Sony’s Shahid Ahmad Leaves PlayStation With Heartfelt Thanks for Everyone

A while ago, Sony’s Strategic Content Director Shahid Kamal Ahmad announced that he was going to leave the company in order to return to the trenches to make his own games. That time has finally come, and Shahid posted farewells and thanks for everyone after his send off party at SCEE.

I’ve had the most wonderful send off this evening. Thank you to everyone who made it, particularly the devs who travelled from afar. <3

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to all my colleagues who have supported me for so long, who forgave my weaknesses and focussed on my few strengths.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to my exec management team. Particularly Jim Ryan, Simon Rutter and Zeno Colaço who warmly wished me well. I’ll never forget.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks Lorenzo, mio amico for making such a wonderful evening happen. You are the best team mate I ever had.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks @AntonyaClark for shaping and nurturing the Strategic Content team. You are my friend, you made my career and will always be #baus

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Murray and Nainan, you will always bein my heart. You are giants amongst men. Visionary, brilliant, inspirational.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to all the fans who took the time to talk with me and who supported the team through their patronage of our work.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @AbstractionGame for making Hotline Miami Best on Vita and for coming all the way from the Netherlands.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @BlitWorks for making Gez and Spelunky Best on Vita and for coming all the way from Barcelona.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @NoMansSky for coming over early and listening to me babble on. You have brought me so much joy and hope. Your team rocks. <3

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @sdrhod @onebitbeyond @KommanderKlobb, Richard Hogg, Graeme Ankers for supporting me tonight.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to my dear, special friend @djbteamsters for giving me the greatest gifts tonight. You know me like no other Debbie.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Alessandro, Kas, Jason, Anna, Brian, Keith, Suresh and my dear, dear friend Den for making it and supporting me

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Sam and Clive, who always greeted me with such affection.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Michael Pattison, my lovely boss for organising (and authorising) this special evening.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @llamasoft_ox and Ivan for coming all the way from Wales bearing gifts that will inspire — and for the affection and respect.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @EvilKimau , one of the smartest, nicest, most decent people in video games today. You rock and you always will.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to @nikmakepeace who despite being in San Mateo, managed to send me a thoughtful card and splendid Cohiba. You touched me.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Spencer, you know how highly I rate you and I won’t forget what you said.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to my dear friend Tony Hinds. We will always be friends. We will always be B.A.M.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Nina and Dom from @NinjaTheory — I deeply appreciate you coming and your trust in me and my team. The show goes on!

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Oh. Yes. Thanks to my dear friend and inspiration. The one and only @mikeBithell who welcomed me as “one of us”. He is the man.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks also to Mohummad who despite working until 8:20pm in Legal (as usual!) still had it in him to come and offer his best.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Thanks to Toby Morrish who is one of PlayStation’s smartest people and just a wonderful gentleman.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

Tomorrow is my last day. This morning I cried proper tears on my way to work.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

I know this for sure: When I start my solo adventure on Monday, I will not be alone.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

If I started to thank all the people who have made this the most beautiful working journey of my life, we’d be here all night.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

But it’s safe to say that had @tha_rami not agreed to do Super Crate Box for Vita with @jwaaaap, things would look very different today. <3

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

So many, many steps on this beautiful winding road. Each one of them essential.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

One more day before I go back to what I was born to do.

— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) December 3, 2015

It’s our turn to thank Shahid for all the games he supported, and that were made and brought to consoles even thanks to his help. Personally, I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next, so good luck, Shahid, and thanks for everything.