Ex-PlayStation Boss Says Sony Has Never Really Seen Nintendo As a Rival

For quite some time now, Shuhei Yoshida has had extensive knowledge about PlayStation, having been part of the team since the very beginning of the company – right up until his recent departure earlier this year.

While carrying on conversations about his professional life across various online platforms, he recently appeared on the Kit & Krysta podcast which focuses on Nintendo. He also disclosed some insights into Sony’s internal perspective regarding their Japanese competitor.

“Inside Sony, even when they do business analysis, Nintendo doesn’t show up,” he revealed.

In essence, there’s a rivalry between PlayStation and Xbox, yet Nintendo seems to be left out of this comparison. This isn’t due to a lack of consideration for Nintendo, but rather because the two main consoles perceive Nintendo as catering to a distinct market, which doesn’t necessarily overlap with their competitive spheres.

Yoshida clarified that Nintendo typically caters to a younger demographic, while Sony welcomes success from systems such as the Wii and Switch, since they believe these consoles expand the industry as a whole. As players grow older, Sony sees potential for transitioning them to PlayStation.

The executive made it clear that Nintendo commands significant respect at Sony, and furthermore, he noted that the Japanese branch holds a distinct perspective on this particular matter.

In Japan, Nintendo holds significant dominance, while Xbox is relatively insignificant. The battle is primarily between Nintendo and Sony. In Japan, those working for PlayStation perceive Nintendo as their main rival, whereas globally, PlayStation employees generally view Xbox as their primary competitor.

It’s intriguing to observe if this perspective will change as time passes. Given that Xbox is progressively adopting multi-platform publishing, it’s no longer the fierce competitor it used to be. Additionally, a more potent Switch 2 might attract gamers away from the PlayStation 5.

In essence, we’re not associated with PlayStation, but our perspective is this: any form of leisure activities represents competition. When individuals opt for Netflix, smartphones, computers, Disney+, Instagram, and the Switch 2 over their PS5, it essentially means they are diverting their time and resources away from purchasing or using a PS5.

Essentially, Sony is facing greater competition than ever before, and this competition seems to be originating from all directions nowadays.

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2025-06-17 21:06