Sony Restructures SCE, Splits Out Networked Services From Games

Sony is reorganizing its game unit to separate out its network services operations, first changing the name of Sony Computer Entertainment and then splitting it. It'll rename Sony Computer Entertainment to "SNE Platform," but will then split out its gaming business from SNE Platform into a new unit -- called Sony Computer Entertainment. Kaz Hirai will still head up the gaming business at SCE. The net effect is that SCE will focus solely on the PlayStation brand, while other the businesses formerly associated with SCE-- networked services and mobile operations -- will be absorbed back into parent Sony via SNE Platform, as Dow Jones explains. Sony says its regional operations, like SCEA and SCEE in North America and Europe, respectively, will not be affected by the reorganization, which is effective April 1 of this year. "This is a rather complicated manoeuvre involving the legal entity SCEI in Japan," a SCEE spokesperson told consumer website CVG Online. "It has no effect on any regional HQ - ie. SCEA, SCEE etc are totally unaffected by this."