Latest news with #ShuheiYoshida
Metro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: What is Rockstar Games' best game?
The Tuesday letters page asks whether video game execs need to be gamers or not, as one reader predicts Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Deluxe will be a while yet. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Rockstar #1 Interesting to see people having the confidence to speak out against GTA, which I don't think we're going to see a lot of as the game gets closer. I won't pretend I don't enjoy the games, and still play GTA Online occasionally, but what I will say is that GTA 5 is not my favourite Rockstar game at all and I do feel it's a shame they don't make a wider range of games like they used to. Bully was great and so was The Warriors, but I especially liked the first Manhunt and I'm very upset that never became a regular franchise. I don't think Midnight Club or L.A. Noire were as good but at least they were something different, as was Max Payne 3 (although I prefer Remedy's two games). I would say that Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily their best game. It has all the scope and size of GTA but none of the flaws that people have been pointing out. It has a good, clear plot. The characters are all interesting and many of them are likeable. They act like people too, not just try hard characters. The gameplay still isn't great but it's no worse than GTA 5 and I definitely prefer riding a horse to driving a car, at least one designed by Rockstar. So while I am looking forward to GTA 6 there are quite a few other Rockstar games I'd rather see get a sequel first. Focus One for two Is it me or has Shuhei Yoshida been acting like a bit of chump in his recent round of interviews? He was very down on Switch 2 for no reason that I could really see, other than he's ex-Sony, and now he, who is presumably very rich, is trying to tell us all that £80 for a video is a bargain and we shouldn't complain? I'm sure it is good value for money but at the end of the day that's money that a lot of us don't have lying around spare. Only a few years ago I would've been able to get two triple-A games for £80, at least a couple of months after launch, and soon I'm only going to be able to get one. I don't see how that's good for gaming or publishers or anyone else. It's definitely not good for my wallet. Brian Summer secrets So, the Switch 2 is out on June 5 and the Summer Game Fest is June 6… does that mean there's going to be some kind of big annoucement? I know people are 50/50 on whether there's a secret Christmas game still to be revealed but if there was I would've though this would be a good time to do it. I can't see anyone getting all that excited when Nintendo try to make the reveal of the release dates for checks notes Hyrule Warriors 3 and Kirby Air Ride 2 seem like some epic reveal. I'm with everyone else that thinks they are very strange things to be out in the first year, especially when that could mean there's really only big first party game out all year. I'm not going to try and predict anything, because it's Nintendo and who knows, but does GC think the two dates are coincidence or are they going to end up being connected? Paulie GC: Our guess is that it's just a coincidence. Nintendo doesn't tend to use third party events to announce anything significant. They may try and squeeze something in at the last minute, just because the timing is so odd, but we wouldn't count on it. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Strange ideas Like a lot of readers, I find Hideo Kojima a fascinating but flawed character. He's got so much obvious talent, but he's squandered so much of it on one franchise, that faded from public view surprisingly quickly. Dead Stranding was interesting but I'm not sure how a sequel is going to work if the core gameplay is still… walking very slowly and delivering parcels to holograms. I'm painting the game in its worst possible light there but even so, Death Stranding was just flawed as anything else Kojima has done and I would've liked to see him give it another roll of the dice with a different idea. Instead, he's working on a sequel, and what seem to be spiritual sequels to Silent Hills and Metal Gear. By which time he'll be well into his 60s… If all the ideas on the USB stick are as weird as the guy forgetting his abilities over time, I'd rather he do them now. It just feels he's permanently got one foot in the past and it's a real shame. Kurgen Come back later If Nintendo does do a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Deluxe edition for the Switch 2 do we have any idea who could be added to it? I would've said someone from a new Switch 2 IP but there really hasn't been one yet, which is a real shame. Maybe they could try and do one of the wheelchair basketball people, but I can't see many people queuing up for that. I also thought maybe a couple more Microsoft games, back when I expected them and Nintendo to be all chummy. Now it seems that was all just talk and Xbox doesn't have any plans at all, or at least none so urgent they've felt the need to talk about them so far. So if a Deluxe edition does happen, I don't think it's going to happen for a while, for the simple reason that there isn't anyone new to add, because they're all already been done. Roel Dungeons master I was going to compose a missive contemplating the likelihood of Dungeons 4 being ported to the Switch 2, only to find out that it's actually already out on Switch?! That would be an amazing feat if it worked but apparently it's a bug ridden, almost unplayable mess from the only review I can find (I literally had no idea and can't be the only one unaware of the port). So now, instead I'm wondering if they'll release a Switch 2 Edition or complete edition with all the DLC, or even just put some fixes through so the game runs better on the new hardware. I hope they do the same for Tropico 6 (both are by Kalypso, so if ones done the other will probably be too). As an aside, put me on the boat for people not really interested in GTA 6. Five or six years ago I'd been down for it but current, me who replayed GTA 5 before getting shot of my PlayStation 4, I found it pretty awful actually. The characters, the controls, the story, were all just urgh. I appreciate the characters aren't supposed to be likeable (except Franklin, maybe) but my god what were they thinking of with Trevor? Every time I had to play as him it felt like my soul was dying a little more, until I just gave up playing. I don't expect much from the single-player campaign