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Atsushi Morita, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia president and corporate director, has retired (via Gematsu).
Sony’s announcement of Morita’s retirement comes hot on the heels of the news that PlayStation Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden has departed the company. I wouldn’t read too much into the coincidence, however, as October 1 begins the second half of the fiscal year for many Japanese companies. As such, it is often a time when the changing of the guard is officially announced. Kazuhiko Taekda will take over Morita’s duties as corporate director, but the new Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia president has not been divulged.
Morita was deeply involved in his work at Sony Interactive Entertainment, supervising projects like Persona 5, Gran Turismo: Sport, and Gravity Rush 2. He received special thanks on games like Bloodborne, Shadow of the Colossus, and Detroit: Become Human, but he was compelled to take on a direct role in a challenge between Sony and Square Enix.
In a jokey and cheesy video, Morita lauded his Call of Duty: Black Ops III skills and asked Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda to one-v-one him. Turns out he had talent in the boardroom and on the battleground, but it wasn’t quite enough to best Matsuda, who has the nickname ‘Headshot Ojisan’ or ‘Uncle Headshot’. After an eventful and successful career, Morita has the time to refine his skills and who knows, maybe there’ll be a rematch.
