Former PlayStation Exec Yoshida Recalls Spine-Tingling Moments at Xbox and Nintendo

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.