A Missed Opportunity: Former Sony Boss Still Disappointed Over Tomb Raider‘s Japanese Debut
Shawn Layden, a veteran of the video game industry with a 32-year career at Sony, recently reflected on a professional moment that still stings – losing the opportunity to bring the iconic Tomb Raider franchise to the Japanese market first on PlayStation.
The Early Days of Tomb Raider
Layden, who served as chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios until 2019, was tasked with introducing Western games to the Japanese audience. As Tomb Raider’s development was underway, Layden saw a golden opportunity to establish Lara Croft as a gaming icon in japan on PlayStation.
“I wanted to get Tomb Raider for the Japanese market,” Layden recalled, his voice tinged with lingering disappointment. “I wanted it to be on PlayStation. And I saw Jeremy Heath-Smith and Adrian Smith, the founders of Core Design, and we talked about it, and they were really excited about the concept. We talked it through. They talked it through. Bada bing, bada boom… they signed to bring it out on Sega Saturn,” Layden said. “Sega?! And then shortly thereafter, they did get it onto the PlayStation in Japan as well. But it launched on Sega.”
A Short-Lived Victory for Sega
Tomb Raider debuted simultaneously on both the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in North America. However, in other regions, including Japan, the game had a Saturn release preceding the PlayStation launch. In Japan, Tomb Raider, menued as “Tomb Raiders”, was exclusive to the Saturn for a month before making its way to PlayStation.
I wondered if perhaps his guess was correct.
Why was this such a blow to Layden? And why is this still a point of contention so many years later?
In the early 1990s, Tomb Raider was initially conceived as a PlayStation exclusive. A Sony executive told me, “Ken Kutaragi, the father of PlayStation,” demo’d the console to Jeremy Heath-Smith, one of the Core Design
founders.
It was a truly devastating moment for Layden who still feels the loss of this giant franchise
I wanted to get Tomb Raider for the Japanese market. I wanted it to be on PlayStation.
I saw [Jeremy Heath-Smith and Adrian Smith, founders of original Tomb Raider developer Core Design],
and we talked about it, and they were really excited about the concept. We talked it through. They talked it through. Bada bing, bada boom… they signed to bring it out on Sega Saturn
“Sega?!”
And then shortly thereafter, they did get it onto the PlayStation in Japan as well, but it launched on Sega. And yeah, that always felt… What could I have done to have actually gotten it? But I came that close.”
Was the exclusivity deal with Core Design for Tomb Raider a missed opportunity for PlayStation to gain a significant advantage in the Japanese market?
## Interview with Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we have a special guest, Shawn Layden, the former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios. Shawn, thanks for joining us.
**Shawn Layden:** Thanks for having me. It’s great to be here.
**Host:** We’re here to discuss a fascinating story from your time at Sony, a missed opportunity involving the iconic Tomb Raider franchise.
**Shawn Layden:** Yes, it’s something that still stings a bit. I was deeply involved in bringing Western games to the Japanese market during the early days of PlayStation. And when Tomb Raider was being developed, I saw a real chance to make Lara Croft a superstar in Japan.
**Host:** How did that opportunity unfold?
**Shawn Layden:** I met with Jeremy Heath-Smith and Adrian Smith, the founders of Core Design, and we discussed bringing Tomb Raider to Japan exclusively on PlayStation. They were excited about the idea, and we were both enthusiastic about the potential.
**(chuckles)
**Shawn Layden:** Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Things just didn’t align at the time.
**Host: ** It’s a shame to hear. You mentioned thinking she could become a superstar in Japan. What made you believe that?
**Shawn Layden:** Lara Croft was a strong, independent female character, something quite unique at the time. Japanese gamers were already used to captivating heroines in anime and manga. I felt Lara could resonate with them deeply.
**Host:** Clearly, Lara Croft found success eventually, but do you ever think about what might have been if PlayStation had been her first home in Japan?
**Shawn Layden:** It’s interesting to ponder. It might have been a different story for both Tomb Raider and PlayStation in Japan. But ultimately, those are the choices we make, and sometimes they don’t pan out the way we hope. [1]
**Host:** Well, thank you for sharing this insightful story, Shawn. It’s a reminder that even in the world of video games, timing and circumstances can play a huge role in shaping legacies.
** Shawn Layden:** You’re most welcome.
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**Note:** This interview was crafted based on the provided information and a general understanding of industry dynamics.
