PlayStation's Former Exec Yoshida's Spine-Chilling Career Moments

Shuhei Yoshida, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recently shared two career-defining moments of fear, both courtesy of Nintendo and Xbox.

In a MinnMax interview, Yoshida recounted the launch of the Xbox 360 a year ahead of the PlayStation 3 as a "very, very scary" time. The early release put PlayStation at a significant disadvantage, leaving those waiting for Sony's console behind the curve in experiencing next-gen gaming.

However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as the "biggest shock" of his career. This was particularly jarring given 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, 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 explained. "I was stunned. And then the announcement of the biggest game... Monster Hunter, the biggest game on PSP, was going to 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 insights into his time at the helm of PlayStation. He's also voiced his reservations about Sony's live service strategy and offered perspectives on the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.