Shuhei Yoshida Was Worried PS3 “Might Crash” Sony

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Summary

  • Yoshida feared PS3 might sink Sony, pivoting from the initial PlayStation vision
  • Yoshida doubted Kutaragi’s vision for original PlayStation, concerned about price
  • PlayStation’s birth history involves Nintendo’s last-minute deal shock, led to Sony’s creation

The PS3, launched in 2006, might have potentially shaken up the PlayStation’s reign over the video game market due to its underwhelming initial reception and technical challenges for developers. Its high price tag at launch and the difficulty of working with the Cell processor made it a less appealing prospect for many gamers and creators alike.

As a gamer, I couldn’t help but question Sony’s vision for the PS3, just like many other fans. Even within the company’s ranks, there were concerns about the console. One of the high-ranking executives who voiced his doubts was Shuhei Yoshida.

Yoshida Feared The PS3 Might Sink Sony

During a conversation with VentureBeat about his retirement, Shuhei Yoshida, the former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, reminisced about significant experiences throughout his 30-year tenure at Sony.

A portion of the conversation touched on the PS3 and the man often referred to as the ‘Father of PlayStation’, Ken Kutaragi. Yoshida was questioned if there had ever been moments when he contemplated departing from Sony.

Yoshida expressed that he’s felt fortunate throughout his career. His primary aim when joining Ken’s team was to ensure PlayStation thrived, allowing him to continue working in the video game industry. He secured a producer role, then headed development in the U.S., and eventually became head of Worldwide Studios. His passion for first-party game development was evident; he worked with innovative teams like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Media Molecule, and Guerrilla Games. Yoshida relished the tasks he undertook. Despite initial concerns about PS3 potentially sinking the company, it managed to stay afloat. As a result, Yoshida enjoyed every moment of his long tenure.

In the very same conversation, Yoshida openly confessed his skepticism towards Kutaragi’s concept for the initial PlayStation, which envisioned high-end 3D graphics at a price point of just $500 for a video game console.

Back in my days at the PC department, focusing on notebooks, I received an unexpected call from a familiar voice – it was him. He suggested I meet this guy named Ken Kutaragi. Upon meeting him, Ken unveiled his innovative project. At that moment, Silicon Graphics workstations were exorbitantly priced. His words left me intrigued: “I’m creating a video game system as powerful as a workstation, and we plan to sell it for just $500.” I expressed my admiration but was skeptical about its feasibility at first.

I returned to my former superior and told him, ‘I suspect Ken might be fabricating things.’ He responded, ‘No, I genuinely believe him.’ So I requested access to his team. This is how I ended up on Ken’s team in February of 1993. It’s intriguing that just two weeks later, he himself became my new superior, assembling individuals he trusted to work with.” – Yoshida added.

Being old enough to have experienced the first PlayStation, I can somewhat relate to Yoshida’s perspective. In those days, state-of-the-art graphics were limited to colorful sprites, and it would have been hard to imagine transitioning from 2D platformers to 3D games as we know them today.

For years, tales about the inception of PlayStation have been retold numerous times. Originally, Nintendo had an agreement with Sony to produce the CD drive for their gaming console. However, at the eleventh hour, Nintendo astonished everyone – even Sony themselves – by striking a deal with Philips instead.

Due to this development, Sony decided to proceed with their CD-based gadget, which eventually led to the creation of the PlayStation. From then on, it’s been known as history.

During a different conversation, Yoshida expressed that, if he were still in control, he likely would have opposed the shift towards live services within the PlayStation division.

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2025-02-18 22:08