Sony Veteran Remembers 'Almost Finished' Video Game for the Canceled Nintendo PlayStation Console

In a fascinating interview with MinnMax, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida delves into his intriguing history with the Nintendo PlayStation prototype. Yoshida, who joined Ken Kutaragi's team in February 1993, recounts his early days working on the original PlayStation, which ultimately became a household name. However, what's particularly captivating is his experience with the Nintendo PlayStation, a project that never saw the light of day.

"Everybody who joined [Ken Kutaragi]'s team around that time, the first thing they showed us was that Nintendo Sony PlayStation, like a prototype already working," Yoshida shared. On his very first day, he had the unique opportunity to play an almost finished game on this prototype. Yoshida likened the game to a space shooter similar to the Sega CD title Silpheed, which utilized streaming assets from a CD. Although he couldn't recall the developer or the specific region where it was created, the possibility of the game's existence in Sony's archives remains a tantalizing prospect.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Yoshida remarked, hinting at the potential for this lost piece of gaming history to resurface. The allure of the Nintendo PlayStation, a relic of a "what-if" scenario between Nintendo and Sony, continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike. This prototype has fetched significant attention in auctions, underscoring its status as a sought-after oddity.

The idea of revisiting Sony's space-shooter game designed for the Nintendo PlayStation is particularly enticing. It's not without precedent; Nintendo famously released Star Fox 2 years after its initial cancellation. This raises the exciting possibility that this unique piece of video game history might one day be shared with the world.

The Nintendo PlayStation prototype console. Photo: Mats Lindh (Flickr/CC BY 2.0).