Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Worldwide Studios at Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently shared insights into two of the most nerve-wracking moments he experienced during his tenure at PlayStation. In a candid interview with MinnMax, Yoshida revealed that the launch of the Xbox 360 a year before the PlayStation 3 was a significant concern for him. He explained that the early release of the Xbox 360 meant that gamers who waited for the PlayStation 3 would miss out on the next generation of gaming experiences, which was "very, very scary."

However, the most shocking moment for Yoshida came when Nintendo announced that Monster Hunter 4 would be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. This announcement was particularly startling because Monster Hunter had been a massive success on the PlayStation Portable, with two exclusive titles. The news that the next installment would not only bypass the PlayStation Vita but also be exclusive to a competitor's platform was a major blow. To compound the issue, Nintendo also reduced the price of the 3DS by $100, making it significantly more affordable than the Vita. Yoshida recalled his reaction vividly, saying, "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."

Yoshida retired from Sony in January after over three decades with the company, where he became a beloved figure among PlayStation fans worldwide. His departure has allowed him to share previously untold stories and insights, such as these competitive shocks. Additionally, Yoshida has expressed his views on Sony's push towards live service games, indicating he would have resisted this direction, and shared his thoughts on why a remake or sequel to the cult classic Bloodborne is unlikely.