Former PlayStation Executive Reveals Studios Prefer Live-Service Games for Better Project Approval Chances

Everyone can relax—according to Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, no first-party studios under PlayStation’s banner have been coerced into making live-service games. Instead, these studios seem to have willingly embraced what’s dubbed the “big initiative,” perhaps because they believe it increases the chances of their projects being picked up and supported.

Yoshida, soon to voice a duck mascot, shared these thoughts during an interview with Sacred Symbols+ (hat tip to Push Square). It’s intriguing stuff, albeit typical of what you might anticipate from someone who’s held a high-ranking position at a large company like PlayStation.

In addressing the idea that studios aren’t being pressured into producing live-service titles, Yoshida explained: “From my experience, when studios notice the company spearheading a major initiative, they realize aligning with this can enhance their chances of getting projects approved and adequately supported.”

He added, “It’s not like [current PlayStation Studios chief Hermen Hulst] is demanding teams create live-service games. It’s more likely a joint decision.”

While technically correct, Yoshida’s comments do veer into corporate jargon. When studios observe their higher-ups heavily favoring one direction and assume following this trend prevents them from falling into that all-too-familiar pit of having multiple pitches rejected, it raises questions about the company’s internal health. Executives might want to address that.

Perhaps it’s a touch idealistic, but companies such as PlayStation should aim to cultivate an environment where their leading studios feel confident and trusted by those in charge. This way, they can propose games based on their expertise and unique abilities, fitting seamlessly into the market. Rather than having all teams jump on a company-wide bandwagon, which in the case of live-service titles—especially before PlayStation’s mostly unsuccessful major push—was already a difficult space to make a significant breakthrough.

Honestly, I haven’t spent the past few decades navigating the inner workings of one of gaming’s giants. But credit to Yoshida; he’s not necessarily labeling it as good, merely acknowledging that it’s a reality.

And about those recently canceled live-service projects at PlayStation? His blunt take: “Yeah, it sucks.”