You Won’t Believe Why Sony Exec Shut Down Japan Studio

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Summary

  • Former PlayStation head of indies and Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida reveals that Japan Studio shut down due to difficulties making successful AAA games.
  • According to Yoshida, Sony shifted its focus to larger AAA games, and the gaming market became difficult for Japan Studio’s smaller AA games to succeed.
  • Yoshida was unable to greenlight AA games, including a concept by Gravity Rush 2 and Slitterhead director Keiichiro Toyama, before the studio closed.

Previously, Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida disclosed the factors leading to Japan Studio’s closure, emphasizing that the competitive gaming market posed significant challenges for Japan Studio’s titles to thrive. Additionally, Yoshida discussed the high standards set by Sony and its expectations towards Japan Studio in terms of AAA PlayStation games development.

In November 2024, Yoshida declared that he would be stepping down from his position as head of indies at Sony Interactive Entertainment, effective January 15, 2025. This move comes after more than 30 years with the company. In the time following his departure, Yoshida has provided additional details about his recent tenure at Sony, explaining that he was compelled to take on the head of indies role in 2019 or risk leaving the company entirely. A few years into his new position, Japan Studio underwent reorganization and was eventually closed down in 2021.

In a recent interview on the Sacred Symbols+ podcast, Shuhei Yoshida shared insights about Japan Studio’s closure in 2021, mentioning that the market had grown challenging for the studio’s smaller “AA” titles produced for Sony. He explained that during his time as head of Worldwide Studios at Sony, there were few “AAA” hit products, with only a notable exception being Gran Turismo. As larger AAA games gained prominence and indie games filled the niche previously occupied by Japan Studio’s smaller AA titles, Yoshida found himself unable to approve any new ideas or projects, even one proposed by Gravity Rush 2 and Slitterhead director Keiichiro Toyama following the release of Gravity Rush 2 in 2017.

Shuhei Yoshida Explains Why Japan Studio Shut Down

  • The gaming market became difficult for Japan Studio’s AA games, with interest rising in indie games.
  • Japan Studio was not able to make “amazingly successful” games and adapt to Sony’s new AAA and live service focus.

Furthermore, Yoshida admitted that he hadn’t achieved success in creating a live service game, and he expressed that he couldn’t make exceptionally successful games from Japan. With the booming independent (indie) games market, Sony decided to prioritize other areas over Japan Studio’s intellectual properties. After being replaced by Hermen Hulst as president, Yoshida started collaborating with indie developers for a new initiative instead.

Following the closure of Japan Studio, many of its development team members were dismissed but subsequently moved on to create fresh games and even establish new studios. Notably, Toyama established Bokeh Game Studio and developed and launched “Slitterhead,” as Yoshida mentioned during a podcast. Additionally, Yoshida discussed “Ratatan,” the forthcoming title that serves as a spiritual successor to “Patapon.” Despite Japan Studio no longer being active, Yoshida emphasizes that “Ratatan” preserves Japan Studio’s legacy, and it is a type of game that Sony isn’t currently producing.

2025 finds me, Yoshida, still deeply immersed in the captivating world of video games, despite having taken a new path away from Sony back in January. One intriguing role I’ve recently embraced is lending my voice to an upcoming indie gem called Promise Mascot Agency. Additionally, I can’t help but harbor some secret anticipation for potential collaborations with the Nintendo Switch 2 – who knows what exciting surprises lie ahead!

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2025-02-20 03:24