Shuhei Yoshida, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recently shared two particularly frightening moments from his extensive PlayStation career, both orchestrated by competitors Nintendo and Xbox.
Speaking with MinnMax, 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 those considering waiting for the PS3 would miss out on a year of next-gen gaming.
However, Yoshida revealed an even more impactful shock: Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be a 3DS exclusive. This came as a complete surprise, especially considering the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which 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 Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100," Yoshida recalled. "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 share these previously undisclosed insights. His tenure saw him become a prominent figure for PlayStation, beloved by fans globally. He's also since offered opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.
