Lack of online influenced Sony decision to cancel Eight Days

In our exclusive interview with Shuhei Yoshida, the new head of Sony Worldwide Studios has admitted that Sony’s increasing move towards online-supported games lead to the cancellation of its London Studios’ Eight Days.

Two weeks ago it emerged that two London Studios big-budget PS3 games, The Getaway and Eight Days, had been cancelled.

Yoshida was appointed as Phil Harrison’s replacement as head of Sony Worldwide Studios earlier this year.

When asked what his overall strategy going forward for PS3 titles, he said: "There are many areas but one focus that has been and will be key is how we use the online technology and PlaySation Network to involve more consumers in participating. LittleBigPlanet is a major, major step forward in that this year. Prior to that we released SingStar, and I’ve been checking out people’s videos – it’s been very interesting to see that people enjoy publishing their performances. And the Buzz channel – I can’t wait to see the strange questions people come up with for that! So that’s the major common theme that we are trying to enforce with all our projects.

He adds: "I think that we have more projects that we want to do than we do have resources. So, the cancellation of Eight Days was not necessarily because that project was failing, but because we looked at how it fit in the portfolio and where it fit as a production."

Eight Days’ lacking online content "was part of the consideration" he added.

"As I say, there are many projects we want to do and we look at many different angles for them, such as profitability, how long it may take, and where it fits in the portfolio – along with other strategic aspects that we are trying to delivery for the platform."