Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden is teasing 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 kept himself busy since his departure from the PlayStation juggernaut in 2019, after assuming the role of President in 2014. After spending a couple of years away from the gaming industry, Layden would take on an advisory position for Chinese gaming titan Tencent Games, serving in the position from 2022 to 2024. Now, Shawn Layden is teasing some big plans in the works for the near future.
While Layden has unofficially “retired” from the gaming industry, the former executive has continued to work behind the scenes. Alongside his previously mentioned time with Tencent, Shawn Layden has involved himself in multiple start-ups, with several centered around the gaming industry. Though Layden has yet to officially reveal any of his in-development projects, he confirmed in a recent interview that he was in the process of developing a television series. Now, Shawn Layden is suggesting that his in-development series may take some inspiration from the beloved drama series Mad Men.
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Former PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden Teases Next Project
During a recent interview on Game Rant’s Character Select, Shawn Layden gave a brief teaser about a television series he is working to develop. He equated the show to being something akin to “what Mad Men is to advertising,” suggesting that the project is likely a drama series centered around the gaming industry. Mad Men‘s premise focuses heavily on the inner workings of the advertising industry, potentially hinting at Layden’s series centering on the gaming industry and what goes on behind closed doors. Layden was emphatic about creating his series as a more story and narrative-focused view on game development, emphasizing a dramatic approach rather than a documentary-style series.
Shawn Layden’s involvement with a Mad Men-style series focusing on gaming could draw from 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 through the ranks at Sony in positions all over the world, serving as vice president and president of Sony’s entertainment divisions in both Europe and Japan. Layden also hinted at another new project within the gaming industry during the interview, a “new publishing platform” focused more heavily on connecting developers with fans.
Layden’s comments on 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 fanbases, from providing patch notes and teasing new content to seeking feedback. The importance of game studios being transparent and responsive with their fanbases has even led to the introduction of the “Best Community Support” category at the annual Game Awards. Layden also emphasized that gaming is getting ready to “enter a new era,” with publishers needing to rethink their relationships and support for their developers.
Shawn Layden’s discussion on the changing games industry comes as the world of gaming has seen some big changes since his time with PlayStation. Indie developers have been on the rise during recent years, with an indie game even capturing “Game of the Year” at the 2025 Game Awards in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. New markets have also begun to take stronger footholds in the gaming industry, with Saudi Arabia and China as growing players in modern gaming. Shawn Layden’s teased television series could be a fresh new look at the internal operations of an ever-changing gaming business.
