“Barbarians at the Gate”: Former PlayStation Boss Labels Tech Giants as the “Biggest Threats to the Games Industry”

The release of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S marked the beginning of a new era in gaming. With graphics on a completely different level of hardware, fans knew the cycle of progress carried them over to the next big thing in gaming. However, as with most tech devices, something will one day overshadow a device you own. It is inevitable that a development will come along and switch things up.

It is at this time that an interesting idea comes up. This talks about whether tech giants from outside gaming trying to jump in with their ideas. The former PlayStation boss, Shawn Layden, had some fascinating thoughts on the matter during the GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit held in Seattle.

Former PlayStation boss takes a firm stance on tech giants entering gaming

As Layden believes, non-endemic companies such as Amazon and Google are some of the biggest obstacles gaming faces in this age. Speaking at the GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit, the former PlayStation boss, held a strong stance on these companies entering the gaming industry.

Layden argues these non-endemic companies already had an adverse effect on other industries. He cites examples of Netflix entering the movie market. By offering their service, they took away a huge chunk of the cinema-going audience. Instead, it has people staying at home to watch movies, effectively changing the entire way the market functions.

Similarly, with gaming being an industry valued at billions of dollars, giants such as Amazon and Google all want an inn. However, as Google went on to realize, the gaming market is not easy. Stadia, Google’s gaming service, crashed out soon after release. Layden thinks this is a crucial reminder for non-endemic giants about how hard it is to make games. It is not just about having the money and resources for a large tech firm. There are other aspects that play a big role in the entire process.

READ MORE: PlayStation Plus Price Hike Has Fans Guessing About a State of Play Event Being in the Works

At the same time, members of the audience argued that Sony also was non-endemic to gaming before PlayStation. What sets them apart? Layden explains that Sony brought the entertainment factor in, which contributed to their success significantly.

Layden hopes the gaming industry will be the first to resist the advances of these tech giants. His idea is to prove that even with a company such as Google or Amazon, turning the tables will not be so easy. He goes on to say, “I’m hoping gaming will be the first industry where we disrupt ourselves. Where it doesn’t take a Google or an Amazon to completely flip the table. We should be smart enough to see these changes coming and prepare ourselves for that eventuality.”

It is Layden’s hope the community stays strong amidst attempts into the industry from these non-endemic companies, with his belief of them being the biggest threat to gaming.

WATCH THIS STORY: The Console Wars Are Heating Head-to-Head: Xbox and PlayStation Fans Battle Over Which Custom Controller is Better, Starfield or Spider-Man 2?