https://twinfinite.net/2019/11/guerrillas-hermen-hulst-named-playstation-head-of-worldwide-studios-yoshida-to-support-indie-devs/

 "PlayStation has named Guerrilla Games co-founder and director Herman Hulst as the new head of PlayStation’s Worldwide Studios. He replaces Shuhei Yoshida, who will now lead a new initiative that is “celebrating external developers that are creating new and unexpected experiences,” reporting directly to PlayStation CEO and president Jim Ryan.

The news comes by way of GamesIndustry.biz, who recently spoke with Ryan and were told:

“Hermen is a European who will be taking one of the major offices at PlayStation. I think everybody in Europe should be thrilled and happy and proud that that is happening.

Hermen is one of the most effective and well-respected leaders in the video game industry. He is a passionate advocate for the teams he leads and understands how to empower creative talent to build great experiences. I have no doubt Hermen can lead our teams to deliver compelling and diverse experiences at a steady cadence.”

Hermen Hulst, who is best known for directing the Killzone series and, more recently, the critically acclaimed action-RPG Horizon Zero Dawn, weighed in with his own statement:

“I have worked closely with PlayStation and the entire Worldwide Studios family since 2001, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for the creative talent and ambitious ideas within the network of studios across the US, Europe, and Japan.”

As for the now former head of worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida, Jim Ryan said:

“Everybody knows just how passionate Shu is about independent games — they are lifeblood of the industry, making our content portfolio so special for our gamers.

These wildly creative experiences deserve focus, and a champion like Shu at PlayStation who will ensure the entire SIE organization works together to better engage with independent developers through a culture of supporting and celebrating their contributions to PlayStation platforms.”

As noted in the article from Gamesindustry.biz, this latest initiative led by Yoshida will be a relief to indie devs after concerns had recently been raised that PlayStation was somewhat abandoning its indie efforts. In fact, as Ryan pointed out, Sony’s has been focusing on the VR space, which is heavily supported by indie developers.

Sony remains committed to supporting indie developers moving forward, Ryan says, just as they always have done. "

Cautiously optimistic here. He seems to have his heart in the right place, so hope this decision will turn out to be a good one

The outcome pace of Guerila is good, their engine is good, their games is satisfying so perhaps their head will be a good head for WW Studios.

Shu is a great guy and I believe he will do fine on catering the indies.

Best of luck and outcome to both.

Now that that is done, I am more concerned with who will direct a sequel to HZD...

...Probably Mathijs de jonge. Just like the first game.

Hermen Hulst was the managing director of the studio, he was not the game director or producer for Horizon Zero Dawn.

I didn't love Horizon and I'm not into Killzone but I've always thought Herman Hulst was a cool guy, my only issue is that this makes me a bit worried for how Japan Studios will be treated now without Yoshida being in charge of all that.

“Hermen is a European who will be taking one of the major offices at PlayStation. I think everybody in Europe should be thrilled and happy and proud that that is happening."

Kinda an odd statement. Reads weird to me.

Anyhoo, hope this change works out for the best for both Guerrilla and PS.

Interesting :)

And tomorrow is the Release of the complete new Game "Death Stranding", by Kojima Productions and Sony. The Game has the Horizon Zero Dawn Graphic-Engine!!! Thanks@Guerilla Games

Does Hermen Hulst like Legend of Dragoon? I hope so xD

This is one of the better moves I have seen Sony make lately.

Hermen at the head of WWS makes a lot of sense with his background at Guerrilla. Guerrilla has been one of the the driving forces at WWS since it was established in 2005. The team has delivered technology and techniques that have been shared across all of WWS. They have also given team members the oppertiunity to help and learn from studios inside and outside of WWS, making other games better, and expanding the knowledge base of the team. With Hermen in charge I can see a lot of potential for better management of team memebers, putting people in position to offer the most value for any given project across all of WWS.

Putting Shuhei in charge of Indie development is a perfect fit for him. He has always been a champion of unique experiences with things like Handhelds and VR. Having him working more closly to help bring more unquie, and higher quality indie titles to the PlayStation ecosystem will offer more fulfillment for him, and more value for PlayStation.

I have to give credit to Jim Ryan. This is great management.