Ken Kutaragi, the visionary behind the PlayStation, took part in a panel discussion at Japan’s University of Electro-Communications on September 29. He addressed the opening ceremony of CEREC, a new academic hub focused on games, where he explored the journey and future possibilities of video games as a medium, emphasizing the vital role of human “curiosity.”
According to GameWatch and 4Gamer, Kutaragi highlighted the immense growth of the global gaming sector, now worth $186 billion in software alone, outpacing film, television, and music industries. Despite decades of evolution since the 1970s, Kutaragi doesn’t view gaming as a stagnant industry, predicting that groundbreaking advancements still lie ahead.
However, he pointed out that while modern games have expanded in scope and visual fidelity, their content has seen little innovation. He noted that recent titles reinforce this perception, as the creative approach remains largely unchanged since the original PlayStation era, which he led.
Kutaragi believes the industry is on the cusp of a significant leap into the “next stage.” Reflecting on the PlayStation’s creation with the goal to “change the world,” he described the past game industry as one that “crafted the world’s most advanced technology” rather than merely chasing it. He encouraged industry professionals and students to adopt this pioneering spirit in their endeavors.
He also stressed the importance of curiosity for students, explaining that the human brain’s neural networks are most vibrant at birth and diminish as we become complacent. “The moment you lose your curiosity and think, This is probably as good as it gets, it’s all over,” he cautioned.