Former PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai used to ignore orders from Sony bosses, he reveals

eurogamer.net Oct 13, 2026

Former PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai used to ignore orders from Sony bosses, he reveals

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 13, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Former PlayStation president Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai admitted he often ignored directives from Sony’s top executives while running the console division. In a Nikkei XTrend interview, he recalled steering PlayStation independently, stating, “What headquarters says is irrelevant. We are PlayStation.” After succeeding Howard Stringer as Sony CEO, Hirai shifted focus to unify divisions, introducing the “kando” slogan to inspire emotional engagement. His tenure covered the PS3 launch, Vita’s rocky debut, and the 2011 PlayStation outage. He stepped down as CEO in 2018.

💡 Why It Matters

· Hirai’s candidness reveals how a leader’s autonomy can shape a flagship brand’s trajectory, while his later push for corporate cohesion underscores the tension between innovation and organizational alignment.

Read full article on eurogamer.net

Eric Barone says “no one” is playing Haunted Chocolatier until he’s ready

Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, announced that no one—including his partner Amber—will play his new game Haunted Chocolatier until he deems it finished. Barone insists on developing the title almost entirely solo, mirroring his approach to Stardew Valley, and will only involve external marketing teams. He likens the process to cooking a turkey, emphasizing that the game must be fully polished before release. The game is described as an action‑RPG focused on mining and progression.

💡 Barone’s insistence on single‑handed development underscores a growing trend of indie creators prioritizing creative control over rapid releases, potentially reshaping expectations for quality and launch timelines in the industry.

therobotreport.com · Oct 13

Hello Robot, A&K Robotics to discuss how robots navigate crowded indoor spaces…

At RoboBusiness 2026 in Santa Clara, Hello Robot and A&K Robotics will jointly present a session on indoor navigation challenges. The talk, titled “Shared Spaces: Navigating Challenges for Indoor Robots,” will feature co‑founders Aaron Edsiger and Matt Anderson. They will discuss how robots like Hello Robot’s Stretch 4 and A&K’s Cruz pod safely move through crowded, dynamic environments, addressing obstacles, lighting, narrow passages, and infrastructure integration. The session aims to advance consumer acceptance and large‑scale deployment of autonomous robots.

💡 The discussion tackles the core technical hurdles that must be overcome for robots to operate reliably in everyday public spaces, directly influencing their commercial viability.

techcrunch.com · Oct 13

Bumble agrees to a $1.3B acquisition deal as online dating faces a…

Bumble announced a $1.3 billion acquisition by Ithaca Holdings, ending its public‑market status after a 2021 IPO that valued the company at roughly $14 billion. The deal follows a board‑led review that cited declining paying users and revenue, with Q2 2026 revenue at $211 million and a 16.4% drop in paying members to about 3.2 million. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd will remain active, partnering with Ithaca executives to pursue AI‑driven features and offline‑centric initiatives like “Plans.”

💡 The sale signals a broader pivot in online dating toward private ownership and innovation, potentially reshaping how apps balance monetization with user experience.

thequantuminsider.com · Oct 13

Quantum XChange CEO to Lead Post-Quantum Cryptography Panel at ACT-IAC 2026 Cyber…

Quantum XChange chief executive Eddy Zervigon will moderate a panel on post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) at the ACT‑IAC 2026 Cyber Summit in Reston, Virginia, on Oct. 14. The session, titled “Implementing Enterprise Security for PQC,” will examine crypto‑agility, encryption‑lifecycle management, quantum‑safe network deployment, and the threat of “harvest‑now, decrypt‑later” attacks affecting both enterprise and government environments. Zervigon’s remarks follow the company’s recent rollout of its Phio TX‑EM solution at a federal agency, which added quantum‑safe protection without major hardware changes, and new partnerships with Cisco’s Marketplace and Carahsoft to broaden public‑sector access. Panelists include Quantum XChange senior vice president Eric Hay and senior cybersecurity officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the General Services Administration to share actionable insights with peers.

💡 With quantum computers looming, real‑world deployments like Quantum XChange’s federal rollout prove that agencies can harden data today without costly overhauls.

gamesradar.com · Oct 13

Where to find Thermal Shakers in Arc Raiders

Joel Franey earned a Bachelors in Creative Writing and Games Design from Brunel University in 2017 and a Masters in Creative and Critical Writing from Sussex University. While studying, he freelanced across design, relations, reviews and feature writing for gaming outlets. In 2019 he joined the guides teams at USgamer and ReedPop, contributing guides, news and features. Since then he has written for Gfinity Esports, Eurogamer, VG247, Dicebreaker, RPS, Jelly Deals and other publications, handling guides, reviews, SEO consulting and content restructuring to boost traffic. Franey became a Guides Writer for GamesRadar+ in 2021, focusing on single‑player and narrative titles while also covering multiplayer games. Outside work he writes fiction, screenplays and co‑hosts the comedy podcast “Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy.”

💡 His blend of creative writing credentials and hands‑on SEO expertise gives GamesRadar+ a rare edge in producing guide content that both engages readers and ranks highly in search results.

ign.com · Oct 13

Hideo Kojima Wears Joy Division T-Shirt to Sony Visit, Sparking Johnny Silverhand…

Hideo Kojima posted photos of himself outside Sony’s Tokyo headquarters wearing a Joy Division T‑shirt, prompting a wave of fan speculation. The images arrive months after Sony abruptly cancelled Kojima Productions’ upcoming title Physint, a spiritual successor to Metal Gear, leaving the studio scrambling for a new publisher. Kojima later secured a deal with Microsoft’s new gaming chief Asha Sharma, who agreed to fund Physint’s development and its adaptation rights for film and TV, though no release window has been set. Sony’s decision, reported by Bloomberg, was linked to concerns over the commercial prospects of Death Stranding, Physint’s timeline, budget and platform strategy. Kojima’s statement emphasized that the studio remains financially healthy, its relationship with PlayStation stays strong, and there is no ongoing dispute.

💡 Kojima’s public visit underscores a tentative reconciliation that could preserve cross‑platform collaborations, while the Microsoft partnership signals a strategic shift toward multimedia exploitation of his IP.