Shuhei Yoshida, an iconic figure largely considered the face of PlayStation, has shared that he will be leaving Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) at the beginning of 2025. Yoshida’s departure marks the end of a remarkable career with Sony’s gaming division, where he has been a steadfast presence since before the original PlayStation launched back in 1994.
On a recent episode of the PlayStation official podcast, Yoshida, who currently heads SIE’s Indie initiative, reflected on his three-decade journey with the innovative gaming brand. Known as one of the founding members of the PlayStation team from 1993, he worked closely with the former CEO, Ken Kutaragi, often hailed as the “father of PlayStation.” Yoshida’s announcement about his looming exit signifies a significant shift within Sony’s gaming arm, although it appears he’s ready to turn a new page in his life.
Addressing his plans to move on from January 15, 2025, in episode 502 of the Official PlayStation Podcast, Yoshida expressed that the thought of leaving has been on his mind for quite some time. Assured in the robust state of the PlayStation ecosystem and guided by his genuine passion for the PS5 and its upcoming games, he feels now is the right time to bow out. Chatting with Sid Shuman, SIE’s Senior Director for Content Communications, Yoshida affirmed that PlayStation is in a good place.
Yoshida, while discussing with Shuman, couldn’t help but share his excitement for a couple of PS5 titles that have recently captivated him. One standout game for him is “Slitterhead,” an intriguing action horror from Bokeh Game Studio, allowing players to hop into the shoes of various NPCs. Keiichiro Toyama, famed for titles like Gravity Rush and Silent Hill, leads the creative vision for this project. Yoshida likened the intense boss battles in Slitterhead, where, humorously, even a seemingly unassuming character like an old lady could strike the final blow, to those encountered in Soulslike games.
Another title Yoshida found praise-worthy is “Nine Sols,” a 2D platformer from Taiwanese indie developer Red Candle Games. He compared it to a side-scrolling version of FromSoftware’s “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,” highlighting its combat mechanics that allow for skillful parries and counters. This game also creatively integrates elements of Chinese folklore with a sci-fi twist, earning it comparisons to the beat ’em up game “Sifu.” Successfully executing these combat techniques in Nine Sols, Yoshida says, leaves players feeling truly accomplished.
Before formally stepping down, Yoshida plans to make appearances at major industry events like The Game Awards in December 2024 and the Taipei Game Show in January 2025. Even as he looks forward to a more relaxed schedule post-departure, he hinted at continuing to support indie developers in some capacity, showcasing his ever-enthusiastic commitment to the gaming community.
