PlayStation Vet Talks Gaming's Terrifying Turns

Shuhei Yoshida, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recounts two particularly daunting moments in his PlayStation career, both orchestrated by competitors Nintendo and Xbox.

In a MinnMax interview, Yoshida described the Xbox 360's one-year head start on the PlayStation 3 as "very, very scary," fearing that potential PS3 buyers would be significantly behind in experiencing next-gen gaming.

However, the most shocking competitive announcement, according to Yoshida, was Nintendo's declaration that Monster Hunter 4 would be a 3DS exclusive. 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 expressed his astonishment at the news, highlighting the franchise's PSP dominance and the price drop's impact. He stated, "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100...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 previously undisclosed insights into his experiences. He's also voiced opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.