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

Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Worldwide Studios at Sony Interactive Entertainment, has shared some intriguing details about the most nerve-wracking moments he experienced during his extensive career at PlayStation. In a revealing interview with MinnMax, Yoshida pinpointed two pivotal events orchestrated by Nintendo and Xbox that left him particularly shaken.

The first of these moments was the launch of the Xbox 360, which hit the market a full year before the PlayStation 3. Yoshida described this as "very, very scary," noting that gamers eager to dive into the next generation of video games would have to wait significantly longer if they opted for Sony's console. This delay posed a real threat to PlayStation's market position and was a source of considerable anxiety for Yoshida.

However, the announcement that truly rocked Yoshida's world came from Nintendo. When it was revealed that Monster Hunter 4 would be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS, it sent shockwaves through the industry. "That was the biggest shock I had from an announcement from the competition," Yoshida confessed. Monster Hunter had been a massive success on the PlayStation Portable, boasting two exclusive titles. The unexpected shift of such a significant franchise to a competitor's platform was a major blow, especially when compounded by Nintendo's subsequent decision to slash the price of the 3DS by $100, making it significantly cheaper than the PlayStation Vita. "After launch, both Nintendo 3DS and Vita were $250 but they dropped $100," Yoshida recalled. "I was like, 'Oh my god'. And [then they] announced the biggest game... The biggest game on PSP was Monster Hunter. And that game is going to come out on Nintendo 3DS exclusively. I was like, 'Oh no.' That was the biggest shock."

Yoshida retired in January after an illustrious career spanning more than three decades with Sony. Throughout his tenure, he became a beloved figure in the gaming community, symbolizing the spirit of PlayStation. Now, free from the constraints of corporate responsibilities, Yoshida has begun to share fascinating insights into his experiences and the industry at large. He has expressed his reservations about Sony's push into live service games and offered his perspective on why a remake or sequel to the cult classic Bloodborne might not be on the horizon.