Shuhei Yoshida, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, recently shared two particularly daunting moments from his extensive PlayStation career, both orchestrated by competitors Nintendo and Xbox.

In an interview with MinnMax, Yoshida described the Xbox 360's one-year head start on the PlayStation 3 as "very, very scary." This early release put PlayStation at a significant disadvantage, as potential buyers might opt for the immediate next-gen experience rather than wait for Sony's console.

However, Yoshida pinpointed Nintendo's announcement of Monster Hunter 4 as a 3DS exclusive as an even greater shock. This came as a complete surprise, given the immense success of the Monster Hunter franchise on the PlayStation Portable, which boasted two exclusive titles. The situation was further complicated by Nintendo's simultaneous $100 price drop on the 3DS, undercutting the PlayStation Vita.

"After launch, both the Nintendo 3DS and Vita were priced at $250, but then they dropped the 3DS price by $100," Yoshida recalled. "I was stunned. And then they announced the biggest game... The biggest game on PSP was Monster Hunter, and it was going to be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. That was a huge shock."

Yoshida's retirement in January, after over three decades with Sony, has allowed him to offer previously undisclosed perspectives on his time at the company. He's also shared his opinions on Sony's live service strategy and the lack of a Bloodborne remake or sequel.