Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Worldwide Studios for Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently shared insights into what he considered the two most terrifying moments of his extensive career at PlayStation. In a candid conversation with MinnMax, Yoshida highlighted the intense competition from Xbox and Nintendo that left a lasting impact on him.
The first of these daunting moments occurred when Microsoft released the Xbox 360 a full year before the PlayStation 3 hit the market. Yoshida described this period as "very, very scary," pointing out the significant disadvantage it posed for gamers who chose to wait for Sony's console. Those who opted for the Xbox 360 were able to experience the next generation of video games well ahead of PlayStation enthusiasts.
However, the moment that truly shocked Yoshida was when Nintendo announced that Monster Hunter 4 would be exclusively released on the Nintendo 3DS. This announcement was a massive blow to Sony, especially given the franchise's monumental success on the PlayStation Portable (PSP). Yoshida admitted, "That was the biggest shock I had from an announcement from the competition." The situation was exacerbated when Nintendo significantly reduced the price of the 3DS by $100, making it substantially more affordable than Sony's PlayStation Vita. Yoshida recalled the moment vividly, saying, "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100. 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 retired from Sony in January after over three decades with the company, where he became a well-known figure and a beloved advocate for the PlayStation brand. His departure has allowed him to share previously untold stories and insights, such as these competitive shocks. Additionally, Yoshida has expressed his reservations about Sony's push into live service games and shared his thoughts on why the company might not pursue a remake or sequel to the cult classic Bloodborne.
