TL;DR: David Jaffe says PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst should be fired, citing Horizon Hunters Gathering’s costly, years‑long overhaul as evidence of poor leadership and claiming Hulst “doesn’t eat and breathe” games; he suggests replacing him with someone like Shuhei Yoshida who better understands players.
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David Jaffe, creator of the original God of War and Twisted Metal, has publicly called for PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst to be fired, arguing that a string of poor decisions under his leadership has left PlayStation’s first-party output in a worse state than it should be at this point in the generation.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffe used the ongoing situation with Horizon Hunters Gathering as his central example. Guerrilla Games has reportedly spent years and significant reas questioned and it was sent back for a complete overhaul. Jaffe argues this should never have happened
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Why did you need so many people and red have saved so much money if you had simply published an early test online. In just one week, you would have understood whether such a game makes any sense
Jaffe argued that Hulst does not appear sufficiently connected to the games market, claiming he doesn’t eat and breathe games, and that understanding what players actually want should be fundamental to anyone in PlayStation leadership. “Hermen should be fired, and that will probably happen,” Jaffe said. He suggested former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida as a candidate to replace him, describing the need for someone who combines creative instincts with a genuine understanding of today’s market.
Jaffe did not address PlayStation’s decision to end its partnership with Hideo Kojima in the video, which was likely recorded before the announcement. But the timing adds another layer to his comments and may explain why he seems so confident a leadership change is coming.
What was wrong with Horizon Hunters Gathering’s development, and why did it need a complete overhaul?
Why does David Jaffe think Hermen Hulst is out of touch with what PlayStation players want?
What role did budget concerns play in PlayStation’s split with Hideo Kojima and the cancellation of PHYSINT?
Could PlayStation have tested Horizon Hunters Gathering earlier to avoid spending years on the project?
Yes. David Jaffe argued that PlayStation could have saved a lot of time and money by putting an early test of Horizon Hunters Gathering online, saying that in just one week it would have shown whether the game made sense. He used the project’s years of development and eventual overhaul as an example of poor leadership.
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PlayStation’s split with Kojima and the cancellation of PHYSINT reportedly came down to budget concerns, among other reasons. Finding no room in the budget for one of gaming’s most celebrated auteurs while continuing to back a troubled multiplayer spin-off is exactly why Jaffe believes PlayStation needs someone who eats and breathes games.
