Shuhei Yoshida, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recounts two particularly daunting moments in 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 Sony at a significant disadvantage, as gamers considering waiting for the PS3 would miss out on a year of next-gen gaming experiences.
However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as the "biggest shock" from a competitor. This was particularly jarring given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which boasted two exclusive titles. The surprise was compounded 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 shocked. And then they announced the biggest game... The biggest game on PSP was Monster Hunter, and it was going to be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. That was a huge blow."
Yoshida's retirement in January, after over three decades with Sony, has allowed him to share previously undisclosed insights into his time at the company, where he became a prominent figure and a beloved icon among PlayStation fans. He's since offered opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.
