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

Shuhei Yoshida, a former executive at PlayStation, recently shared intriguing details about his experience with the Nintendo PlayStation prototype during an interview with MinnMax. Reflecting on his extensive career at Sony, Yoshida reminisced about joining Ken Kutaragi's team in February 1993, during the development phase of the original PlayStation. While that PlayStation eventually made it to the market, Yoshida and his colleagues were also introduced to the 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," Yoshida revealed. He added that on his very first day, he had the opportunity to play an "almost finished" game on this system. Yoshida likened the game to a space shooter similar to the Sega CD title Silpheed, which streamed assets from a CD. Although he couldn't recall the developer or the country where it was made, the possibility of this game still existing in Sony's archives sparked interest.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Yoshida commented optimistically, hinting at the potential preservation of the game due to its CD format.

The Nintendo PlayStation remains a fascinating piece of gaming history, a rare artifact of what could have been a different trajectory for Sony and Nintendo. This prototype has garnered significant attention in auctions and among collectors, underscoring its unique place in gaming lore.

The notion of revisiting Sony's space-shooter game developed for the Nintendo PlayStation is compelling. Historical precedents exist, such as Nintendo releasing Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation. This raises the exciting possibility that this slice of video game history might one day be shared with the world.

The Nintendo PlayStation prototype console. Photo: Mats Lindh (Flickr/CC BY 2.0).