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.

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-generation gaming experiences.

However, Yoshida pinpointed the Nintendo 3DS-exclusive announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as the most shocking competitive move. This came as a complete surprise, given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which even boasted two exclusive titles. The situation worsened when Nintendo simultaneously slashed the 3DS price by $100, undercutting the PlayStation Vita.

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'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 face of PlayStation, beloved by fans globally. He's since offered opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.