View source for Ken Kutaragi

{{short description|Japanese engineering technologist and businessman (born 1950)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ken Kutaragi
| image              = Ken Kutaragi - Game Developers Choice Awards 2014 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Kutaragi with his Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[Game Developers Choice Awards]] 2014
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1950|8|2|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Kōtō, Tokyo]], Japan
| alma_mater         = [[University of Electro-Communications]]
| known_for          = [[PlayStation]], [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]], [[Cellius]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Engineering technologist|businessman}}
| years_active       = 
| spouse             = 
| children           = 1
}}
{{nihongo|'''Ken Kutaragi'''|久夛良木 健|Kutaragi Ken|born 2 August 1950}} is a Japanese [[engineering technologist]] and businessman, currently president and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment. Formerly the chairman and CEO of [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] (SCE), the video game division of [[Sony]], Kutaragi is known as "The [[Father of]] the [[PlayStation]]"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kageyama|first=Yuri|date=April 5, 2005|title=Demoted Sony Guru is outspoken|work=The San Francisco Examiner|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88198522/ken-kutaragi-associated-press/}}</ref> having overseen the development of the [[PlayStation (console)|original console]] and its successors and spinoffs until departing the company in 2007, shortly after the [[PlayStation 3]] was released.

Kutaragi had also designed the [[Nintendo S-SMP|sound processor]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. With Sony, he designed the [[Very-large-scale integration|VLSI]] chip that works in conjunction with the PS1's [[Reduced instruction set computing|RISC]] CPU to handle the graphics rendering.

==Early years==
Kutaragi was born in [[Tokyo]], Japan, in 1950. His parents, although not wealthy by Japanese standards, still managed to own their own business, a small printing plant in the city. As Kutaragi grew into childhood, they actively encouraged the young boy to explore his mechanical abilities in the plant, and he worked after school there. Aside from his duties in his parents' factory, Kutaragi was a studious, high-level student.<ref>Duffield, Katy S. Ken Kutaragi: PlayStation Developer. Greenhaven Publishing LLC, 2007.</ref>

Kutaragi always had the desire to "tinker", often taking apart toys as a child rather than playing with them.<ref name=":0" /> This curiosity carried from childhood, leading him as a teenager to learn the intricacies of electronics. Eventually, in fact, his love of electronics led to him enrolling in [[University of Electro-Communications]], where he acquired an Electronics degree in the 1970s.<ref name=":0" />

Immediately after graduation, Kutaragi began working for [[Sony]] in their digital research labs in the mid-1970s.<ref name=":0" /> Although at the time it was considered a radical decision, Kutaragi felt that Sony was on the "fast track". He quickly gained a reputation as an excellent problem solver and a forward-thinking engineer, earning that reputation by working on many successful projects, including early [[liquid crystal displays]] (LCDs) and [[digital camera]]s.{{citation needed|date = December 2024}}

==Career==
In 1983, he was watching his two-year-old daughter play a [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]] and realized the potential that existed within video games.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/farewell-father-article|title=Farewell, Father|last=Fahey|first=Rob|date=27 April 2007|website=Eurogamer|language=en|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> Thus, when [[Nintendo]] expressed the need for a [[sound chip]] for its upcoming new [[16-bit]] system, Kutaragi accepted the offer.<ref name=":0" /> Working in secret, he designed the chip, the [[SPC700]].<ref name=":0" /> At that particular time, Sony's executives had no interest in video games.<ref name=":0" /> When they found out about the secret collaboration, they were furious.<ref name=":0" /> Only with Sony [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] [[Norio Ohga]]'s approval was Kutaragi able to complete the chip and keep his job.<ref name=":0" />

Even while working with Nintendo, within Sony, gaming was still regarded as a fad.<ref name=":0" /> Despite this hostile atmosphere to video games, Kutaragi managed to persuade Ohga into working with Nintendo to develop a CD-ROM add-on for the Super NES that would be released alongside a Sony branded console that could play both Super NES cartridges and CD games.<ref name=":0" /> These efforts resulted in a device called the "[[Nintendo PlayStation|Play Station]]".<ref name=":0" /> Eventually, the partnership between Sony and Nintendo faltered due to licensing disagreements, but Kutaragi and Sony continued to develop their own console. He wanted to utilize Sony's access to the latest technology in creating the most powerful home console available, unlike Nintendo, which used primitive, outdated technology to create their consoles. He also noticed that Nintendo focused mainly on children, so he wanted Sony's console to target older adult gamers, as he felt it was a market not yet tapped by any of the available home consoles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00mzrU1E7Ak&t=793s|title=Icons:PlayStation|website=YouTube|date=12 June 2016 }}</ref> Kutaragi later recalled staying up all night working on the console design for several nights in a row "because our work was so interesting."<ref>{{cite journal|title=75 Power Players: Back at the Lab...|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=11|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=November 1995|page=73}}</ref> Despite being considered a risky gamble by other Sony executives, Kutaragi once again had the support of Ohga and several years later the company released the [[PlayStation (console)|original PlayStation]]. The success of the PlayStation led to him heading up the development of successor consoles, the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[PlayStation 3]].

