Shuhei Yoshida, former head 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 potential buyers might opt for the immediate access to next-gen gaming offered by Xbox.
However, Yoshida cited an even more shocking event: Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be a 3DS exclusive. This came as a complete surprise, given the franchise's immense success on the PlayStation Portable, where it boasted two exclusive titles. The situation was further complicated by Nintendo's simultaneous $100 price drop on the 3DS, undercutting the PlayStation Vita.
"After launch, both the Nintendo 3DS and Vita were priced at $250, but then they dropped the 3DS price by $100," Yoshida recalled. "I was stunned. And then they announced the biggest game... Monster Hunter, the biggest game on PSP, would be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. That was a huge shock."
Yoshida's retirement in January, after over three decades with Sony, has allowed him to offer unprecedented insights into his time at the company, where he became a beloved figurehead of the PlayStation brand. He's since shared opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.