PlayStation Exec's Top Two Gaming Terrors Revealed

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

In an interview with MinnMax, Yoshida described the Xbox 360's one-year head start on the PlayStation 3 as "very, very scary," fearing that potential PlayStation 3 buyers would opt for the earlier release and miss out on the next-gen gaming experience.

However, Yoshida cites Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4's 3DS exclusivity as an even greater shock. This was particularly unsettling given Monster Hunter's immense popularity and two previous PlayStation Portable exclusives. The situation worsened when Nintendo simultaneously slashed the 3DS price by $100, 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 recalled. "I was stunned. And then they announced the biggest game... The biggest game on PSP was Monster Hunter, and it was going to be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. That was a huge blow."

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.