The commercial success of the PlayStation franchise makes [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] the most profitable business division of Sony. Despite being an upstart in the console market against veterans Nintendo and [[Sega]], the first PlayStation displaced them both to become the most popular console of that era. The PlayStation 2 extended Sony's lead in the [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|following generation]], at one point holding a 65% [[market share]] with 100 million units shipped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/051130e.pdf |title=PlayStation 2 breaks record as the fastest computer entertainment platform to reach cumulative shipment of 100 million units |publisher=[[Sony Computer Entertainment]] |date=30 November 2005 |access-date=23 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823155448/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/051130e.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2009}}</ref> Kutaragi was recognized by many financial and technological publications for this success, most notably when he was named one of the 100 most influential people of 2004 in [[Time (magazine)|TIME]] magazine<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/2004/time100/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419114520/http://www.time.com/time/2004/time100/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2004 | title = TIME 100: Most Influential People 2004 | magazine = [[Time Magazine]] | date = 26 April 2004 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref> and the "[[Johann Gutenberg|Gutenberg]] of Video Games".

In 1997 Kutaragi was appointed CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, and accordingly moved to [[California]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=What's the 'Father of PlayStation' Playing At? |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=32|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=August 1997|pages=8–13 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_32/page/n9}}</ref> Since 1997, Kutaragi had been favoured to become the next Sony president. He enjoyed a close relationship with Ohga.<ref name="cringely">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2005/pulpit_20050310_000845.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071013184556/http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2005/pulpit_20050310_000845.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 October 2007 | title = Mr. Idei's Kurosawa Ending - The Rise of Howard Stringer at Sony is More Properly the Fall of Ken Kutaragi | publisher = [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] | date = 10 March 2005 | access-date = 12 October 2006 }}</ref> Ohga's successor [[Nobuyuki Idei]] promoted Kutaragi to Deputy Executive President, Sony-Global chief operating officer, and Vice-[[Chairman]] in 2003.

On 30 November 2006, Kutaragi was replaced as president of Sony Computer Entertainment by [[Kazuo Hirai]], the President of SCE America. In addition to other management changes, Kutaragi was promoted to chairman of SCEI, and retained his position as chief executive officer of the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/061130e.pdf |title=SCE Announces New Management Team |access-date=30 November 2006 |date=30 November 2006 |author=Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. |author-link=Sony Computer Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206023939/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/061130e.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2006}}</ref> On 26 April 2007, it was announced that Kutaragi would retire and instead take up the role of Honorary Chairman. Taking over his position would be then Hirai, who would eventually be promoted to president and CEO of Sony.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=24588 | title = Kutaragi to retire from executive role at Sony | publisher = [[gamesindustry.biz]] |date=26 April 2007 | access-date = 26 April 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26780/Farewell-Mr-PlayStation | title = Farewell Mr Playstation | publisher = [[mvcuk]] |date=26 April 2007 | access-date = 26 April 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9712823-7.html | title = PlayStation creator Kutaragi resigns | publisher = CNET News.com | date = 26 April 2007 | access-date = 23 July 2007 | archive-date = 30 June 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630024556/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9712823-7.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=24620 | title = Farewell, Father | publisher = GamesIndustry.biz | date=27 April 2007 | access-date = 23 July 2007 }}</ref> On 29 June 2011, following the reshuffling of management, Sony announced that on 28 June 2011, Kutaragi had stepped down as honorary chairman of SCEI. Kutaragi relinquished active management of the business he created and built in 2007, when he stepped down as executive chairman and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/06/sony-promotes-andrew-house-playstation-father-ken-kutaragi-retires.html | title = PlayStation 'father' Ken Kutaragi retires | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date=29 June 2011 | access-date = 29 June 2011 }}</ref> He has remained at Sony as senior technology advisor.

