Yoshida wants to keep a 'steady flow' of post-launch PS4 games | Polygon

"We started preparing for the Gamescom press conference after we finished E3, and at that point, we had no idea what we'd be able to announce from these smaller teams," Yoshida said. "It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was informed by our third party teams that this was the lineup of games we had prepared. I was like, 'Oh! That's amazing.'"

Those titles aren't just catalog filler, though. Everyone has a chance to create a console's killer app, Yoshida said; even a small team with a handful of employees and meager budget.

"I think it's fair to say that every game has a chance once it's released and more people have a chance to play it," Yoshida said.
"It's interesting that when we discuss the lineup and launch timing of titles, we always discuss internally with our marketing teams about strategy, about when we want these games," Yoshida explained. "It's not like we're saying we have to release everything at launch or we shouldn't release everything at launch. They're also going back and forth; they want to create a larger launch lineup, but at the same time, they want to create a supply of new titles with good pace. That's a competing goal."

The PlayStation 4 has already been adopted by third parties, padding out the launch lineup for the console significantly. According to Yoshida, their support has been critical in ensuring Worldwide Studios has the time it needs to get its products done right.

"I think, because we have good support from third parties, I think we should focus more on the steady flow of titles from our studios, rather than trying to get everything for the launch," Yoshida said.

As an added benefit, the unannounced games teased during Sony's Gamescom presser — PS4 games from Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica and more — can stay unannounced, because there are plenty of other games for the console coming out at launch.

"The teams really want to wait until they have something that people will see and say, 'Wow,'" Yoshida said. "It's a natural desire for game development teams to wait until later in the development to unveil their titles. I agree, if we talk about some new Naughty Dog game that's coming, and show some teaser movie or something, people might like it —but that might not be the best presentation of the game they're actually developing for PS4.

"It's a luxury for us not to announce these games we have in development, that we do not feel the need to do that to support the launch of PS4."