In a fascinating interview with MinnMax, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida delved into his early career at Sony and his encounters with the legendary Nintendo PlayStation prototype. Yoshida, who joined Ken Kutaragi's team in February 1993, shared insights into the development of the original PlayStation that eventually hit the market. However, he also had the unique opportunity to explore the Nintendo PlayStation, a collaboration between Sony and Nintendo that never saw the light of day.
Yoshida recounted that new team members were immediately introduced to the working prototype of the Nintendo Sony PlayStation. "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 stated. On his very first day, Yoshida had the chance to play a game on this system, which he described as nearly finished.
The game, likened by Yoshida to the Sega CD title Silpheed due to its space-shooter genre and use of streaming assets from a CD, left a lasting impression. Although Yoshida couldn't recall the developer or the specific location of its creation, he hinted at the possibility of the game still existing in Sony's archives. "I wouldn't be surprised," he noted, suggesting that the nature of the CD format might have preserved it.
The Nintendo PlayStation remains a coveted piece of gaming history, often speculated upon as a "what-if" scenario that could have altered the trajectories of both Sony and Nintendo. Its rarity has made it a prized possession in the collector's market and auction houses. The allure of experiencing Sony's space-shooter game, originally intended for the Nintendo PlayStation, adds to the mystique. This notion isn't entirely far-fetched, given that Nintendo itself released Star Fox 2 years after its cancellation. Perhaps, one day, this unique piece of gaming history will be unearthed and shared with the world.