Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, who retired from Sony last year, is now able to speak openly. The industry veteran disclosed that he was once compelled to take charge of the indie games division; otherwise, he would have been shown the door.
As one of the founding members who has been with the PlayStation brand for 30 years, many people are curious as to why Yoshida was never considered for the role of PlayStation CEO. In a paid column on Game File, Gilles Langourieux, CEO of Virtuos, asked this pointed question on behalf of gamers: "I always thought you would be a top candidate to lead SIE. Why didn't you end up in that position?"
Yoshida's response was surprisingly candid: "Probably because they don't trust me to make the best business decisions... I'm always eager to try interesting new things, potentially groundbreaking projects for the future." When asked if it was because the leadership prioritized stability, he quipped, "Just look at the past leaders of SIE—apart from the eccentric genius Ken Kutaragi, Kaz Hirai, Andrew House, and Jim Ryan were all business elites. That speaks volumes."
The reporter humorously inquired if his "crazy index was through the roof," and Yoshida burst into laughter, admitting, "Exactly!" This exchange highlights the power structure within Sony's gaming division—following Ken Kutaragi's industry-shaking introduction of the PS console, the subsequent period necessitates businessmen skilled in financial management rather than risk-takers.
The current dual leadership of SIE CEO Hideaki Nishino and Hermen Hulst maintains a complementary "business + content" structure. If Shuhei Yoshida, known for his passion for indie games, were at the helm, PlayStation might have gone in a completely different direction.
