Former PlayStation Executive Claims Studios Opt for Live-Service Games for Better Approval Chances

No worries, everyone. Shuhei Yoshida, the former PlayStation executive, has assured us that, as far as he knows, none of the first-party studios under PlayStation’s umbrella have been coerced into developing live-service games. Instead, it seems they’ve voluntarily jumped on this “big initiative,” likely thinking it would enhance their chances of getting a project noticed and supported.

During an interview with Sacred Symbols+ (shoutout to Push Square for the heads up), Yoshida shared these insights. While it’s intriguing, it’s perhaps exactly what you’d expect to hear from someone who’s been in an executive position at a company of this size.

He elaborated on this by saying, “In my experience, when studios notice the company is backing a big initiative, they realize that going along with it increases the likelihood of getting a project greenlit and supported.” Continuing, he clarified, “It’s not like Hermen Hulst, the current head of PlayStation Studios, is directing teams to create live-service games. Instead, it seems like more of a mutual agreement.”

While what he says might be technically accurate, there’s a hint of corporate jargon in Yoshida’s language. If what he’s suggesting is that studios are tuning into what their bosses are excited about, and riding that wave is seen as a surefire way to avoid the dreaded rejection pile many studios face, then perhaps this dynamic isn’t the healthiest for the company. It’s an issue that executives should probably address.

An ideal situation, in my view, would be one where companies like PlayStation create an environment where their top-notch studios feel trusted enough by the upper management. They should have the freedom to propose whatever they believe, from their experience and expertise, to be the best fit for the market and their particular skill set. This scenario would be much more productive than everyone hopping on the latest trend and overcrowding a space that, especially before PlayStation’s somewhat unsuccessful foray into live-service games, has been challenging to crack.

Admittedly, I’m not someone who’s spent the last three decades steering one of the most prominent gaming companies. Yoshida, to his credit, doesn’t seem to be endorsing this practice but merely pointing out its occurrence.

On the topic of live-service games that PlayStation recently dropped, he bluntly admitted, “Yeah, it sucks.”