Xbox gains points on PlayStation, but Shuhei Yoshida questions the new Game Pass review

The veteran former PlayStation executive praises Microsoft's multi-platform strategy, although he does not share all of its decisions.

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In a recent interview, Shuhei Yoshida (former head of PlayStation Studios and one of the most respected voices in the industry) surprised with positive statements towards Microsoft. The Japanese executive highlighted that he appreciates the new direction Xbox is taking, especially the openness towards other platforms like PlayStation, something he considers beneficial for both players and the market.

During his intervention on the Skill Up podcast, Yoshida acknowledged that the arrival of titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle to PlayStation has had a noticeable impact. According to him, Microsoft has become the most popular publisher on the PlayStation Store, demonstrating the interest of PS5 users in Xbox Game Studios productions.

Yoshida’s only disagreement: the price hike of Game Pass

Although, not everything was praise. Yoshida also admitted that he disagrees with the price increase of Xbox Game Pass, recently announced along with the service’s renovation. According to him, this type of decision can generate discontent among players, especially when it occurs in a context of growing competition between subscription services.

The Japanese executive considers that Game Pass remains a very attractive proposal, but warns that price increases must be handled with care if Microsoft wants to maintain public trust. Although he did not hesitate to praise the vision of the Redmond company and its bet on expanding the Xbox brand, he made it clear that the strategy must balance value and accessibility.