Ex-Sony Boss Thinks PlayStation Plus is ‘Healthier’ than Xbox Game Pass

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Summary

  • Shuhei Yoshida, the former boss of PlayStation Indies, has revealed that he prefers Sony’s business model for PS Plus over that of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass.
  • According to Yoshida, launching first-party games day one into subscription services can be “dangerous.”
  • Sony launches first-party games for full price and adds them to PS Plus once their sales potential is exhausted, which Yoshida believes is “healthier.”

Previously held head of PlayStation, Shuhei Yoshida, recently expressed his thoughts on the increasing prevalence of subscription services in the gaming industry. Specifically, he commended Sony’s balanced strategy with PlayStation Plus, while warning that Xbox Game Pass could potentially tread on dangerous ground if a particular aspect of it is not moderated.

2018 marked the debut of Xbox Game Pass, which sparked a trend in subscription-based gaming services featuring a constantly updated collection of hundreds of games. Since then, many Xbox gamers have grown fond of these services rather than purchasing individual games. Yet, others are hesitant due to potential lost sales and financial impacts on game developers. Professionals within the industry exhibit mixed views too; indie devs and those associated with platforms like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus generally endorse them, whereas AAA studios often find these services financially unviable.

More recently, Shuhei Yoshida, who was previously in charge of Sony’s PlayStation studios and their indie initiatives, has shifted his focus to game subscription services. After departing from Sony earlier this year, he has been featured in various interviews and podcasts. In a recent interview at Gamescom LATAM with Game Developer, Yoshida compared Sony’s approach to game subscriptions, particularly PS Plus, with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Although he admitted his partiality as a former PlayStation executive, he strongly believed that PS Plus is in better shape than Xbox Game Pass.

Shuhei Yoshida Thinks Launching First-Party Games into a Subscription Service Might Be “Dangerous”

Yoshida, in particular, expressed concerns about Microsoft’s practice of immediately releasing Xbox exclusive games onto their Game Pass service, arguing that over-emphasis on such tactics might pose risks for the industry’s longevity. He commended Sony for refraining from making their flagship first-party games available on PS Plus at launch, instead opting to sell them initially at full price to secure premium upfront sales. Later, as the initial buying phase winds down, these games are added to PS Plus, thereby increasing their visibility and potentially attracting a wider player base.

As an enthusiastic follower, I believe Yoshida’s assertion that this late addition of games to the mix fosters a more sustainable equilibrium between profit and accessibility, while also generating excitement for future installments by allowing newbies to get up-to-speed on prior titles. His insights are particularly intriguing given the recent surge in popularity of Xbox Game Pass, with blockbuster games like “Doom: The Dark Ages”, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”, and “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” being added within a short span of time. Despite the compelling value offered to Game Pass subscribers, Yoshida’s comments seem to reinforce the broader debate in the gaming industry about the feasibility of subscription-centric models, especially considering the escalating costs of game development.

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2025-05-31 21:34