PlayStation's Yoshida: Xbox and Nintendo's Chilling Moments

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 a MinnMax interview, 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 potential buyers might opt for the readily available Xbox 360, delaying their adoption of next-generation gaming.

However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as an even greater shock. This was particularly unsettling considering the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which boasted two exclusive titles. The surprise was compounded by Nintendo's simultaneous $100 price drop on the 3DS, making it considerably cheaper than 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 recounted. "I was stunned. And then they announced the biggest game... Monster Hunter, the biggest game on PSP, would 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 offer previously undisclosed perspectives on his time at the company. He's also shared his views on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.