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

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.

Yoshida, in a MinnMax interview, recounted his career journey at Sony, starting with his early collaboration with Ken Kutaragi, the "father of PlayStation." Joining Kutaragi's team in February 1993, during the original PlayStation's development, Yoshida and his colleagues were introduced to the Nintendo PlayStation prototype. He emphasized that this was a functional prototype, not just a concept.

"Everyone joining [Ken Kutaragi]'s team around then saw the Nintendo Sony PlayStation prototype first – a working model," Yoshida stated. "They also had an almost finished game. I played it the day I started."

The game, described as a space shooter reminiscent of Sega CD's Silpheed (due to its CD-based asset streaming), remains largely a mystery. Yoshida couldn't recall the developer or its origin (U.S. or Japan). However, regarding the game's potential survival in Sony's archives, he expressed optimism.

"I wouldn't be surprised," he 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 and the intriguing "what if" scenario it represents for Nintendo and Sony. Its appearance at auctions and among collectors highlights its significance.

The prospect of this Sony-developed space shooter seeing the light of day is enticing. Given Nintendo's release of Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation, the possibility isn't entirely far-fetched. Perhaps this lost piece of gaming history could yet be rediscovered.