Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president, Shuhei Yoshida, says PlayStation's growing focus on blockbuster AAA games contributed to the closure of Japan Studio. Speaking at the Computer Entertainment Developers Conference (CEDEC 2026), Yoshida explained that Sony prioritized games that could drive PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PS5 hardware sales. Japan Studio shut down in 2021 despite producing some of PlayStation's most acclaimed franchises. Its portfolio included Shadow of the Colossus, Ape Escape, Siren, LocoRoco, Patapon, Gravity Rush, and Astro Bot. Yoshida stated that the studio was known for creative ideas, but its projects no longer matched Sony's first-party strategy.