of GTA 6, if there even is one… Solabound Glory days I don't think I'm the first person to say it on here but if Bungie lasts to the end of the year I will be shocked. I'll also be relatively surprised if Marathon isn't cancelled within the next few months. It's a game no one wants, in a genre no one will admit to liking, by a developer that seems to be in a downward spiral. It's sad to think how this sort of thing can happen. Halo 3 was 18 years ago now, and it's at least five years since Destiny 2 was relevant. It's unfortunate but Bungie were never the same after leaving Microsoft and I think the initial success of Destiny 1 just hid that for a while and now it's obvious. Tony T. Management sim I'm in two minds as to whether the head of a big games company needs to be a gamer or not. It feels like it should be a thing but at the end of the day what's most important is that they're a good business person, which the Take-Two guy seems to be. At least going by how long he's been in the job. Nintendo's Satoru Iwata was a great leader and actually used to make games, but his replacement is just a businessman with no developer background at all, and yet he seems to be doing a decent job. Then there's that other obvious example: Phil Spencer. He can't stop talking about what a keen gamer he is, and I think he genuinely is a fan, but I also think it's increasingly hard to pretend he's doing a good job at Xbox. Ultimately, I don't think it matters whether you're a gamer or not, whether you've ever been a developer or anything. The only thing that matters is being good at your job, which has nothing to do with making games but backing the right people that do, making sure they have the resources, and not interfering with them. I believe that's pretty much what the Take-Two guy himself said. Where you get a bit of a grey area is something like EA or Ubisoft, where you definitely feel like their leaders could stand to actually play some games once in a while, instead of just making decisions by spreadsheets. Remember that the team that made Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 used to work on Ubisoft, so they clearly weren't being creatively fulfilled there and that's a management problem. Lemmy Inbox also-ransI was thinking of getting Doom: The Dark Ages after the positive reviews but I was shocked to discover it was £70. This isn't Call Of Duty, this is a single-player only game that apparently is quite easy. I'll come back on Black Friday. Pancus If Red Dead Redemption 2 is out on Switch 2 this year I think that could be a really good selling point, because the obvious comparison, in terms of graphics, is Zelda and Rockstar's game is lightyears ahead of that. Bosley More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: Should there be a GTA 6 spin-off on Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Games Inbox: Who is the best third party video game publisher? MORE: Games Inbox: Is there going to be a PS5 State of Play this summer?
Metro
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
People shouldn't complain about £80 games says ex-PlayStation boss
Sony veteran Shuhei Yoshida has defended the rising costs of games, as he supports the idea of variable pricing. Between the anger around Nintendo's £74.99 price tag for Mario Kart World and increased costs across Xbox games, it's clear game prices will be a big topic for months to come. GTA 6 looks set to become a key talking point in this debate, with analysts predicting it could cost upwards of £100 when it launches on May 26, 2026. Rockstar hasn't officially announced the price, but Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently stressed its commitment to variable pricing, with Mafia: The Old Country launching at £44.99 later this year. In a new interview, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, who recently expressed his disappointment with the Switch 2, has addressed concerns around rising game prices – and he doesn't think it's a bad thing. Speaking to Critical Hits, Yoshida expressed his support for variable pricing: 'I don't believe every game has to be priced the same. Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it is up to the publishers – or developers self-publishing – decision to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in.' While he believes there should be no standard price for games, Yoshida states that the most expensive titles – now priced at $70 or $80 (UK prices are expected to work out as £80, based on prior conversion rates) – are still a bargain when compared to other forms of entertainment. 'In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other form of entertainment,' Yoshida said. 'As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining about [it].' While defining a game's worth based on its length is always messy, if you use this metric, most games outclass film and television in terms of value for money. More Trending Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, for example, is moderately priced at £50 and takes around 30-40 hours to beat. When compared to the average £15 cinema ticket for a two hour film, there's no contest. In terms of franchises like Mario Kart, which releases new games very infrequently, there's an argument the £74.99 price point for Mario Kart World is justified, based on its quality and staying power as a multiplayer title; especially given £70 titles like EA Sports FC and Call Of Duty are released every year. However, the acceptance of these price points has perhaps become difficult to swallow due to the influx of free-to-play titles. When you can play Fortnite or Apex Legends for free, the idea of paying £80 for a game suddenly looks outdated and unappealing. It remains to be seen if these increased price points will actually affect sales, but it's easy to see Yoshida's point of view – even if it's not one that will be greeted with much enthusiasm by the average gamer. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Marathon delay predicted as concerns mount over the future of Bungie MORE: Games Inbox: Should there be a GTA 6 spin-off on Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be a third party port machine – Reader's Feature
Business Mayor
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Shuhei Yoshida Defends Growing Prices of Video Games
