Jim Ryan is leaving PlayStation, but he can stay with players on PSN. The outgoing CEO is part of a new campaign by PlayStation Stars.
Jim Ryan, who was at the helm of the PlayStation division for many years, retires at the end of March 2024. Hiroki Totoki will be the interim CEO behind the PlayStation Interactive Entertainment operations.
The long-time Sony manager and new PlayStation boss has warned about falling margins in recent weeks and seems to want to strengthen PlayStation's profitability.
Jim Ryan als PlayStation-Stars-Kampagne
It is unclear what challenges Jim Ryan will face in the future. What is certain, however, is that players can get the long-time PlayStation CEO into their PSN account. Sony has introduced a digital bobblehead figure.
The bobblehead is part of a new campaign from PlayStation Stars, challenging players to engage with one of PlayStation's more recent flagship games.
“Join us in celebrating Jim Ryan's 30 years of leading PlayStation by playing one of the many titles he oversaw as CEO,” Sony writes in the PlayStation Stars Challenge description.
This allows players to “incidentally” unlock the digital collector’s item. “Happy retirement, Jim,” Sony concluded.
Six games are listed in the Stars Challenge. This includes:
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Destiny 2
God of War Ragnarok
Gran Turismo 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The Last of Us Part 2
Ryan himself received a completely different gift:
This is PlayStation Stars
If you haven't heard of PlayStation Stars before, it is a kind of loyalty programwhich is open to PlayStation players.
The aim is to unlock exclusive digital collectibles or reward points by completing challenges and campaigns. It is possible to track progress using the PlayStation app.
Other challenges currently underway include “MLB: The Show 24”, “Marvel's Spider-Man 2” and “Rise of the Ronin”. The same applies to PS Plus and PS VR2 games, 20 years of “Far Cry” and other key topics that provide digital rewards.
Jim Ryan is more optimistic than ever
Sony announced last September that Jim Ryan would retire at the end of March 2024 after nearly three decades in the PlayStation industry. In his statement, he mentioned the challenges of balancing his personal life in Europe with his professional commitments in North America.
PlayStation will always be a part of his life and Ryan is more optimistic than ever about the future of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
“I would like to thank Mr. Yoshida for placing so much trust in me and for being an incredibly compassionate and supportive leader,” Ryan said in his statement.
More on the subject:
The aforementioned Hiroki Totoki only takes over Ryan's position temporarily. Sony is looking for a longer-term PlayStation boss. One of the challenges of the coming years is not least the profit margin fell to a very low level. Also Bungie was already tackling Totoki.
More news about Jim Ryan, PlayStation Stars.
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