Earlier than we get into providing our views about Ted Value’s long-planned and very well-deserved retirement, we need to sincerely thank everybody who has checked in with Insomniac in regards to the state of our staff and Burbank studio throughout the horrible Los Angeles-area fires. The fires have devastated the communities round us. We proceed to give attention to supporting one another and speaking each day with Sony Interactive Leisure to offer the newest data and sources to everybody affected.
Sharing the information that Ted is retiring from Insomniac Video games remains to be simply as emotional to kind because it has been to consider. The three of us – Chad, Jen and Ryan – have labored carefully with Ted for a few years. He’s not simply our chief, he’s our longtime pal. And an awesome one at that. Ted will likely be missed for thus many causes.
One of many nice issues about Ted is his skill to encourage everybody round him to develop. Ted has additionally set the final word instance of the way to not simply say the fitting factor, however to do it too. Each with our video games and the way we behave as leaders and as a studio.
Seeing how Ted operates for many years has ready us to tackle the problem of entering into Ted’s monumental, canoe-sized footwear. None of us can nor ought to attempt to “be like Ted” although – we should keep true to ourselves and our personal management kinds. Nevertheless, it’s secure to say we’ll usually assume to ourselves, “What would Ted do?” as a part of our particular person and collective decision-making course of.
Now you’re most likely questioning, “Nicely, who precisely are y’all and what ought to we count on from you going ahead?” We need to share a bit extra about ourselves, together with some perception into how we’re envisioning our function as co-studio heads.

I began my Insomniac profession throughout the PlayStation 2 period in studio advertising and communications, shortly shifting my function to change into Insomniac’s first group director and serving to set up the function inside the PlayStation ecosystem. I joined Insomniac’s senior management group a number of years in the past and have held a number of studio roles together with Head of Franchise Technique & Studio Relations. In that function I partnered with groups inside and past Sony Interactive on how and after we speak about our video games, together with in-game artistic integrations. Extra lately, I’ve served as Head of Model & Management Technique, which implies I’m guaranteeing by means of communications, teaching and tradition growth that what Insomniac says to the world about itself and our video games matches what we imagine and the way we act inside Insomniac.
Outdoors of labor, I play video games with my household virtually nightly. We loved finishing Astro Bot and Lego Horizon Adventures over the winter break. I additionally love biking (street and gravel).
– Ryan Schneider, Co-Studio Head, Insomniac Video games


I joined our unimaginable studio eight years in the past as CFO and Head of Finance, and our group has had my coronary heart ever since. As a part of our management group, I instantly assist our growth groups throughout all titles, overseeing challenge planning, manufacturing technique, enterprise operations, useful resource planning, and co-development partnerships. Along with one of the best group on the earth, we’ve shipped 12 video games since my first day, and I’m tremendous excited in regards to the unforgettable experiences we’ll deliver to gamers sooner or later.
Earlier than becoming a member of Insomniac Video games, I used to be a senior finance govt, offering strategic and monetary management to international tech and leisure companies.
I’m captivated with driving improvements that elevate our studio and group. Outdoors of labor, I assist Glendale’s neighborhood libraries and love enjoying video games with my youngsters. Over the vacations, I immersed myself in Astro Bot and Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered-and beloved these unforgettable adventures.
– Jen Huang, Co-Studio Head, Insomniac Video games
One afternoon, I picked up a duplicate of Spyro The Dragon for Analysis™ functions. I used to be floored by its appeal and a focus to element – right here, clearly, was the work of a group on the high of their sport, and I needed to study their secrets and techniques.
I joined Insomniac in 1998. Since then, I’ve had the respect to contribute to 5 generations of PlayStation as an Setting Artist, Artwork Director, Studio Director for the Durham studio, and – beginning in 2017 – because the Head of Artistic. As a senior chief, I assist the artistic, story, and analysis groups throughout all titles to assist be sure that our video games ship with a uniquely Insomniac imaginative and prescient and a excessive diploma of polish.
So what secrets and techniques did I study? Primarily that magic occurs when gifted folks construct on one another’s concepts at the same time as they problem one another to advance their craft. In my new function, I’m excited to work with Ryan and Jen to proceed Insomniac’s custom of artistic collaboration.
– Chad Dezern, Co-Studio Head, Insomniac Video games

Our shared intention is to protect what has made Insomniac particular for 30-plus years whereas exploring how we are able to strategically evolve to succeed for many years to return.
We’ll proceed prioritizing our studio tradition, constructed round transparency and collaboration. We try for a office the place staff can do one of the best work of their careers.
What does all this imply for our gamers and followers? We’re going to maintain making the video games you like, whereas taking good care of the individuals who make them. This aligns with our studio imaginative and prescient of creating a constructive and lasting affect on folks’s lives.

We all know that is large information and possibly lots to soak up. Ted is an trade legend, accountable for launching and artistic directing three iconic PlayStation franchises in Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, and Resistance: Fall of Man. Again-to-back-to-back. He’s helped information us by means of each single PlayStation console technology and far more.
Ted has additionally laid the inspiration for Insomniac as one of many trade’s all-time most profitable studio leaders. Now, it’s as much as us to assist Insomniac thrive lengthy into the longer term. Due to Ted’s steerage and management, we’re prepared.