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

Shuhei Yoshida, former president 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 release a year ahead of the PlayStation 3 as "very, very scary." This early launch put PlayStation at a significant disadvantage, as gamers eager for next-gen experiences might opt for the readily available Xbox 360, potentially delaying their adoption of the PS3.

However, Yoshida identified an even more impactful surprise: Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be a 3DS exclusive. This came as a complete shock, given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which boasted two exclusive titles.

The situation worsened when Nintendo simultaneously reduced the 3DS price by $100, undercutting the PlayStation Vita. Yoshida recalled his reaction: "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100...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 offer these previously undisclosed insights into the competitive landscape of the gaming industry. He has also shared his opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.