Ken Kutaragi later became president and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment, Inc. He also serves on the boards of [[Kadokawa Group Holdings]], Inc., Nojima Corporation, and [[Rakuten]], Inc. In 2009, he became a visiting professor of [[Ritsumeikan University]]. In 2020, Kutaragi became CEO of Tokyo-based AI and robotics startup Ascent Robotics, after serving on its Board of Directors since 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ritsumei.jp/mba/mba03_03_j.html |title=客員教授 - 教員紹介 - 経営管理研究科（経営大学院） - 立命館大学 |publisher=Ritsumei.jp |access-date=17 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606035420/http://www.ritsumei.jp/mba/mba03_03_j.html |archive-date=6 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-cast.com/2009/02/26036692.html |title=ソニーの久多良木氏、立命館大の客員教授に : J-CASTニュース |date=26 February 2009 |publisher=J-cast.com |access-date=17 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/PlayStation-father-Ken-Kutaragi-becomes-CEO-of-AI-startup |title=PlayStation 'father' Ken Kutaragi becomes CEO of AI startup |date=20 September 2022 |publisher=asia.nikkei.com |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>

===Assessment by industry analysts===
Although Kutaragi's leadership of consumer electronics was not successful, analysts also suspect that outgoing Sony CEO Nobuyuki Idei had set up Kutaragi to fail, given that both men had a cool working relationship. Idei assigned Kutaragi the tedious task of turning around the consumer division, which had already been falling behind competitors such as [[Samsung]] in the LCD market.<ref name="cringely"/> Kutaragi's rival for the top position, [[Howard Stringer]], was given the less difficult assignment of the content business and his success at [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment]] resulted in his promotion.

Sony Interactive Entertainment, which Kutaragi had been heading since its inception, had a weaker year in 2004 after several years of solid growth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3662403.stm | title = Sony hit by drop in games sales | publisher = BBC |date=27 April 2004 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref> During that same year, Sony's game sales fell to $7.5 billion from $8.2 billion, and its operating income slid to $650 million from $1 billion, losing $25 million in Q4 of 2004. This can be attributed partially to the over-saturation of the video game market and price wars that caused the PS2 to lose the top sales position for a time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/26/news_6099369.html | title = Xbox officially outsells PS2 in US | website = GameSpot | date = 26 March 2004 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref>

=== Seventh generation game consoles ===
Kutaragi has labelled the [[Xbox 360]] as "just an Xbox 1.5" and stated that it was "only going after PlayStation 2".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2005/05/25/xbox-360-xbox-1-5-kutaragi-trashtalkin/ | title = Xbox 360 = Xbox 1.5? Kutaragi trashtalkin'! | publisher = [[Engadget]] | date = 25 May 2005 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=56750|title=Broken Promises: A Closer Look at the PS3|publisher=GamePro.com|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619123751/http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=56750|archive-date=19 June 2006}}</ref> However, SCE Executive Tetsuhiko Yasuda did not consider [[Microsoft]] to be a competitor, and has said that they might consider working on games together.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/17/sony-would-consider-working-with-non-competitor-microsoft | title = "Sony would consider working with "non-competitor" Microsoft" | publisher = Joystiq |date=25 February 2006 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref> In September 2006 Kutaragi admitted that the shortage of PlayStation 3 consoles to North America and Japan as well as the postponing of the console's debut in Europe put Sony's strength in hardware in decline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.betanews.com/article/Kutaragi_Sony_Hardware_In_Decline/1157731126 | title = Kutaragi: Sony Hardware 'In Decline' | publisher = [[BetaNews]] |date=8 September 2006 | access-date = 23 September 2006 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=75805 Farewell, Father] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009215726/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=75805 |date=9 October 2007}})—''[[Eurogamer]]''{{'}}s retrospective on Kutaragi's career.
* [https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/PlayStation-father-Ken-Kutaragi-becomes-CEO-of-AI-startup "PlayStation 'father' Ken Kutaragi becomes CEO of AI startup"]—''[[Nikkei Asia]]''

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{{Sony Corp}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutaragi, Ken}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese inventors]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Ritsumeikan University]]
[[Category:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:Cell BE architecture]]
[[Category:Game Developers Conference Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:Japanese chairpersons of corporations]]
[[Category:Japanese chief executives]]
[[Category:Japanese electrical engineers]]
[[Category:Japanese businesspeople in the video game industry]]
[[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment people]]
[[Category:University of Electro-Communications alumni]]
[[Category:Academics from Tokyo]]