Former PlayStation US boss Shawn Layden announces Tencent role

Former PlayStation US boss Shawn Layden has joined Tencent as a strategic advisor.

Layden, who was chairman of the company’s worldwide studios group when he left Sony in 2019, announced on LinkedIn on Monday that he hoped to help Tencent “deepen their activities” within the games industry.

Chinese conglomerate Tencent has already invested in more than 800 firms and is one of the biggest companies in the world by market value.

As well as owning League of Legends maker Riot Games, it also has a 40% stake in Epic Games and holds shares in Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, PUBG Studios parent company Krafton, PlatinumGames, and Marvelous Inc.

“I am delighted to share that I have recently joined Tencent Games as a strategic advisor,” Layden announced on Monday.

“In this new role, I hope to advise, assist, and support the team at Tencent as they deepen their activities and commitments within the industry to which I’ve devoted the majority of my career.

“We are at an epoch defining moment in gaming and interactive entertainment. There are many possible roads ahead but only a few are profound, broadening, inclusive, edifying, inspiring, and/or sustainable. I am thrilled to continue this journey of discovery and thank Tencent for the opportunity.”

Layden’s most recent role at PlayStation was chairman of Worldwide Studios. He was previously president and CEO of PlayStation’s American operation and has performed various roles since joining Sony in 1987.