Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden expressed optimism about Microsoft’s ongoing multiplatform strategy, aiming to broaden its reach by delivering Xbox games on various systems. He highlighted the potential positive outcomes reminiscent of Sega’s previous model but also warned that this approach could risk alienating gamers from the Xbox platform itself.

Layden’s career at Sony began in 1987 and culminated in his role overseeing the development of the PS5. Post-retirement in 2019, he joined Tencent Games as a strategic advisor. He remarked on the importance of a careful balance in Microsoft’s strategy, noting that it could complicate audience retention as consumers have options across platforms.

Quote: “Multiplatform is a strategy, particularly in a world where the cost of development is increasing dramatically.”

Layden’s comments come amid reports of several Xbox titles, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Forza Horizon 5, set to launch on the PS5 in 2025. He compared Microsoft’s shifts to Sega’s after the Dreamcast era, noting how Sega successfully transitioned to being a third-party developer after stepping away from hardware production.