Jack Tretton had a storied career with PlayStation, which he led to the apex of its popularity with the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, and then put back on its path of resurgence with the PlayStation 4. Tretton ultimately ended up leaving Sony back in 2014, after 19 years with the company.

Now, we know what he is going to be doing next- he has apparently founded a new company named Interactive Gaming Ventures, which is a firm that will offer cash investments, relationships, and guidance for independent game developers.

“Traditional private equity and venture firms appreciate the 100 billion dollar size of the gaming industry, but most lack the understanding and the comfort level to invest in it,” said Jack Tretton, Managing Partner, Interactive Gaming Ventures. “We provide these studios structure, cash infusion, and use our relationships to ensure that they are getting an appropriate share of voice from first parties backed by investors that know the industry and seek the outstanding financial returns that a well run publisher can provide.”

The intent, apparently, is for IGV to handle the logistics and management end of the business, so that indie developers can focus exclusively on the part that they are best at- the creative nuances of game development. The team is looking at sponsoring 203 studios a year- which should, in turn, help ensure that they don’t end up spreading themselves too thin.

Hopefully, great games come out of this.

Earlier this year, Jack Tretton left Sony Computer Entertainment America after a tenure that extends back to the launch of the original PlayStation. People were naturally curious as to what the man who made the PlayStation brand such a sensation in North America had lined up for himself in the future, and now we know.

Genotaur Inc. is a San Diego-based artificial intelligence development firm with the mission of applying advanced evolutionary computation techniques, cognitive computing, and complementary big-data behavioral analysis technologies to create new forms of intelligent interactive interfaces. Today, they announced that Jack Tretton has joined the company as a member of its advisory board.

“This is a very exciting time for us at Genotaur as we develop new products and scale our business, focusing initially on implementation within the computer entrainment business. Jack’s experience in every area of building and operating consumer products and interactive entertainment companies will help us grow our capabilities at Genotaur,” said Tony Simpson, CEO and President of Genotaur. “We are fortunate to have an executive of Jack’s knowledge and experience base on our team.”

“Genotaur has an incredibly impressive array of resources and expertise that will greatly enhance the way consumers interact with technology. I look forward to sharing my passion for bringing interactive entertainment and cutting edge technology products to market with the team,” Tretton said.

What Tretton and Genotaur do from here on out is anyone’s guess, but we’ll be keeping a very close eye on what the corporation decides to do.

Sony announced yesterday that SCEA boss Jack Tretton, who has been with PlayStation since its inception nearly two decades ago, will be stepping down due to mutually agreed reasons. Tretton’s reign of SCEA was memorable, as he oversaw not just the obscenely successful PlayStation, PS2, and PS4, but also the rocky road suffered by the PS3, PSP, and PS Vita.

Taking to Twitter, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer had some very nice things to say about Tretton: “Jack Tretton has been a strong leader in our industry for many years. Good luck to him whatever he decides to do next,” Spencer said. “I’ve only only known Jack for about a year but he’s always been a true pro with me.”

When asked, most likely jokingly, what the odds of Tretton working with Microsoft were, Spencer shot down the idea- “I don’t think Jack’s next move will be here at Microsoft,” he said.

While the exact reasons behind Spencer’s departure are still not known, one thing is for sure, at least- he left on a high, winning note, riding out on the crest of the PlayStation 4’s resounding success.

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that SCEA president and CEO Jack Tretton will be stepping down from his current role as of March 31st 2014. Executive VP and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International Shawn Layden will take over Tretton’s role as CEO and president on April 1st. And no, we don’t think this is some elaborate April Fool’s Day joke.

Tretton stated that, “Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career. Although I will deeply miss the talented team at SCEA and the passion demonstrated every day by our fans, I’m very excited about starting the next chapter of my career.

“I want to thank the employees, partners and customers for their tireless commitment to the PlayStation brand and, of course, to our fans who have pushed us to new heights of innovation and entertainment over the past two decades. I leave PlayStation in a position of considerable strength and the future will only get brighter for PlayStation Nation.”

Tretton has had a central role in launching PlayStation consoles in North America, with the PlayStation 4 launch having has been his most recent. Thoughts on him stepping down? Let us know below.