There's a huge debate going on in the gaming space right now centered around the price of gaming. Specifically, whether gaming itself is becoming 'too expensive.' We've seen 'ripples' of this discontent happen over the last several years, with games going from $50 to $60, to $70 with the Xbox Series X and PS5, and now, with the Nintendo Switch 2, some games will be $80. There are even rumors that GTA 6 could be the first true $100 title. Many fans are raging against Nintendo and others because of this. However, former head of PlayStation Studios Shuhei Yoshida has a different view on things. Shuhei Yoshida was chatting with Critical Hit Games and was asked about the price of gaming going up and here's what he had to say: 'When you look at life in general, other products in price have increased, you know, way more than the game price. So I think it was almost too late for the video game companies to start looking at the pricing structure. I don't believe that every game has to be priced the same. Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it's up to the publisher – or developers self-publishing – decision to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in.' Most would agree with this in certain ways, and even now, we see games like Clair Obscur Expedition 33 being $50 instead of $70, and that's likely part of its success. That being said, Yoshida also felt that gamers were being too hard on developers/publishers for the pricing: 'In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that the top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other form of entertainment. As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money,' he continues, 'I don't think they should be complaining.' READ SOURCE
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former PlayStation exec says "$70 or $80" games are a "steal": "As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It feels to me like the closer we get to the Nintendo Switch 2's June launch and the, apparently, $80 games associated with it, the more people are fighting with themselves over what is and isn't worth it. But at least Sony veteran and previous head of PlayStation Indies Shuhei Yoshida is free from inner turmoil – he thinks relatively expensive, high quality video games are unequivocally necessary. Speaking to Critical Hits Games in a video interview during the recent Gamescom Latam, Yoshida says "when you look at life in general, other products in price have increased, you know, way more than the game price. So I think it was almost too late for the video game companies to start looking at the pricing structure." "I don't believe that every game has to be priced the same," Yoshida continues. "Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it's up to the publisher – or developers self-publishing – decision to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in." Nintendo openly shares this mindset, as current Nintendo of America product experience VP Bill Trinen told IGN in April: "We just look at each individual game and we look at the content and the value of that game, and then we say, 'what is the right price for the value of this entertainment?'" The developer elected to price its strange Switch 2 tutorial, Welcome Tour, at $10 – instead of making it free like PlayStation's comparable Astro's Playroom. Yoshida continues to say that, "In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that the top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other form of entertainment." "As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money," he continues, "I don't think they should be complaining." "I don't know" how much Borderlands 4 will cost, Gearbox boss says, but it had "more than twice the development budget for Borderlands 3" and "it might be" $80 like some Nintendo and Xbox games.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former PlayStation boss blames AAA "production costs" for $80 games, says titles with "tighter teams" like Clair Obscur could be the way forward
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Former Sony Interactive and PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida thinks the move toward $80 games was always inevitable. In the last few months, Nintendo shocked the internet by announcing that Mario Kart World would be its first modern game with a $80 price tag. Xbox wasted no time in jumping aboard and soon revealed that at least some of its new first-party games would also be $80 by the end of the year - hello, Call of Duty? So when Rockstar Games again showed off GTA 6 this week, and everyone saw its expensive-smelling, almost jaw-dropping graphics up close, questions were raised about how much it would cost, too. Surely, if there's any game that can get away with $80, it's the game with individually rendered arm hairs and realistically bubbling beer bottles? In an interview with PlayStationInside, Yoshida said he doesn't know "if Rockstar will jump at the chance" to charge $80, though those price hikes were "going to happen sooner or later." Yoshida's reasoning is one we've all heard politicians echo forever: "Inflation is real and significant, but people expect games that are ever more ambitious and therefore expensive to develop... it's an impossible equation." Of course, inflation is a real thing, but the problem is that wages haven't kept up, so we now have entire online campaigns begging Nintendo to "drop the price." Alongside inflation, Yoshida also points to the ever-ballooning budgets in AAA games these days, where projects such as Horizon Forbidden West and The Last of Us Part 2 can cost upwards of $200 million to make. "Everything in video games today is more advanced and more technologically demanding than ever before, and therefore requires more resources," he added. "In the end, the heart of the matter lies in production costs. And that's why industry actors are so keen to diversify their revenues, in order to continue producing the AAA games that the public buys before anything else." He says evermore frequent remasters and remakes are part of this move, as are games-as-a-service and subscription platforms. But, ultimately, what might help the industry is more games made with moderate budgets and teams, like the recently released Je'RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based $50 throwback that's sold over two million copies in two weeks. "The game is just as phenomenal visually, despite the fact that the team only has around thirty people," Yoshida said. "This is one of the ways forward, I think, because you can make excellent games with tighter teams and budgets without compromising quality." $80 Switch 2 and now Xbox games aren't a big shock, analyst says, and games haven't really been $70 for a while: "The average price people are paying ... is much higher" Sign in to access your portfolio
