A Top PlayStation Boss Is Leaving Sony

Ahead of the presumed release of the PlayStation 5 in 2020, one of PlayStation's top executives, Shawn Layden, has announced he's leaving the company.

Layden is Sony Interactive Entertainment's Chairman for Worldwide Studios. He is leaving PlayStation at some point in the future, though a specific date wasn't shared.

Sony said it wishes Layden "success in his future endeavours," whatever they may be. "Thanks for everything, Shawn!" PlayStation said.

"It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE," Sony said in a statement on the PlayStation Twitter account. "His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!"

Layden started at Sony in 1996, where he worked out of Sony's Tokyo office as a producer for international software development until January 1999. He was then promoted to vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, a position he held for eight years and nine months.

In October 2007, Layden became the president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. He worked in that role for two years and six months before he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to become the Chief Operating Officer of PlayStation until March 2014. His latest promotion was to Chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, a position he held from April 2016 until now. All of this information comes from Layden's LinkedIn profile.

Sony is expected to launch its next-generation PS5 console in 2020 alongside the release of Microsoft's own new console, Scarlett.

The PS4 has been a massive success, shipping 100 million consoles by Sony's latest count.