Sony will be sending out its games to die this holiday season, one former employee of the firm’s PlayStation unit decided, as the company has halved its already understaffed PR department, making it even more difficult to successful market PlayStation games.
That’s what recently-laid off PR man Will Powers claimed, making his rage known via a twitter rant that’s since been deleted, but not before a few sites grabbed screenshots of said tweets.
Here’s Mr. Powers’ rant:
You have to wonder what the hell PlayStation was thinking laying off more than half of their software PR team going into the holiday season. In typical fashion they’re sending titles out to die, because they have no PR support – LBPK, Sports Champions 2, Wonderbook.
Worst part is, the PR department was already under-staffed. I feel sorry for those that remain there, because their workload just doubled. PR is non-revenue generating, but has a very low operating cost in relative terms to their results. Laying off to cut costs makes no sense.
Powers believes the move will actually cost Sony more money.
Already, they outsourced entirely too much work to overpriced agencies, so laying off is only going to exacerbate an existing problem. The point of having external agencies is so that you can scale back without layoffs, not layoff so you can ramp-up. Internal PR teams have product loyalty and only serve one master. Neither can be said about agencies, although there are some select people.
He then took at swipe at PS Vita.
You have to question the priorities of the company as a whole – What [is] the point of AdHoc multiplayer when no one has a Vita?
Sony in general is serving too many masters. Each company should operate autonomously. PlayStation shouldn’t suffer b/c TVs are overpriced.
This is all being said, because I genuinely like and care about the PS product, but they’re being hamstrung from success internally.
I’m not sure Mr. Powers’ argument holds any ground because the games he mentioned that Sony’s sending out to die have seen their fair share of media on the US PS Blog and other venues. So obviously there’s some level of support.
He can also expect not to ever be hired by the firm again.
Sony is notorious for not advertising their games enough, thats a well known fact. However, this guy’s comments come out as sour grapes. Newly unemployed and angry at Sony, he is sort of lashing out, which I cannot blame him for. But at the same time, he cant take it personal. Business is business and there are always layoffs. Everyone seems so ready to write off Sony as a failed company and I just dont like to see it. Unlike Nintendo and Microsoft, Sony has their hands in all kind of different business ventures. The world economy is still in the crapper and a BIG company like Sony has to continue to make changes to survive. That includes all types of cost cutting measures. Sony as a whole will survive and Playstation as a brand will too. I wish Sony would do more to advertise their games more, but they wont so I’m over it. But never do I want ANY of the Big 3 to go under. Competition breeds innovation.
Top comment of the week! All great points there. All great points!
Psh, PR guy. AdHoc is also used on the PSP, and has been so for years. I understand being bitter after being laid off, but rants that hold no water are unnecessary, and will not land you a good job. In fact, it will drive employers away.
same story, another day.
$ony has never been competent even at marketing their games, so this is not of any surprise.