Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida recently shared insights into his experience with the unreleased Nintendo PlayStation prototype, including playing a nearly completed game developed for the cancelled console.
In a MinnMax interview, Yoshida recounted his career at Sony, starting with his early work alongside Ken Kutaragi, the "father of PlayStation." Joining Kutaragi's team in February 1993, during the original PlayStation's development, Yoshida had the opportunity to experience the Nintendo PlayStation prototype firsthand. He emphasized that this was a functional prototype, not just a concept.
While the game's specifics remain elusive, Yoshida compared it to a contemporary space shooter, possibly Silpheed for the Sega CD, highlighting its reliance on CD-based asset streaming. He couldn't recall the developer's identity or the game's origin (U.S. or Japan). However, regarding the game's potential survival in Sony's archives, he expressed optimism.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Yoshida commented. "It was on a CD, so... yeah."
The Nintendo PlayStation remains a highly sought-after collector's item, largely due to its unreleased status, representing a fascinating "what if" scenario in gaming history. Its prototype has commanded significant attention in auctions and among collectors.
The prospect of this Sony-developed space shooter seeing the light of day is intriguing, not unprecedented. Nintendo's release of Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation provides a precedent. Perhaps this lost piece of gaming history could yet be rediscovered.
