Nintendo “Doesn’t Even Show Up” in Internal Business Analysis at PlayStation – Former Exec

In a recent interview, ex-PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida shared insights about how Sony views Nintendo’s consoles within the company. Interestingly, he mentioned that while Nintendo is considered competition in Japan, it isn’t generally viewed as such by PlayStation globally when it comes to the console market.

In Yoshida’s words, “They consistently view their competition as Xbox,” meaning that Sony perceives Microsoft as their main rival due to the similarity in high-performance hardware and mature game offerings. On the other hand, Nintendo is seen quite differently, being a company focused on family-friendly games, entertainment for all ages, rather than technological superiority; thus, Nintendo rarely appears when Sony conducts business analysis.

As per Yoshida’s perspective, one key factor that sets Nintendo apart from competitors such as PlayStation and Xbox in the console market is the abundance of family-friendly games in their lineup. Over time, this selection has helped Nintendo cultivate a devoted fanbase, with many individuals who enjoyed Mario games during their childhood continuing to engage with other series like The Legend of Zelda or Metroid as they matured. Interestingly, Yoshida adds that some of these younger fans also explore other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox later on.

In simpler terms, Yoshida stated that Nintendo is drawing in a younger crowd into gaming, and as they mature, some may move on to more advanced systems such as PlayStation or Xbox. However, they hold high regard for Nintendo’s contributions to the industry, feeling it’s essential for Nintendo to thrive so that the gaming world can keep expanding.

Nevertheless, it’s acknowledged that Sony primarily views Xbox as its main rival globally, except in Japan where the market is dominated by Nintendo. In Japan, Nintendo holds significant strength while Sony’s presence is relatively insignificant.

In a recent business briefing, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s president and chief executive officer, Hideaki Nishino, discussed the competitive dynamics within the gaming console industry, highlighting that PlayStation is frequently driven towards advancement due to competition from Xbox.

Nishino stated that healthy competition in the business encourages us to innovate. Many players contribute to the growth of the gaming industry, and while fresh engagement methods are being developed, this is generally beneficial. Despite this, our confidence remains in our existing strategy. We don’t feel an immediate need to change course, but we will keep a close eye on user trends as necessary.

Nishino also mentioned that there’s no need to fret about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, as it may not deliver the same level of immersive, large-screen experiences as a PS5 due to its less potent hardware and lack of specific features found in the DualSense controller.

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2025-06-17 15:11