Industry Veteran Shuhei Yoshida, Key Figure in PSVR Development, Leaves Sony

Shuhei Yoshida, or simply ‘Shu’ to many in the gaming world, recently wrapped up an impressive career with Sony that spanned almost 32 years, marking the end of an era.

In November, Yoshida shared the news of his departure, setting January 15th, 2025, as his official retirement date. Now, having once held the prestigious title of President of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Worldwide Studios, Yoshida has bid Sony farewell.

He took to Twitter to share a lighthearted moment from his farewell party, expressing the joy of the occasion with a tweet: “At farewell party yesterday 😆 pic.twitter.com/hpiPWQIO1z”—Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp), January 14, 2025.

In a heartfelt interview on the PlayStation blog, Yoshida reflected on his long journey with the company, “I’ve been with PlayStation from the beginning, and this is my 31st year with PlayStation. And when I hit 30 years, I was thinking, hmm, it may be about time for me to move on. You know, the company’s been doing great. I love PS5, I love the games that are coming out on this platform. And we have new generations of management who I respect and admire. And I’m so excited for the future of PlayStation.”

Yoshida’s time with Sony is marked by significant contributions, especially during the PS3 and PS4 eras, where he was instrumental in the success of legendary franchises like Gran Turismo, The Last of Us, and Uncharted.

Yoshida also played a crucial role in steering Sony through pivotal times in its gaming division. He oversaw the development of innovative hardware and software, all while building strong partnerships with both ‘AAA’ and indie game developers. This dedication culminated in his later role as the Head of Indies Initiative at PlayStation after stepping down from his presidency at Worldwide Studios.

Not one to shy away from innovation, Yoshida championed the PSVR initiative with a vision to bring virtual reality to the masses via the PS4. Unveiled to the public at GDC 2014 under the codename Project Morpheus, Yoshida passionately promoted VR, making numerous public appearances and fostering collaborative relationships with developers to enrich the platform’s content offerings.

His efforts led to the 2016 launch of PSVR, known for its competitive pricing and robust game lineup, which allowed it to be a more accessible VR option compared to high-end PC VR systems such as the HTC Vive and the original Oculus Rift, which required powerful computers.

While Yoshida hasn’t clearly outlined his future plans, he remains engaged with gaming, recently announcing a voice role in Kaizen Game Works’ new title, Promise Mascot Agency, where he portrays ‘MonouGe,’ a bird-like character.

Above all, Yoshida has been a source of positivity and transparency in the industry. We at Road to VR wish him all the best in his new ventures, and in closing, we say: 吉田さん、ありがとうございます. (Thank you very much, Yoshida-san!)