Sony’s Yoshida: PS3 price cut is a ‘relief’

It’s not just third party publishers that have breathed a sigh of relief over Sony’s long-awaited PS3 price cut. Even those within Sony itself are wiping their foreheads. Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida has said that the price cut represents the removal of a barrier that was holding the PS3 back, and expressed relief now that it had arrived.

“We’re so excited about the products we’re working on for release this year, but if there was one thing that could have prevented the success of our titles we felt that would be the price point — so we’re relieved to see it finally happen,” he confesses. 

Yoshida also states that Sony has no fear over the success of its more traditional games, but that the “casual” and unique titles are a primary concern: “Games like MAG, or those hardcore games, we have no concerns over. But games like EyePet, or Heavy Rain, or ModNation Racers — they’re targeted to grow the audience, and it’s crucial to make the hardware more approachable to those consumers.”

I really hope it works out for Sony this Christmas. Not for the platform holder’s sake, but for the rather awesome games coming to the PS3. Heavy Rain, ModNation Racers and EyePet all look like they deserve to do really well, and I hope the PS3 price cut means such original titles will attain a wider audience. We can do nothing but wait and see.