Xbox and Nintendo Spurred the Two Scariest Moments of Former PlayStation Exec Shuhei Yoshida's Career

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." This early release put PlayStation at a significant disadvantage, leaving potential buyers who waited for Sony's console behind the curve in experiencing next-gen gaming.

However, Yoshida identified an even more impactful event: Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be a 3DS exclusive. This came as a complete surprise.

"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 retired from Sony in January after over three decades, allowing him to offer previously undisclosed insights into his experiences. He's also shared his opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.