Shuhei Yoshida, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recently shared two particularly daunting moments from his extensive PlayStation career, both orchestrated by competitors Nintendo and Xbox.
In a MinnMax interview, Yoshida described the Xbox 360's launch a year ahead of the PlayStation 3 as "very, very scary." This early release put PlayStation at a significant disadvantage, as gamers considering waiting for Sony's console would miss out on a year of next-gen gaming experiences.
However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as an even greater shock. This was particularly impactful given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which boasted two exclusive titles. The surprise was compounded by Nintendo's simultaneous $100 price drop on the 3DS, undercutting the PlayStation Vita.
Yoshida recounted the impact: "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100," he stated. "I was like, 'Oh my god'. And [then they] announced the biggest game... The biggest game on PSP was Monster Hunter. And that game is going to come out on Nintendo 3DS exclusively. I was like, 'Oh no.' That was the biggest shock."
Yoshida's retirement in January, after over three decades with Sony, has allowed him to offer previously undisclosed insights into his time at the company, where he became a prominent figure and a fan favorite. He's also shared his opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.
