US EditionFormer Sony Exec Labels Microsoft's Approach to Gaming Subscriptions as 'Dangerous'
- Shuhei Yoshida, former Sony executive, called Microsoft's approach to releasing games via subscriptions dangerous during Gamescom LATAM 2025.
- Yoshida warned that if subscriptions become the only way to play games, the owners will dictate what types of games get made, risking industry diversity.
- He contrasted Microsoft's Game Pass, which releases first-party games on day one, with Sony's model of premium launch followed by later subscription inclusion.
- Yoshida warned that relying solely on subscription services for gaming could pose significant risks, as it may limit the variety of games developed and hinder innovation from smaller studios.
- Yoshida’s warning suggests caution in subscription reliance, as big companies controlling game access could hinder innovation and industry growth.
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11 Articles
Former Sony Gaming Head Decries Impact of Game Subscription Services As "Risky" for Developers
Shuhei Yoshida, the former head of Sony Entertainment, has decried the outsized impact of game subscription services, essentially saying that they had the potential to stifle innovation and put too much emphasis on AAA and first-party games and make it even more difficult for indie developers to break into the scene. In an interview with Game Developer, Yoshida shared his concerns about the rise of subscription services, adding that Sony's appro…
Xbox Game Pass & Subscription Services are "Dangerous" Former PlayStation Boss Warns Devs
In a new interview, former PlayStation and Sony Executive Shuhei Yoshida issued a warning that suggests Xbox Game Pass and subscription services like it could be “really dangerous” for developers. In recent months, the former PlayStation Boss, Shuhei Yoshida has been outspoken on numerous issues in the gaming sector. Back in March 2025, Yoshida shared some insights into the inner workings of Sony’s game development operations, including why the …
Sony Has Approached Subscriptions 'Healthier' Than Xbox, Says Former PlayStation Boss
"Not to overpromise and to allow people to spend money".Since leaving Sony, former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has been pretty outspoken about the industry at large - and this week, he's commented on why he believes his former employer has approached the subscription service model in a "healthier" way than Xbox.Acknowledging his bias as a former PlayStation leader before going on to champion them anyway, Yoshida said that "the way Sony appro…
Discussion - Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida feels...
Although he feels Microsoft might have made an initial misstep with that 'day one' pledge, Yoshida said the company has excelled in other areas. He described Microsoft's approach to backwards compatibility—which saw the company make it possible for Xbox Series X | S owners to play thousands of original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One titles—as "smart and very well planned." "They must have put a lot of engineering effort in to achieve what they ha…
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