Previously serving as an executive at Sony Interactive Entertainment for three decades, Shuhei Yoshida stepped down in January, concluding his long-standing association with the video game titan.
In his later years, Yoshida found himself collaborating closely with independent game developers. However, it was not a role he chose willingly; rather, he was compelled to take on this position by Sony’s PlayStation team.
“I had No Choice”
During a conversation with Venture Beat, reflecting on his 30-year tenure with Sony, Yoshida was inquired about the transition from developing first-party games to working with independent studios. In response, he shared:
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During a chat with Venture Beat, contemplating his 30 years at Sony, Yoshida was asked when he moved on from creating first-party games to collaborating with indie developers. He explained:
When [former PS head Jim Ryan] proposed the independent role to me, it came down to taking on that task or departing from the company. My passion for PlayStation and indie developers was immense, so I eagerly accepted the challenge. I felt I could bring something distinctive to this new endeavor, making the shift from first-party to indies a more significant personal change for me than leaving the company this year.
Although Yoshida found himself working in the independent development sector due to circumstances, it appears his enthusiasm for his role and indie games remains strong. He expresses, “I feel incredibly fortunate that the indie community, along with the publishers and developers I collaborate closely with, recognized they could benefit from my expertise. Consequently, I’ve taken on an advisory role within some of these companies. I’m still working with many of the indie publishers and developers I admire. Moving from Sony to becoming an independent adviser feels more like a natural progression rather than a major shift away from first-party development.
Prior to taking charge of independent (indie) games, Yoshida expressed concern that PlayStation had not shown sufficient interest in these games. However, as time went by, numerous indie developers affirmed that their games sold more successfully on PlayStation than on any other platform, including PC.
As time passed, the Nintendo Switch was initially known for its success in selling indie games, but according to Yoshida and his team responsible for indie games at PlayStation, they managed to narrow that gap over the years.
What’s Yoshida Up to Now?
Despite departing from Sony after many years, Yoshida emphasizes that he’s far from retiring and plans to collaborate with independent publishers and developers instead. Interestingly, upon securing the role focused on indie publishers for Sony, his ambition was to render this position unnecessary. He explains, “My aim when I began this indie job was to make my position obsolete… The company is thriving so much that there’s no need for someone like me to emphasize the importance of indies. I believe we’ve managed to achieve this effectively.
According to Yoshida, his leaving implies his trust in the robust condition of independent games available on PlayStation.
Despite Yoshida’s departure from PlayStation, the platform remains committed to fostering independent game development. Here’s to hoping they maintain this trend, providing a platform for more independent developers to shine.
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2025-02-19 23:42