"Ex-PlayStation Exec's Scariest Career Moments Caused by Xbox, Nintendo"

Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Worldwide Studios at Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently shared some intriguing insights about his tenure at PlayStation, pinpointing two particularly unnerving moments courtesy of competitors Nintendo and Xbox.

The first moment of dread came when Xbox launched the Xbox 360 a full year before the PlayStation 3 hit the market. Yoshida described this period as "very, very scary," noting that those who opted to wait for Sony's console would find themselves significantly delayed in experiencing the next generation of gaming. This strategic move by Microsoft undoubtedly put pressure on Sony and its team.

However, the moment that truly shook Yoshida to his core was Nintendo's announcement that Monster Hunter 4 would be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. Yoshida recounted this as "the biggest shock I had from an announcement from the competition." Given that Monster Hunter had previously been a massive success on the PlayStation Portable, with two exclusive titles to its name, the news of its shift to the 3DS was a significant blow. To compound the shock, Nintendo also reduced the 3DS's price by $100, making it more affordable than the PlayStation Vita, which was priced at $250 at launch, the same as the 3DS before the price drop.

Yoshida's reaction was one of dismay: "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."

After over three decades with Sony, Yoshida retired in January, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved figure in the gaming community. His departure has given him the freedom to share such candid reflections on his career, including his thoughts on Sony's live service strategy and the unlikelihood of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.