PlayStation Exec Shuhei Yoshida: Xbox, Nintendo Dominated Fears

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." The potential loss of early adopters to the next-gen gaming experience posed a significant threat.

However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as the "biggest shock" he experienced. 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 shocked. And then they announced the biggest game... Monster Hunter, the biggest game on PSP, would be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. That was a huge blow."

Yoshida's retirement in January, after over three decades with Sony, has allowed him to offer previously undisclosed perspectives on his time at the company. He's since shared opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.