Former PlayStation Exec Faced Chilling Moments from Xbox and Nintendo

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

Yoshida revealed to MinnMax that the Xbox 360's launch a year ahead of the PlayStation 3 was incredibly unsettling. The prospect of potential buyers opting for the earlier release, leaving PlayStation behind in the next-gen race, posed a significant threat.

However, Yoshida cites Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as the most shocking competitive move. This was particularly alarming 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 shock."

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