Father of PlayStation quits games giant

Ken Kutaragi, the man behind Sony PlayStation, has quit the Japanese electronics giant.

Kutaragi, chairman and chief executive at games division Sony Computer Entertainment, will leave the company in June. However, he will take the role of honorary chairman and technology advisor to Sony chief executive Howard Stringer.

Kutaragi’s departure comes amid tough times at Sony. Earlier this month it was revealed that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is to slash around 10% of its workforce, despite Stringers’ admission that strong sales of the PlayStation 3 console helped to buoy to company as a whole. However, losses at the games division are expected to hit $2bn (£1bn) after the PS3 launch was hit by a series of delays allowing rivals Nintendo to steal march in the run up to Christmas last year.