PlayStation legend Shuhei Yoshida says Jim Ryan fired him because he didn’t listen to him

Shuhei Yoshida, the legendary PlayStation executive, has revealed that he was effectively “fired” from his role as president of SIE Worldwide Studios in 2019 by Jim Ryan because he refused to listen to him. Speaking at the ALT: Games event in Australia, the 30-year PlayStation veteran disclosed that Ryan had asked him to do “ridiculous things,” which Yoshida declined.

After 11 years leading first-party development and overseeing major PlayStation studios including Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, Sucker Punch Productions, and Santa Monica Studios, Yoshida was removed from the position. He was given an ultimatum: take on a new indie developer initiative or leave the company. He chose the former, with Hermen Hulst replacing him as president.

“I helped Santa Monica to make God of War, Naughty Dog to make Uncharted and The Last of Us, and Sucker Punch to make the beautiful Ghost of Tsushima,” Yoshida recounted. “But in 2019, after 11 years leading the first-party development, I was fired from the role.”

The veteran, who played a crucial role in launching the original PlayStation, remained at Sony for another six years before retiring in 2025, concluding a 31-year tenure with the company. While Yoshida’s account carries a tone of good humor, it sheds light on internal tensions between the longtime PlayStation figure and Ryan’s leadership vision.

PlayStation legend Shuhei Yoshida says Jim Ryan fired him because he didn’t listen to him

Sources