260°

Shuhei Yoshida Says PlayStation Needs to Rethink its Focus on Cutting-Edge Graphics

Shuhei Yoshida suggests PlayStation should shift its focus from raw graphical power to creating unique player experiences.

Jin_Sakai73d ago

“Cutting-Edge Graphics Remain Important, But They Shouldn’t Be the Main Focus“

Exactly why Nintendo games do so well. And not to mention Switch sold a whopping 150+ million while being the weakest of the bunch.

Cacabunga73d ago

Agree with yoshida san. Proof of his claim is Sony releasing old gen games remasters to showcase the new hardware

Scissorman73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

While I agree with graphics not being the be all end all, a huge part of why the Switch sold so well is because Nintendo is selling between 2-4 per household. Had the Switch been a traditional console, and not a handheld, I don't think it would have sold as well.

Having said that, Sony could really use some AA titles again. They are sitting on so many IP like Parappa and LocoRoco and Patapon that could be leveraged for small-budget releases.

raWfodog73d ago

"a huge part of why the Switch sold so well is because Nintendo is selling between 2-4 per household"

I'm responsible for 3 of those sales myself, one for each of my kids. Being the cheapest out of the bunch, and the most 'family-friendly', are the main reasons it sells so well.

But I agree, cutting-edge graphics are not the main selling point of games for me. But they are nice to look at lol.

ABizzel173d ago

It’s also because the portability aspect of a Nintendo Handheld reaches 3 gaming markets responsible for 20m - 30m gamers per generation for Nintendo (realistically 25m each minimum).

The child gamer
The Japanese gamer
The Pokémon gamer

And this doesn’t diminish Nintendo at all, because they’ve done the work to own each of these segments. Nintendo could literally lose:
every non-Pokémon core fan (the die hard who bought Wii U: 20m)
every core-casual fan (those who pick Nintendo as a 2ndary / 3rd platform)
every casual fan (Wii type hype / fad gamers)

And still have a successful handheld, because those 3 main audiences (kids, JP, Pokemon) carry so much weight for their handheld platforms, that at worst they will produce 60m units sold, but realistically around 70m - 80m sells alone which is crazy.

Sony is close to having something like that, but the don’t quite have it as locked in as Nintendo does. Sony owns Europe just like Nintendo owns Japan. They don’t have that single IP to the level of Pokémon (instead they have a collection of IPs and the hope for continuous New IP). And they don’t have that single locked in community to the extent Nintendo has for kids/parents (they have their core and core-casual, but graphics and hardware play a role in keeping them especially that core-casual who only hear games are better on “X” platfrom). But regardless they do so well globally as a primary home console they too see huge global success.

Not to bring Xbox into this, but this is what they as a platform need to find their niche in. The most powerful console isn’t working for them. And why I’ve been saying since the latter half of the 360 era they need to move into the PConsole space and hopefully they learned so they can have their own successful niche.

Melankolis73d ago

I'd rather play
1. A game with 8/10 graphic + 9/10 gameplay, than
2. A game with 10/10 graphic + 8/10 gameplay

Lexreborn273d ago

I’m not sure I see the mathematical difference in this comparison.lol this is essentially stating they are equivalent with possibly 1 minor point towards gameplay.

I feel like I would understand 7/10 gameplay more then the 8/10

Melankolis72d ago

Games that have 8/10 in gameplay are many, while the ones that have 9/10 are quite rare. That 1 point is small yet significant, a wall for many developers. Oh, and 7/10 is a already a skip for me.

FinalFantasyFanatic73d ago

That's honestly not enough difference for me to even care, the gap needed to be bigger.

73d ago
Knushwood Butt73d ago

OK, but did he suggest that WHILE he was at PlayStation?

Miraak82 73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

Games were really fun while he was running it , ps3 and ps4 were some of the best experiences I've had that weren't the same formulaic games we have now . He didn't need to SUGGEST anything because at the time the PS identity wasn't focused purely on cutting edge graphics as it is now . AA and more experimental games were still prevalent to its brand. Aside from like Helldivers 2 and Returnal it's been nothing but remakes. remasters and ridiculous budget sequels to their tried and true formula of games.

I mean look at what they did to littlebigplanet , they took out it's main selling point and turned it to a generic platformer while killing of its previous entries .

Knushwood Butt73d ago

PS3 and PS4 is a pretty big span.

I agree with some of your points, but a big part of PS has always been the tech.

I supported a lot of the niche stuff; got Concrete Genie day 1, but stuff like Dreams was a big misfire.

Ultimately, if they didn't sell then they weren't what customers wanted.

Helldivers 2? It's a sequel and not especially unique is it?

Do you mean Sackboy's Big Adventure or whatever it's called? I played that way more than LBP3, and it's a blast in co-op.

ZeekQuattro73d ago

Probably. Which is why he's gone now. 🤣

KwietStorm_BLM73d ago

He's saying it *because* he's not there. You can't just say whatever you want in a corporate job and keep your job. And he was moved to a whole other department years ago anyway. PlayStation probably wouldn't have had the indie push if it weren't for Yoshida. But he's just being transparent in interviews.

Christopher73d ago

Probably not since they have continued to outsell direct competition and at least match previous models of their own by pushing better graphics. I do think we are approaching a period in technology where gains are less noticeable and worthwhile. But the leap from PS4 to PS5 is still notable.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 73d ago
Killer2020UK73d ago

Graphics are the cherry on the cake, not the leading ingredient. Who wants to play the same game repeatedly with slightly improved fidelity each time?

Knushwood Butt73d ago

75 million Mario Kart 8 players?

soulreaper3773d ago

Facts.75 million MK8 players know what's up

ABizzel173d ago

That’s Nintendo’s entire catalog really. Few of their IPs stray far from this outside of 3D Zelda, 3D Mario, and maybe a couple of others once per generation.

Skyfly4773d ago

Sony need to stop faffing around and rehire Shuhei

OtterX73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

No kidding, head of Playstation. Love the guy!

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70°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
Jingsing1d 11h ago

How about an official level editor for Boltgun?

220°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

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twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb2d ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

PanicMechanic1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

“Getting ready for those GaaS reveals! Sony is a shadow of themselves this gen.”

You literally said this a couple of days ago. Start applying the clown make up, you hypocritical jester

derek2d ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack1d 21h ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

1Victor1d 19h ago

@rokos:”Hopefully “
I downvoted you not for been hopeful but because I have seen the same “NEXT YEAR WILL BE SPECIAL “ comment for the last 10+ and hasn’t seen anything special from Microsoft.
I hope next year will be the one that everyone been waiting for since the last 3 years of the Xbox 360, it have to be after over $80 billions spent on acquisitions.

Lightning771d 19h ago

So the new excuse is they don't count because it's from the ABK now huh. I guess all those 3rd party games count even less because they don't own them. According to your always crappy logic.

InUrFoxHole1d 10h ago

Lol. You haven't seen anything special? Do you even game?

OtterX2d ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer19922d ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX2d ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer19922d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted2d ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast2d ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica2d ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand1252d ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer19922d ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts2d ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

InUrFoxHole1d 10h ago

@OtterX
You're the dude mad at your exes new guy. She's with someone else... get over it.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 1d 10h ago
Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot072d ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen2d ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica2d ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer882d ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

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80°

The Witcher 3 Immerse Gamepack — Product Introduction with Marcin Przybyłowicz

Join Marcin Przybyłowicz, Expert Composer at CD PROJEKT RED and the mind behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST, as he sets up Immerse Gamepack on PC and dives into Geralt's adventures like never before — with spatial audio powered by Embody.

4d ago