However, with Microsoft pushing its Xbox services out into the mainstream and seeing considerable mainstream success, will we be seeing a similar strategy from Sony with all the services surrounding the PlayStation 4?

Not according to Sony Computer Entertainment of America CEO and President Jack Tretton, who feels that gaming services will be kept separate from other Sony devices..

When Forbes quizzed him on the same, Tretton stated that, “I don’t think you’ll see PlayStation branded stuff on other Sony devices –you will see and you currently see the Sony Entertainment Network.

“Whether it’s your smart phone or your tablet or your TV you can take advantage of Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited… most of the deals that we’re doing with app providers we’re making available across the Sony Entertainment Network. So it’s not just Hulu Plus for your PlayStation 3. It’s Hulu Plus for your Sony device, if you’re a member of the Sony Entertainment Network.

“I think you’re already seeing a proliferation like that, but it’ll be done under the Sony banner as opposed to the PlayStation brand. Because when we think PlayStation we think gaming. So if it’s somewhere that gaming lives, the PlayStation brand will probably come with it. If it’s pure entertainment then that’s really more of the Sony brand.”

Given that Cloud streaming services have been announced with the reveal of the PS4, along with the news that we’d be able to stream PS1, PS2 and PS3 games to any platform in due time, do these statements mean the contrary? Will you only be able to play such titles on the PlayStation consoles and handhelds alone?

We’d love some official clarification on this, Jack.

Jack Tretton, the SCEA president, has revealed in GT Bonus Round via Analyst Michael Pachter, that he isn’t interested in used-games technology for the PS4, and also believes it’s anti-consumer. He is also the same man who said Final Fantasy 14 was going to be available “only on the PS3”. I kid…

But Tretton revealed that what he wanted was not the collective opinion of his colleagues in Japan – most notably the people who make PS3’s firmware and designed the whole system. I always believe Sony should shift from Japan to the US, but oh well.

So why are we talking about used-games here? Because both the PS4 and the Xbox 720 is rumoured to have some sort of anti-used games tech which is supposed to kill the used games market. It remains to be seen if Tretton’s words are indeed true, but I doubt he can influence the creation of the PS4.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

“Im saving the batter for E3. We will absolutely bring the heat,” said Tretton on the last episode of GameTrailers TV.

He also added that there’s a lot to talk about at the conference.

Tretton also said that he isn’t sure whether we’ll see Killzone 3 at E3 or not, but he did promise a Killzone 3.

Sony’s E3 conference dates are still unknown, but the party takes place  between June 14 and 17.

Source

“Developers are still just starting to harness [the PlayStation 3], you’re just starting to see games like Little Big Planet, Uncharted 2, and Final Fantasy XIII, that are really taking advantage of the technology, but we’ve clearly just scratched the surface in the PS3.”

"Come on lads, how long can it possibly take!" - Cell

Tretton later on talked about Playstation 4 saying that “somebody can craft the technology that exceeds what we’re able to do on the PS3, but we are still just starting to harness it.”

Well, let’s wait and see on how developers surprise us, perhaps one day the PS3 will truly be maximized.

Source

Speaking to fastcompany.com, Jack Tretton, the CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America said:

“Year one is very important, year three you’re already starting to get to the other side of the hill and then there’s a slippery slope. We’ve just passed the third year of the PlayStation 3 and we’re just hitting our stride. And I don’t think anyone is saying, “This is a five-year cycle; what’s new on the horizon?” I can’t even imagine what can be done technically beyond the PlayStation 3 in the near future. A question I often get is when we are going to see PlayStation 4. When somebody can craft the technology that exceeds what we’re able to do on the PS3, but we are still just starting to harness it.”

Speaking about Project Natal, he said:

“I think freeing yourself from a controller has advantages, but it also has key disadvantages. And we feel all that experience and all that learning, has put us in the perfect position. We’re able to take advantage of the camera, take advantage of the ability to identity yourself in 3-D space, but then have controls in hand to do things like shooting and swinging an object, and much more accurately than ever done before. You can have it as an element of a game, you can do it as a dedicated game, you can do it in a social gaming atmosphere.”