PlayStation's U.S. boss Jack Tretton stepping down

Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, is leaving Sony on March 31, 2014. Sony announced the news today in a press release, claiming Tretton's decision to step down was the result of a "mutual agreement between Mr. Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship." "Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career," stated Tretton in the release. "Although I will deeply miss the talented team at SCEA and the passion demonstrated every day by our fans, I'm very excited about starting the next chapter of my career." Shawn Layden is expected to replace him on April 1, 2014. Layden currently serves as the executive vice president and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International, a division he helped found. Before that, he served as president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. "It is with mixed feelings that I inform you that I will be stepping down as President and CEO of SCEA effective March 31, 2014," reads a brief farewell message purportedly written by Jack Tretton and published on the PlayStation Blog. "This is a result of a mutual agreement with SCEA, and I leave knowing that the PlayStation brand has never been stronger, PlayStation 4 momentum continues to accelerate, and the future will only get brighter for our gamers."