There’s been an outpouring of support on social media this week for former PS Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida, after he said in an interview with VentureBeat that he had “no choice” but to take his role as indie games champion within Sony.
In comments which went viral – much to the executive’s surprise – the well-loved industry icon revealed: “When [ex-CEO Jim Ryan] asked me to do the indie job, the choice was to do that or leave the company.”
This outraged parts of the fanbase, as Yoshida is rightfully recognised as overseeing the most prolific part of PS Studios’ history. Many felt the ultimatum was outright disrespectful, even if Yoshida did go on to explain that he felt “very strongly” about indies and “really wanted” to do the job.
Now, in a Sacred Symbols+ interview (paywalled), Yoshida has explained that the indie role was created specifically for him, after a series of studios had publicly criticised PlayStation’s approach.
“Jim was worried about the situation with indies, and to his credit, he really supported [me] within the company and sent a message that it is very important to support our partners, including indies. So, I really appreciate Jim doing that and I really appreciated his suggestion to do this indie work and the position he created. I really don’t think anything bad about Jim; if anything I’m really grateful for how he helped and supported me for the past four years.”
Yoshida would, of course, go on to do incredible work. As he noted in his interview with VentureBeat, the health of indie games on PS5 is incredibly strong right now, and some titles have even been performing better on PlayStation than on PC.
Speaking specifically about his role as head of PS Studios, Yoshida acknowledged he’d been doing the job for a long time, and always wondered whether it’d be a good idea to bring in someone new with fresh ideas.
“I enjoyed my time and wanted to continue, of course, but in [the back of my] head I thought, ‘Maybe it’s good for a new person to come in with fresh ideas and perspectives.’ Especially [current PS Studios boss Hermen Hulst], who’s a bit younger with new ideas.”
Yoshida pointed out that he had no interest in making TV shows and movies based on PS Studios properties, but noted that Hulst has done an incredible job building PS Productions, which has had a role in the creation of HBO’s award-winning adaptation of The Last of Us, among others.
[source patreon.com]
Comments 22
They got him on SS+? The interview I've been waiting on, going to have to restart my Patreon.
Classic example of fans without all the facts projecting and filling in the gaps. They dislike Jim Ryan so anything that can possibly be his fault will be in their minds. The world is usually far more nuanced. Classy as ever from Shu.
He also confirmed that he was the person who signed the contract that approved an Concord prototype with Probably Monsters (who was the owner of Firewalk at the time). Said he visited Firewalk and felt the team was a talented and experienced to work with a online game.
(And Helldivers 2 was planned to be a PS5 launch game)
@themightyant He literally said that it was either Indies or him leaving PlayStation. There are no "gaps to fill."
@ED_209 fans will always find a way to blame Jimmy
@Godot25 He did say in the interview that they'd both been at the company so long and were friends they were able to be completely honest and frank with each other.
Excited to hear this interview when it drops on youtube. Colin and crew are knocking it out of the park.
@get2sammyb Well, there was a rumor during 2108-2019 about power struggle between Ryan and co. and Layden (and maybe even Yoshida) which Ryan won. It start to make a sense now.
@Godot25 I don't think that's really backed up by anything Yoshida says in this interview though.
Shu did a great job with indies but Ryan made a massive mistake demoting him to just that role.
Look at the current state of Sonys teams and strategy compared to when it was run by Shu. Night and day difference.
I’m glad Herman has taken a step back but do miss the old Sony exec team with house, Shu and co…
Take the job or leave. Lovely from Jim.
@Dodoo He doesn't see it that way. He says in the interview that he was constantly thinking they needed a fresh perspective and new ideas, and he points to stuff like PS Productions which he admits he never would have done.
@Godot25 Your second comment is a perfect example of what I talking about, thank you for obliging on queue. Taking an online rumour and then saying it all "makes sense now...". Just fill in the gaps with your own biases and that's it, classic internet... we found the truth together, right?
I suspected Colin would get Shuhei on the show given how profligate the latter has been with giving interviews since leaving PlayStation, and their old friendship. Looking forward to listening.
@themightyant He also happened to be the best man for the indies role. His love of indie games was well known before then and the role is closer to his original role with PlayStation- signing and working with third party developers. Which at the time often meant smaller developers.
Ryan knew it needed sorting so he asked the person who he could trust most to handle it. Apparently that’s bad leadership to some people. Whether Hulst was the right man to succeed Shu is another question, but Shu was clearly the right person to reform their relationship with indies.
Shu did a better job in his roles both as head of PS studios and indies, and still humble and classy after leaving the company. If this is true, im sure it’s a bit more nuanced than this, but Jim comes across as a grade A as whole
Bring back Shuhei as PS studios CEO
@Lowdefal Of course, but telling the head of PS studios, who has done so well and who is respected, to go do that thing or leave the company is downright disrespectful. Even if he was the best man for the job. He also was the better man for the job he had at the time. Idk, the way it happened, again probably its a bit more nuanced than we know, just leaves me with a bad after taste.
Of course Shuhei is saying he appreciated the decision, but he also states he enjoyed it and would have liked to continued. He’s just being humble and respectful
So, the mainstream games journalism circuit who are upset that Sony no longer talk to them, misunderstood a article and proved why Sony no longer trust game journalism sites.
Also if games like Concord and Helldivers 2 were greenlit under Shu, that means we are only going to see Hulst's games from Saros and Intergalactic onwards.
@get2sammyb Fair.
Though no matter what his opinion it’s hard to argue the state of the studios now is nowhere near as productive and organised as it was with his leadership.
Haha...Jim Ryan.
Did anyone think that may have been Shuhei's thinking? That he wanted the Indies over any other department. I mean, if the job was created for him. Maybe he would have left if the indie job was never made.
@themightyant lol. I guess that giving person climbing corporate ladder option for demotion or to leave the company is perfectly normal
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