"Xbox, Nintendo Caused Shuhei Yoshida's Scariest Career Moments"

Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Worldwide Studios for Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently shared insights into two of the most unnerving moments he experienced during his extensive career at PlayStation. In an interview with MinnMax, Yoshida pinpointed the launch of the Xbox 360 a year ahead of the PlayStation 3 as a particularly "very, very scary" time. This early release meant that gamers eager to dive into the next generation of video games would have to wait if they chose to hold out for Sony's console.

However, the moment that truly shook Yoshida was Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. This revelation was a "biggest shock" for him, especially given the colossal success of the Monster Hunter series on the PlayStation Portable, where it had previously enjoyed two exclusive titles. The sting was exacerbated when Nintendo subsequently reduced the price of the 3DS by $100, positioning it significantly below the cost of the PlayStation Vita. At the time of the price drop, both the 3DS and Vita were priced at $250, making the competitive landscape even more challenging for Sony.

Monster Hunter 4 launched exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate following a year later. The exclusivity of such a major franchise to a competing platform was a significant blow to Sony's handheld market strategy.

Yoshida retired from Sony in January after over three decades of service, during which he became an iconic figure within the PlayStation community, beloved by fans around the globe. His departure from the company has enabled him to share previously undisclosed perspectives, such as these competitive shocks. Additionally, Yoshida has expressed his reservations about Sony's push towards live service games and shared his thoughts on why a remake or sequel to the cult classic Bloodborne might not be forthcoming.