Xbox and Nintendo Spurred the Two Scariest Moments of Former PlayStation Exec Shuhei Yoshida's Career

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 an interview 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 gamers considering waiting for Sony's console would miss out on a year of next-gen gaming experiences.

However, Yoshida identified Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as an even greater shock. He stated, "That was the biggest shock I had from an announcement from the competition."

Yoshida recounted, "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100. 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 retired from Sony in January after a 30+ year career, becoming a prominent figurehead for PlayStation and a beloved figure among fans. His departure has allowed him to share previously undisclosed insights into his time at the company. He has also offered opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.