If you’ve ever tuned into the PlayStation Podcast over the past 14 years, you’re probably familiar with Shuhei Yoshida. Many remember his significant tenure as the President of PlayStation Studios during the era of the PS3 and PS4. These days, he’s been passionately advocating for indie developers as the Head of Indies Initiative at PlayStation.
With PlayStation’s 30th anniversary right around the corner, I had the opportunity to sit down with Yoshida-san to chat about his illustrious career, his future aspirations, and his favorite games over the past three decades of PlayStation. Here are some highlights from our enlightening discussion.
Note: The interview has been condensed for clarity and brevity. To get the full scoop, listen to our conversation on Apple, Spotify, or download it directly.
SID: You were among our early guests on the PlayStation Podcast, probably 14 years ago. It’s been a while…. What have you been up to lately?
SHU: Oh, I’ve been quite the traveler! I’ve taken trips to Brazil, India, Australia, and Sweden, visiting developers and attending game events. I’ve been actively looking at new games from developers and sharing the ones I love on Twitter throughout the year.
SID: It’s great to catch up. I hear there’s some news you’d like to share with our audience today?
SHU: Yes, indeed. I wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be departing from Sony Interactive Entertainment on January 15, 2025. It feels like announcing a new game’s launch date—something I haven’t done in a long time [laughs].
SID: You’ve been with Sony Interactive for such a long time. What influenced your decision, especially now?
SHU: Having been with PlayStation right from its inception, this marks my 31st year. Approaching this milestone made me reflect on timing and new directions. PlayStation has been thriving, and I’m very fond of the PS5 and the fantastic games being developed for it. There’s a fresh generation of leadership whom I deeply respect and admire. I’m tremendously excited about PlayStation’s future.
So, I realized it’s time for me to move on. PlayStation is undoubtedly in good hands now.
SID: That makes absolute sense. Reflecting on your amazing journey, how long, exactly, have you been part of the PlayStation family?
SHU: Well, I joined Ken Kutaragi’s team back in February 1993, during the developmental phase of the original PlayStation. Ken’s team was entirely made up of engineers, and I was the first non-technical member. I joined just as Sony Corporation began hatching plans to launch PlayStation. It has been quite a long journey—31 years!
SID: Ken Kutaragi is often called the father of PlayStation. What was the atmosphere like during the early days at the company?
SHU: When I came aboard, PlayStation was just a department within Sony. Ken was developing, and another team under Sony Music Entertainment Japan was creating games for the Super Nintendo. These two groups united to form Sony Computer Entertainment in November 1993.
I recall when the joint venture was announced. We had a small gathering at a hotel, with about 80 people in attendance. We were genuinely a small team back then.
SID: Being small surely must have been thrilling, though, right?
SHU: Absolutely! There was so much excitement around the innovation Ken’s team brought—like real-time 3D graphics and CD-ROM technology, which allowed affordable mass production with lots of data. Our ambitions were sky-high.
Initially, the video game industry didn’t take us very seriously. Several big electronics companies had tried entering the gaming sector but hadn’t succeeded.
SID: It’s fascinating how things have changed over time. So, what was your first role at PlayStation?
SHU: I was tasked with reaching out to Japanese publishers and developers. Leading account management, I’d call various companies across Japan to set up meetings. I’d bring Ken Kutaragi and other executives along to pitch PlayStation and encourage game development on the platform.
Those were exhilarating yet challenging times. Few within the industry believed in 3D graphics technology back then.
To delve deeper into Shuhei Yoshida’s rich history with PlayStation, tune into our full discussion on the PlayStation Podcast.
SID: Eventually, you rose to become the President of PlayStation Studios. Do you have a standout memory from your time there?
SHU: I was fortunate to work with incredible teams and games, many of which were up for Game of the Year at industry events like the DICE Summit. Being involved in even a single Game of the Year title is a privilege, and I was lucky to see our games nominated almost every year.
One memory that shines brightly for me is when Journey won the Game of the Year Award. It was a small game, distributed digitally via PlayStation Network, and it could be completed in about three hours.
Yet, it won against all these AAA giants, marking an industry first. The creator, Jenova Chen, shared a touching story of a girl who found solace after her father’s passing through the game. The atmosphere was electric, with happiness radiating in the room—a testament to the game’s profound impact.
SID: How did you transition to your current position as Head of Indies Initiative at Sony Interactive?
SHU: I have a deep love for indie games. When the indie boom hit in the 2000s, ushered in by digital distribution across PCs, mobiles, and consoles, it opened a global window for small games. It sparked a creative renaissance in the industry, allowing new and daring ideas to flourish with minimal investment.
While managing larger studios and AAA titles at PlayStation Studios was fantastic, I always gravitated towards the indie areas at events like E3 and Gamescom. I loved discovering gems and promoting them on my own time.
Transitioning to a role where I can fully dedicate myself to supporting indies felt like a dream come true.
Shuhei has even appeared as a playable character in Capybara Games’ Super Time Force Ultra, underlining his influence and beloved status in the gaming scene.
For those passionate about the indie movement and insights into Shuhei Yoshida’s incredible journey, this discussion offers a treasure trove of inspiration and nostalgia.
