a virtual world under development for the PS3 users to use and enjoy. "We're taking some pretty giant steps forward... The keynote here at GDC was a very, very significant moment for the evolution of PlayStation 3," he observed.

Harrison cited God of War, LocoRoco, Shadow of the Colossus, Eye Toy and Singstar as examples of how Sony is trying to produce innovative software, saying they are, "things which wouldn't come out of perhaps a more conservative product development strategy, and certainly wouldn't come from a multi-platform third-party publisher".

He added: "It's something that as a platform holder we have a responsibility to grow the market, and to try and push the market. What I wanted to do here at GDC was paint a picture for where this industry should, I believe, move - which is to empower the user with user-created content. That's what I was referring to with the Game 3.0 aspect to my presentation.