The \"Father of PlayStation\" to Retire

Ken Kutaragi, known as the "father of the PlayStation," holds up a package of the PlayStation 3 video game console as he kicks off the first sale of Sony's PS3. He will retire in June. (AP Images)

The chief architect of Sony Corp.'s flagship PlayStation game console will retire in June as the company struggles to retain its dominance in the video game industry.

Ken Kutaragi, 56, an icon among gamers, will step down as Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s chairman and group chief executive, Tokyo-based Sony said Thursday. He will be replaced by Kazuo Hirai, who is now president and chief operating officer of the division.

In December, Kutaragi was relieved of day-to-day responsibilities as president of the video game unit but stayed on as its chief executive and chairman.

Kutaragi's most recent brainchild, the PlayStation 3 console, came out in November but was marred by embarrassing production shortages and a $600 price tag that some Sony fans said was too steep. For the past several months, Sony has resorted to giving away free game titles and other marketing gimmicks to spur sales.

Sony has also struggled to expand beyond the young, male demographic of so-called "hardcore" gamers. Investors have been grumbling for several quarters that Sony has failed to attract women, young children and older gamers to its products, and its market share has shrunk as a result.

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