SOE Now Reporting to Kaz Hirai

Sony Online Entertainment gets covered by the Sony Computer Entertainment umbrella.

In a major shift of power inside the corporate giant, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) has announced that San Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and its president, John Smedley, will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group Chief Executive Officer at SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. This structure will help meld SOE's online gaming experience with the rest of the studios.

"I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience," Hirai said. "This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers."

"We are thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made Playstation 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming," said Smedley. "This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions."