Ken Kutaragi, the “Father of the PlayStation” who announced his retirement from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on April 26, has said in an interview that he is thinking ahead to plans for the PlayStation 4 and beyond.
Speaking in an interview with EE Times, Kutaragi said that he has always had a clear vision for the path of the PlayStation franchise, but that delays in releasing the console world-wide prevented him from speaking about that vision.
“As a matter of course,” he said, “I have the vision of Playstation 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network.”
Kutaragi’s reputation for long-term thinking is well-deserved; in a 2005 interview with the BBC, prior to the release of the PlayStation 3, Kutaragi said, “My dream, and the dream of all my team, hasn’t finished. In fact, we haven’t achieved even half of what we’re going to do. We want to lead with the Playstation 3, and beyond that to the Playstation 4 within the next decade.”
Kutaragi announced his retirement, effective June 19, from his position as chairman and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on April 26. He will remain with the company as honorary chairman of SCEI, as well as senior technology advisor to Sony Corporation.
He indicated an intention to maintain an “amicable” relationship with Sony, but also stated that his future projects will take place largely independent of the company.
