Veteran PlayStation figure Shuhei Yoshida revealed that The Last Guardian, the acclaimed PS4 action-adventure game, might never have seen the light of day under a different publisher.  Despite facing a myriad of technical challenges during its protracted development, Yoshida's determination ensured the game's eventual release.

Speaking at the Taipei Game Show in 2025, Yoshida shed light on the long and arduous journey of The Last Guardian. The game, initially conceived by Team Ico in 2007, didn't launch until 2016 - a staggering nine years later.  Originally intended for the PlayStation 3, the hardware limitations of the console proved a significant obstacle in realizing the developers' vision.

Yoshida explained that The Last Guardian suffered from an alarmingly low frame rate on the PS3, plummeting to a mere 10-15 frames per second. After exhausting all possible avenues to improve performance, PlayStation transitioned development to the PS4, necessitating a substantial rewrite of the game's code.

Yoshida admitted he doubted The Last Guardian would have survived the greenlight process at another publishing house.  However, his commitment to Team Ico and the fans of their previous titles, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, fueled his resolve.  Yoshida's belief in director Fumito Ueda's vision instilled in him a 'must not fail' mentality.  At a critical juncture, he made the firm decision to release the game no matter the cost, rallying the team with a determined 'let’s go for it!' attitude.

Beyond the technical obstacles, The Last Guardian encountered several setbacks, most notably the departure of Ueda and other key members of Team Ico in 2011.  Fortunately, Ueda, along with lead programmer Jinji Horagai (of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus fame) and other Team Ico members, formed a new studio and, through contract work, helped Sony complete The Last Guardian.  In retrospect, with these new insights from Yoshida, the game's eventual release feels nothing short of a miracle.