Career Mode: Activated

Every summer, Sony Interactive Entertainment welcomes a new class of interns—bright, curious minds ready to leave their mark on the gaming industry. If you’re one of them—or you’re thinking about joining us in the future—you’ve probably asked yourself: What comes next?

To shed light on this, we spoke with former interns who transitioned into full-time roles at SIE. Their backgrounds span software engineering, marketing, game development, animation, and creative production. Now integral members of our Platform and Studio Business Groups, they share their personal journeys, reflect on how their internships propelled their careers, and offer advice to future interns.  Whether you’re building the next big feature or bringing a story to life through art and gameplay, their insights will help guide and inspire your path forward. Read on to hear what they had to say! 

Embracing Opportunities and Building Connections 

The internship experience at SIE is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. We are trailblazers at our core, with a relentless drive to explore new and different ways of working. 

Bryan Chan, 2023 Live Team Intern turned Content Specialist at San Diego Studio, emphasizes the importance of openness: 

“Be open to any opportunity and meet as many people as possible on and outside of your team! I made valuable connections early on, which made the internship experience a lot more personable and allowed me to get involved in various projects throughout the summer.”

Farhan Nazeer, a two-time Software Developer Intern in Waterloo, joined us as a Software Engineer II in 2024, and reflects on overcoming self-doubt: 

“Take risks! Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to fail—you’d be surprised how much more you can achieve than you think. When I first started as a co-op, I felt that classic ‘imposter syndrome.’ But the truth is, everyone starts somewhere. If you keep working hard, taking chances, and embracing failure as part of growth, you’ll go far.”

Memorable Moments and Team Dynamics

Transitioning from intern to full-time employee brings new experiences and responsibilities, but that doesn’t happen alone. As One team, we champion each other and expand the boundaries of our creativity by learning from the diverse perspectives that make SIE the best place to work and play. 

Daniel Garcia, a Production Intern in 2022, returned to San Diego Studio after graduation as an Associate Producer. He shares his appreciation for collaborative learning:

“Being around a wealth of experience. Every day, I work with industry veterans who are full of knowledge. I can always reach out to teammates to talk through challenges or brainstorm solutions. That level of collaboration is something I really value.”

Sara Shankar, 2023’s Partner Marketing Intern from New York, recounts her experience as a full-time Associate Marketing Specialist, where her team’s projects touched the lives of millions of users:

“It’s tough to choose just one! I’ve worked on film, TV, music, and gaming projects with a dream team. One standout for me was the PlayStation partnership with Rauw Alejandro. I got to be involved from ideation to execution—and seeing it become a real campaign that reached millions was absolutely surreal.”

Paths to SIE: Diverse Backgrounds and Shared Passion

Each individual’s journey to SIE is unique, underscoring our appreciation for diverse experiences. But one thing unites us all: passion—a passion that allows us to win together, embrace new possibilities, and keep reaching for the horizon. 

Colby Breitenbach, 2023’s Character Tech Art Intern, transitioned into an Associate Character Rigger role at Santa Monica Studio. But his path to SIE was unconventional:

“Honestly? Surreal. I applied to SIE kind of on a whim—the application was a day late, I was self-taught in tech art, and I lived across the country. I never expected to hear back, but I did. What drew me in was the sense of community and ambition at Santa Monica Studio. Now that I’m here, it’s everything I hoped it would be and more.”

Noah McMillan, Presentation & Commentary Design Intern in 2022, is now a Presentation Game Designer. He highlights the importance of your network being your net worth:

“Pretty unique. I had no prior experience in gaming or tech. But I leaned into networking—LinkedIn was huge for me—and made a point to talk to people, even those not on my team. Everyone was so welcoming. I even ended up going to a Padres game and joining a co-worker’s baseball team. That openness made the transition easy and enjoyable.”

These former interns turned full-time teammates prove that there’s no one “right” path into the world of SIE-PlayStation—just passion, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. Whether you’re coding, designing, marketing, or creating, there’s space for you to grow and thrive here.

So if you’re just starting out, take their advice to heart: stay curious, network your way into new opportunities, take chances, and enjoy the journey. You never know where it might lead!