Ridge Racer Fanatic Kaz Hirai Reportedly Sony’s New President

In a move that’s been predicted for months, Japanese newspaper Nikkei (via Reuters) is reporting Kaz Hirai will soon become Sony’s president.

Hirai made a name for himself within the PlayStation division starting in 1995, moving up the ranks as the years went on and PlayStation became a more and more popular brand. Hirai was elevated to the head of Sony Computer Entertainment in 2006, just after the launch of the PlayStation 3, replacing PlayStation brainchild Ken Kutaragi, who is no longer with the company.

Divisional shakeups in 2009 and 2011 had Hirai taking on a much broader role in the company’s consumer electronics division.

It’s unclear what will happen to current Sony CEO Howard Stringer, but it appears he will not be leaving the company immediately. This move would put Hirai in place to eventually replace him.

Also, Riiiidge Racer joke somethignsomethingsomething.

big time promotion

I thought that's what he was.
 
Oh well; I don't pay much mind to who has what job at which company.

I hope so, I fucking hate Howard Stringer. At least Kaz knows, or at least appears, to know what he's talking about and is in on the whole Ridge Racer joke.

That said other than Playstation I don't really have an affinity for Sony products.

Is that a typo or is it supposed to say 2009 and 2001?

This is REALLY good for Sony. Kaz is the kind of guy who knows what direction Sony should take. I trust him to make some great decisions.

Screw you Patrick, how dare you devalue my perfectly original Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Racer joke.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Hope he's up to it. Stupid headline, though.

Well deserved.

It's Kaz Hirai! Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaz Hirai!

@DarthOrange said:

Is that a typo or is it supposed to say 2009 and 2001?

That's my bad.

So he won season 3 of The Tester?

I thought he was the president already. Oh wait. He's now the president of all Sony, right? Damn. Good for him.

@timmbot said:

So he won season 3 of The Tester?

it's up to season 3? ...oh my god.

@Chtasm said:

@timmbot said:

So he won season 3 of The Tester?

it's up to season 3? ...oh my god.

They're not producing the show just to show off. People are obviously watching it, if only at gunpoint.

Pat Klepek..typos...who would of thought?

I don't think that's the correct use of "brainchild". Maybe "mastermind" is what you were after there?

@Sinful said:

Pat Klepek..typos...who would of thought?

That's beautiful, man. I love Kaz. He just wants my money, I know, and I don't give a whole lot to him, but I think he's a beautiful person.

Kaz Hirai is the smoothest motherfucker.

Maybe Phil Harrison will come back now and amaze us with new duck technology.

Ridge Racer branded TV's. I'm calling it.

Kaz Hirai is a boss to the maximum, in pretty much the literal sense.

I don't think that's the correct use of "brainchild". Maybe "mastermind" is what you were after there?

Wow. Kinda makes me wonder what's happening at Sony. So many promotions. Fast tracking the best?

I thought he already was. Shows how much I pay attention to these things.

@ajamafalous said:

...Anyway, what is Jack Tretton's position at Sony?

CEO Sony Computer Entertainment of America

Neeeeeeeew President!

He's a cool guy, PROPS SONY

Idk why, but this news pleases me.

Something something massive damage?

@SlasherMan: Good thing I'm not working for a website and getting payed for it. I just bask here like a troll.

@RetroVirus said:

Ridge Racer branded TV's. I'm calling it.

This!

At last. Destiny has been fulfilled.

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

Ridge Racer branded TV's. I'm calling it.

@SlasherMan said:

@Sinful said:

Pat Klepek..typos...who would of thought?

Winner winner chicken dinner.

@DarthOrange: It wouldn't be a Patrick news update without a typo! Not trying to start hate but seriously someone should proof read his shit before it goes out.

Don't know if this was said: What will happen to Jack Tretton?

@Game_Baron said:

Don't know if this was said: What will happen to Jack Tretton?

He's the CEO of SCE America. So I guess he has a new boss?

I dunno. I miss Kutaragi.

Kaz Hirai has had to eat so much shit onstage because of Sony's embarrassing (but piss-funny) trade presentations it's nice they finally throw a brother a bone for playing their fool for so long.

Kutaragi, on the other hand, was quite insane.

@CashBailey: I dunno aside from the 2006 mess that was ridge racer and $600 I find Sony normally has the best unless Nintendo shows something crazy. I find microsoft tries too hard while sony just has Jack Tretton giving you the business.

To be fair though I have a weird man crush on Jack Tretton. I love listening to that man talk.

@iAmJohn: bawk

Kaz is such a lovable dude. I'm cool with this move.

I'm not familiar enough with the inner workings of Sony, so I won't comment on whether this is actually a good thing or a bad thing. But I do think Sony desperately needs new blood and ideas in the upper levels of management, so i'm at least happy to see that guys are moving up.

Besides, Kaz is a very likeable and charming guy in person and in his interviews, a good face for Sony. I wish him well.

@Jazzycola said:

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

Both the early life of the PSP (which still sold really well, although mostly was a super-hit in Japan) and the weird PS3 launch were before Hirai's time as boss. Ken Kutaragi handled SCE in those days. I also don't think Hirai is responsible for the TV's, that should be a different division.

So we can blame the Vita on him, perhaps. I'm not really sure how much it's selling. I'm buying one, I like what it seems to be about.

I hope this works out well for Sony, they've made a lot of quality products and stuff. Sadly, this is probably gonna mean less Kaz Hirai at E3 and stuff..no more Riiiidge Raaacer!

EDIT: Realized I had written that before Kutaragi was boss, Kutaragi was boss. Doh. Meant Kutarai was boss before Hirai.

Sony's really in the shit. I don't think I'll buy another Playstation till they make some big changes. In saying that I probably won't buy the next Xbox either, hopefully someone else will come up with a better consumer product for the next gen.

the playstation brand is the best thing about sony. i think this is great.