Sony announced on a Wednesday that Ryan, who oversees the highly profitable PlayStation video game unit, will step down in March 2024.

Ryan initially joined Sony in 1994, just before the introduction of the first PlayStation console, and assumed his current role as CEO in 2019. He expressed difficulty in reconciling his residence in Europe with his work in North America, prompting the decision to retire.

Reflecting on his journey, the 63-year-old executive stated, “I will leave having been privileged to have a job that I love in a very special company working with great people.”

Highlighting the significance of the gaming division, Hiroki Totoki, president and chief financial officer of Sony Group Corp., will take on the role of interim CEO of the games business until a suitable successor is identified. Totoki will maintain his existing positions during this interim period.

Ryan played a pivotal role in leading the video-game division through the launch of the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 console in November 2020. Despite initial supply chain challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PlayStation 5 has achieved remarkable success, surpassing 40 million units sold.

During his tenure, Ryan vocalized criticism towards Microsoft Corp.'s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. for $69 billion, advocating against the deal with federal regulators. He also condemned Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in late 2021 following allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment within the company.

However, Ryan's communication approach sometimes stirred controversy. In a notable incident, he upset some staff members by sending a memo that blended comments about the US Supreme Court's decision on abortion access with five paragraphs about his cats' first birthday.