Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino have been appointed joint CEOs of Sony’s PlayStation gaming division following Jim Ryan’s retirement in March. Hulst will mostly oversee software while Nishino will head hardware.

The pair will start their new roles on June 1st, replacing Sony chief operating officer Hiroki Totoki, who was interim boss while the company looked for a successor.

“Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing business that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology. These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and will manage strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences,” said Totoki.

Hulst first joined Sony in 2005 after the firm bought Guerrilla Games, which he co-founded. He went on to become head of PlayStation Studios.

“I am thrilled to lead the studio business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” said Hulst. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and has been built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of play and entertainment.”

Nishino currently leads the team which develops the technology behind PlayStation products such as the PlayStation VR2 headset, as well as services like PlayStation Network.

“We will continue to connect players and creators through world-class products, services, and technology. We always strive to grow our community even bigger with innovation in every area at Sony Interactive Entertainment,” said Nishino. “I am honoured to be appointed such an important role alongside Hermen. By working more closely together, we will be positioned to build incredible experiences for an ever-expanding audience now and in the future.”

The appointments come during a turbulent time in the gaming industry, which has seen almost 20,000 jobs lost since 2023. PlayStation was not immune to the cuts, with 8 per cent of its employees being cut globally.