Shuhei Yoshida's Legacy: Insights on PlayStation's Game Classification and Industry Impact

After a lengthy career with PlayStation and the gaming industry, Shuhei Yoshida has left his mark at Sony Interactive Entertainment. With nearly thirty years of service, he is remembered as a passionate advocate for gaming, especially in his support of independent developers. His commitment to the gaming community is undeniable, but with his departure comes a handful of subtle critiques concerning decisions made by the company during his tenure.

Even in retirement, Yoshida remains a respected voice in the industry, often sharing his insights. Recently, he addressed the internal terminology used by Sony to categorize games across its platforms. In an interview with Last Stand Media, he clarified how the company differentiates between first-party, second-party, and third-party titles:

First-party games include titles like Helldivers 2 and Returnal.

Second-party games consist of Stellar Blade, Rise of the Ronin, and Nioh.

Third-party games, which are exclusive to PlayStation, feature titles such as Final Fantasy VII Remake and FF XVI.

Yoshida’s contributions to the gaming world and his insights continue to resonate, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms of one of the largest players in the industry.