Recalling the European Launch of PlayStation with Shuhei Yoshida

The 30th anniversary of the PlayStation's European launch has prompted Shuhei Yoshida to reflect on his experience with the console's development. Yoshida joined Sony in the 1980s and became part of the PlayStation group in 1993, eventually rising to president of SIE Worldwide Studios. He recalls being invited by Ken Kutaragi, then head of the PlayStation group, to play the original PlayStation prototype, which was initially designed as a CD-ROM add-on for Nintendo's Super NES. Yoshida notes that the system was nearly complete, with several games already finished, but its capabilities were limited due to its basis on Super Nintendo technology. The system's limitations were comparable to the Sega CD add-on for the Sega Genesis, which, despite allowing for large amounts of data to be streamed, was constrained by the 16-bit system's technical limitations. Yoshida believes that Nintendo's cancellation of the project was beneficial, as it allowed the Sony team to develop its own console rather than being tied to a Nintendo system. At the 1991 Consumer Electronics Show, Nintendo publicly abandoned Sony as the manufacturer of their Super NES CD-ROM add-on, instead partnering with Philips. This move ultimately spurred Sony to create its own rival console. Yoshida views the competition as healthy for the industry, noting that the diversity in directions taken by Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation is beneficial. The rare Nintendo PlayStation prototypes have become highly valuable, with one selling for $360,000 in 2020. Yoshida does not think that Kutaragi, who has at least one prototype, will sell it anytime soon, given his existing wealth. The US and European launches of the PlayStation occurred almost a year after its Japanese debut. Yoshida recalls that the Japan launch had a limited number of games, but the popularity of Ridge Racer helped carry the system. In contrast, the US and European launches in September 1995 had a stronger lineup of games, including titles from Psygnosis and a range of sports games. The main competition in Japan was the Sega Saturn, but the higher cost of goods for the Saturn allowed PlayStation to be priced lower in the US. Yoshida remembers the US and European launches as highly successful. However, the European market was distinct from those in the US and Japan, with multiple countries and different distribution channels. The competition between the US and European teams was intense, with each region seeking to outdo the other in terms of install base. In terms of control, Ken Kutaragi was a strong manager who dictated the overall direction, but he allowed regional management to handle local marketing messaging. This approach was necessary due to the lack of global internet connectivity at the time, which meant that regional marketing campaigns could differ without causing confusion. Thirty years on, the original PlayStation's graphics appear primitive, but at the time, they were cutting-edge. The transition from 2D 16-bit consoles to the 3D worlds offered by PlayStation was revolutionary, particularly with the vast data storage capabilities of CDs. The European PlayStation launch was just 18 years after the debut of the Atari VCS, which seems ancient by comparison. Looking back 18 years from the present day, it is clear that the pace of progress in the gaming industry has slowed, with modern consoles being functionally similar to those of the past. The 1995 launch was highly successful, with a good lineup of games, competitive pricing, and an effective marketing campaign. Yoshida notes that the team aimed to create games that adults could enjoy, and the European team's efforts to make the brand appealing to a wide audience were particularly successful. If he could change one thing, Yoshida wishes that more Japanese titles could have been released in Europe and the US. However, due to limited retail space, many Japanese games were not approved for release in these regions, leading to cult status for titles like Konami's Policenauts and Sammy's Deep Freeze. The 3D revolution led to some casualties, including 2D titles like Panzer Bandit and Mega Man X3, which were overlooked in favor of 3D games. Thankfully, the world has come to appreciate 2D games again, as evidenced by the success of Hollow Knight: Silksong.