In a fascinating interview with MinnMax, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida delved into his early career at Sony, sharing insights into his work with Ken Kutaragi, known as 'the father of PlayStation.' Yoshida joined Kutaragi's team in February 1993, during the development of the original PlayStation that eventually hit the market. However, new team members, including Yoshida, were also introduced to the intriguing Nintendo PlayStation prototype.
Yoshida recounted, "Everybody who joined [Ken Kutaragi]'s team around that time, the first thing they showed us was that Nintendo Sony PlayStation, like a prototype already working. And also they had almost finished a game on it. And I got to play the game on the system, the day I joined." The game, which Yoshida likened to the Sega CD title Silpheed, was a space shooter that streamed assets from a CD. Although Yoshida couldn't recall the developer or the exact location of its creation, he expressed optimism about the game's potential existence in Sony's archives, noting, "I wouldn't be surprised. You know, it was like a CD, so… yeah."
The Nintendo PlayStation remains a coveted piece of gaming history, a symbol of a potential alternate timeline where Sony and Nintendo's paths might have converged differently. Its rarity and unreleased status have made it a focal point in auctions and among collectors. The prospect of revisiting Sony's space-shooter game for the Nintendo PlayStation is tantalizing, especially given precedents like Nintendo's release of Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation. This glimpse into gaming's past offers hope that this unique piece of history might one day be shared with the world.
