SCEA Boss: Harassment is ‘Completely Unacceptable’

With the exception of Blizzard's Mike Morhaine, relatively few senior game industry figures have spoken out against online harassment and threats against women, which have been prevelent for some months now. In a new interview however, Sony Computer Entertainment America boss Shawn Layden has stated that harassment is "completely unacceptable," adding that Sony is "best in class" when it comes to women in games. 

"I don't think there is one statement or one position on it, or one answer to whatever this very broadly-defined #GamerGate really means," Layden told GamesBeat. A lot of things are getting swept into that. I'll be very clear about my view of harassment or bullying. It's completely unacceptable. Completely unacceptable. I will not be vague or equivocate about that."

On the specific matter of women in games, Layden commented "The question about women in the gaming industry, that's something we all take on board as individual corporations. We are best in class – or close to it, certainly – in this industry. In the development group we have Shannon Studstill, who runs our whole Santa Monica operation. She's going to bring the next big franchise out from there. We have Connie Booth, the studio head up here in San Mateo. Women executives up and down the [organization chart], and in the production teams. We make our statement just by executing to that plan," he concluded. 

Layden recently told IGN that Sony has been reluctant to allow users to change their PSN name for fear that the feature would be abused and used for harassment purposes.