Ex-PlayStation Leader Shares Insights: “What Matters Isn’t Headquarters—We’re PlayStation!”

During his tenure as president of PlayStation, Kaz Hirai became a well-known figure, especially for his laid-back demeanor during the infamous 2006 E3 conference, which many fans still remember. This relaxed attitude wasn’t just for show; Hirai recently opened up in an interview about his leadership style while heading Sony’s gaming division.

In a discussion with Toridoll CEO Takaya Awata, Hirai reflected on his management approach and shared stories about how he navigated the gaming landscape. He recounted instances where Sony executives outside of gaming would suggest directions for the PlayStation brand. “When I was president of Sony Computer Entertainment managing PlayStation’s console business, whenever [then-Sony CEO] Howard Stringer or other executives would come in to recommend things, I’d go my own direction,” Hirai noted. “What headquarters says isn’t important. We’re PlayStation!”

Hirai consistently trusted his instincts while leading the PlayStation brand, ultimately building a solid rapport with Stringer. When Stringer stepped down in 2012, Hirai ascended to the role of CEO, a position that brought significant pressure as he was tasked with guiding not just the gaming division through the PS4 launch, but the entire company.

At that time, Sony was facing its worst net loss ever, leading to a dip in morale. Some were skeptical about Hirai’s promotion, with one article suggesting he was chosen solely because he was the only person under Stringer who understood his humor. “Everyone was worried about things like, ‘I don’t know if he’ll pull the ladder out from under me,’ or ‘is he the sort of person who would take credit for the successes and blame others for the failures?’” Hirai explained. “If I couldn’t earn people’s respect, we could never work hard together. So I started by making sure they knew I was someone they could trust.”

To build that trust, he made unannounced visits to various departments, engaging directly with employees. However, one key lesson he learned as CEO was to avoid allowing departments to operate independently as he had at PlayStation. Instead, he aimed to establish a unified goal for the company: to create impactful experiences that resonated across all departments, gaming and beyond.

Hirai eventually stepped down as CEO in 2019, continuing as an advisor until 2024. While his E3 appearance may be legendary for the wrong reasons, it was during his leadership that PlayStation launched the PS3 and successfully turned around the console’s fortunes after a rocky start.