Sony Computer Entertainment Inc (SCE) has been the primary division responsible for development of the PlayStation at Sony Corp for over 20 years, but now that division is no more as the company has reorganized its media products under the umbrella of the newly created Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC.

The new division is made up of a merger of Sony Computer Entertainment, which oversaw all hardware and software related PlayStation products, and Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI), which oversaw the PlayStation Network, including the PlayStation Store and all video and audio streaming media available through PSN.

According to Sony, the combination of SCE and SNEI into one entity will make it easier to manage the overall PlayStation brand.

“By integrating the strengths of PlayStation’s hardware, software, content and network operations, SIE will become an even stronger entity, with a clear objective to further accelerate the growth of the PlayStation business,” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc and Group Executive in charge of Network Entertainment of Sony Corporation.

“Along with our business partners, SIE will develop pioneering services and products that will continue to inspire consumers’ imaginations and lead the market. We will work hard to maximize corporate value by coordinating global business operations across San Mateo, Tokyo, and London by leveraging local expertise.”

Interestingly, Sony Interactive Entertainment will not be headquartered in Sony’s native Japan, which is where SCE had been located, but rather in San Mateo, California, which has served as the headquarters of SNEI for nearly six years. The development teams and much of the old infrastructure for SCE will likely remain in Tokyo, but moving the official PlayStation headquarters to the U.S. is a somewhat unexpected shift for Sony.

Sony Interactive Entertainment will be officially incorporated on April 1, 2016.

Image by Jan Vašek (license)