Sony Veteran Remembers 'Almost Finished' Video Game for the Canceled Nintendo PlayStation Console

In a fascinating interview with MinnMax, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida delved into his early career at Sony, shedding light on his experiences with the elusive Nintendo PlayStation prototype. Joining Ken Kutaragi's team in February 1993, Yoshida was part of the group that developed the original PlayStation, which ultimately became a household name. However, his initial days at Sony also introduced him to the Nintendo PlayStation, a prototype that never made it to market.

Yoshida shared that new team members were immediately shown the working Nintendo PlayStation prototype. "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," he recounted. On his very first day, Yoshida had the unique opportunity to play a nearly completed game on this system. He likened the game to a space shooter similar to the Sega CD title Silpheed, which streamed assets from a CD. Although Yoshida couldn't recall the developer or the exact location of its creation, he hinted at the possibility of the game still existing 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, often discussed in the context of what might have been if the collaboration between Nintendo and Sony had continued. Its rarity and the allure of an alternate gaming timeline have made it a focal point in auctions and among collectors.

The prospect of revisiting Sony's space-shooter game designed for the Nintendo PlayStation is intriguing. There is precedent for such releases, as evidenced by Nintendo's decision to release Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation. This raises the tantalizing possibility that this piece of video game history could one day be shared with the world.