Say thatInsomniac Games is a studio appreciated by gamers is a mild understatement as it has given birth to excellent games and licenses since its creation in 1994, then called Xtreme Software before changing its name the following year. If the FPS Disruptor is undoubtedly the least known project to come out of the Burbank premises, the releases of Spyro the Dragon in 1998 and Ratchet & Clank in 2002 gave birth to characters beloved by PlayStation gamers and beyond for the purple dragon. After trying out multiplatform projects for the past decade that were not necessarily convincing, what seemed obvious happened, namely a buyout by Sony in 2019a choice that clearly paid off. All this time, we found its founder, Ted Price, at the head of the studio. Well, after more than thirty years of good and loyal service, he decided to pass the torch and retire.
On the official website of Sony Interactive Entertainmenthe thus spoke through a long post, of which here is a translation, in which he announced his retirement from the video game industry at the end of March, i.e. at the end of the current fiscal year.
Hello everyone,
I would like to begin this blog by acknowledging how difficult things have been for our team members and players in Los Angeles over the past few weeks. As I write this, news reports are coming out announcing new challenges ahead due to fires caused by extreme weather conditions.
Our hearts go out to those who have been impacted and we will continue to work with our peers at Sony to support our team members and their families as they continue to deal with this tragic situation.
I am very proud of the many Insomniacs who have stepped up to help others in Los Angelesboth inside and outside of Insomniac. Helping those less fortunate is part of our mission. Insomniacs embrace it every day and it’s one of the many aspects I love about our culture.
Another aspect of our culture that is close to my heart is the ability of Insomniacs to come together and successfully overcome what often seem like insurmountable obstacles.
Speaking of which, despite a difficult 2024, Insomniacs remained fully focused on creating games for our fans. Thanks to the perseverance and collaboration of the team, we're in one of the strongest positions we've been in in years, with every game in development looking beautiful and fantastic to play.
This is why, Last week, I felt comfortable announcing to the Insomniac team that after being incredibly fortunate to enjoy such a fulfilling career in gaming, I will be retiring from industry at the end of March. Today, I share this news more widely.
I actually made this decision last year. For me, after more than 30 years at the head of Insomniac, I felt it was simply time to step aside and let others lead the way for our team.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with the Insomniac leadership team to create a succession plan which I know will provide the continuity, stability and strong leadership needed to deliver more of what our fans cherish over the coming decades.
Today, I am extremely happy to announce that Chad Dezern, Ryan Schneider and Jen Huang to become new co-studio heads of Insomniac Games.
I firmly believe that in order for us to continue to be successful, we need leaders at the top who know inside and out how we do thingsleaders who helped build our culture and processes, and who earned people’s trust.
For many years, Chad, Jen and Ryan have been instrumental in transforming Insomniac into what we are today. I have seen each of them lead major initiatives that have positively changed the lives of Insomniacs. Additionally, they have consistently demonstrated the type of collaboration and transparency that is part of our DNA. And just as importantly, their skills are truly complementary.
I would never consider handing over the reins to a team I don't trust to take care of Insomniacs and lead us to even greater heights. Chad, Jen and Ryan are that team. For those who may not be familiar with them, please take a moment to learn about them here.
To conclude this blog, Insomniac has been my life, my home away from home, for three decades.
I want to thank every Insomniac for having a positive and lasting impact on my life. Working alongside Insomniacs for so many years has been a gift that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I would also like to thank our fans who, for three decades, have shared their enthusiasm, encouragement and support, inspiring us to go further than the last in each match. We do what we do for you. And I can assure you that we will not slow down.
As for me, I am very happy to officially join the ranks of Insomniac fans. I look forward to discovering our future games as a simple player. Plus, I can't remember the last time I played a game without subconsciously checking for bugs. I'm ready to break this habit!
-Finally, I am confident that under the combined leadership of Chad, Jen and Ryan, Insomniac will continue to deliver the industry-defining games that gamers have come to expect from us… while making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people for decades to come.
Thank you to Insomniacs, our gamers and video games for 30 wonderful years.
– Ted
It is therefore a trio composed of Chad Dezern, Ryan Schneider and Jen Huang who will replace him at the head ofInsomniac Games. But who are these three new faces of the studio? Presentations were shared on the PlayStation Blog in order to introduce them to the public. Above all, we will remember that two of them have been there for a long time.
One day I picked up a copy of Spyro The Dragon for “research” purposes. I was impressed by his charm and attention to detail. This was clearly a team at the top of their game, and I wanted to learn all their secrets.
I joined Insomniac in 1998. Since then, I've had the honor of working on five generations of PlayStation as Environment Artist, Art Director and Durham Studio Director, and, since 2017, as Creative Lead. In my capacity as senior manager, I support the creative, narrative and research teams on all titles. Together we ensure our games reflect Insomniac's unique vision and are refined as much as possible. So, what secrets have I been able to discover? Mainly that magic happens when talented people lean on each other and continually challenge each other to advance their craft. In my new role, I'm excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Ryan and Jen to continue Insomniac's tradition of creative collaboration.
– Chad Dezern, Studio Co-President, Insomniac Games
I started my career at Insomniac during the PlayStation 2 era (in 2004, Editor's note), in the studio's marketing and communications department. I quickly moved into the position of Insomniac's first Community Director and helped create a place for us within the PlayStation ecosystem. I joined the Insomniac management team several years ago and I held several positions within the studio, including head of franchise strategy and studio relations. In this position, I collaborated with teams internal and external to Sony Interactive on the right way and time to talk about our gamesincluding their creative integrations. Most recently, I served as Head of Brand Strategy and Leadership. In other words, my job consisted, through communication, coaching and cultural development, of ensure that Insomniac's communications regarding the studio and our games were aligned with the way we think and act within Insomniac. Outside of work, I play video games almost every evening with my family. We loved completing ASTRO BOT and LEGO Horizon Adventures over the holidays. I also like cycling (on road and off-road).
– Ryan Schneider, Studio Co-President, Insomniac Games
I joined this incredible studio eight years ago as CFOand I was immediately won over by the team. As part of the leadership team, I support our development teams across all titles, overseeing project planning, production strategy, business operations, resource organization and co-development partnerships. With the best team in the world, we've released 12 games since my first dayand I can't wait for players to discover the next great experiences we have in store for them.
Before joining Insomniac Games, I worked as a senior executive in finance. My goal was to provide strategic and financial direction to international technology and entertainment companies. I am passionate about the innovations that allow our studio and our community to evolve. Outside of work, I regularly visit the local libraries in Glendale and I love playing video games with my kids. Over the holidays, I dove into ASTRO BOT and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and I absolutely loved these unforgettable adventures.
– Jen Huang, Studio Co-President, Insomniac Games
Their desire is simple, to preserve everything that makes up the soul of the studio, including its corporate culture, while ensuring that the coming decades are fruitful.
As for games, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will arrive on PC in a few days, Marvel’s Wolverine is in development, but has yet to officially show anything since its announcement in September 2021 and we have an idea of the next games that could potentially be released until 2030 if no changes have taken place.
Currently, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is sold for €53.99 at Gamesplanet.
Read also: Marvel's Wolverine: its creative director Brian Horton leaves for Xbox to work on an ambitious FPS
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