Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden teases fans with his new project, a TV series he thinks will be the gaming equivalent of Mad Men. The former CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment has been busy since his departure from the PlayStation platform in 2019, after assuming the role of president in 2014. After spending several years out of the gaming industry, Layden would take up a consulting position for Chinese gaming titans Tencent Games, where he served from 2022 to 2024, some big plans are now accelerating for Laden. future.
While Layden unofficially “retired” from the gaming industry, the former manager continued to work behind the scenes. In addition to his previously mentioned tenure at Tencent, Shawn Layden has been involved in several start-ups, several of which centered around the gaming industry. Although Layden has yet to officially reveal any of his projects in the works, he did confirm in a recent interview that he is in the process of developing a TV series. Now Shawn Layden is suggesting that his upcoming series may take inspiration from the beloved drama series. Mad Men.
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Former PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden teases another project
During a recent interview with Game Rant's Character Select, Shawn Layden gave a short teaser about the TV series he's working on. He likened the show to something like “what Mad Men is an ad,” suggesting the project is likely a drama series aimed at the gaming industry. Mad MenThe premise focuses heavily on the inner workings of the advertising industry, potentially hinting at Layden's series focusing on the gaming industry and what goes on behind closed doors. Layden was emphatic about creating his series as more of a story and narrative take on game development, emphasizing a dramatic approach rather than a documentary-style series.
Involvement of Shawn Layden sa Mad MenThe stylish series focused on gaming could draw on his years of experience at Sony. Layden first joined Sony long before the debut of the original PlayStation, being hired as a member of the company's communications department in 1987. Layden worked his way up through the ranks at Sony in positions around the world, serving as vice president and president of Sony's entertainment divisions in Europe and Japan. Layden also hinted at another new project within the gaming industry during the interview, a “new publishing platform” focused more on connecting developers with fans.
Layden's comments about the growing connection between developers and fans come as social media has become more important than ever in gaming. Many developers and studios use social media platforms like Twitter to communicate directly with their fans, from providing patch notes and teasing new content to getting feedback. The importance of game studios being transparent and responsive to their fan bases has even led to the introduction of a “Best Community Support” category for the annual game awards. Layden also emphasized that gaming is preparing to “enter a new era” where publishers need to rethink their relationships and support for their developers.
Shawn Layden's discussion of the changing gaming industry comes at a time when the gaming world has seen a lot of changes since he played on the PlayStation. Indie developers have been on the rise in recent years, with an indie game even winning “Game of the Year” at the 2025 Awards in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. New markets have also begun to gain a stronger foothold in the gaming industry, with Saudi Arabia and China being growing players in modern gaming. Shawn Layden's teased TV series could be a fresh new look at the inner operations of the ever-changing gaming business.
