Shahid Ahmad leaving SCEE, returning to games development

SCEE’s Shahid Ahmad is leaving the company in order to become a games developer again.

Ahmad has spent the past 10 years working at PlayStation, most recently as head of the firm’s Strategic Content team, which handles bringing indie games to the PlayStation Store.

The surprise departure comes as Ahmad expresses an interest in returning to games development.

“I want to make games again,” he wrote on his blog. “I stopped being a developer around a quarter of a century ago and have seen so many changes since then, with most of the exciting ones happening in the last few years. I want to be part of that. It’s that simple. The team at PlayStation, while sad to see me go, completely understands my desire. I am privileged to enjoy their support.”

There is no word yet on whether Ahmad will be developing independently, forming his own studio or joining an established developer.

Ahmad assured developers that the Strategic Content programme at PlayStation “will continue”, adding: “There are no plans to change anything. Our approach to developers will also be unchanged. We have many talented people across the board who work tirelessly to support developers in bringing their videogames to PlayStation.”

He continued: “This has been the most rewarding period of my professional life. I have had personal highs and lows and the company has supported me throughout. The last few years in particular have brought so many professional highs, that it’s been hard to take it all in.

““Leaving this company has been the hardest decision of my career, because I get to work with the most dedicated, friendly and inspiring people in the business.”