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 highlighted the Xbox 360's one-year head start on the PlayStation 3 as a significant challenge. The early release put PlayStation at a considerable disadvantage, potentially leaving those anticipating Sony's console significantly behind in experiencing next-gen gaming.
However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as the most shocking competitive move. This was particularly jarring given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, where it 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 stunned. And then the announcement of the biggest game... Monster Hunter, the biggest game on PSP, was going to 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 share previously undisclosed insights into his time at the company. He's also offered opinions on Sony's live service strategy and explained his perspective on the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.
