Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes, formerly of PlayStation’s executive team, have brought back their memorable “game-sharing” pose at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. This time, however, the image humorously features the absence of an actual game to accompany the gesture.
An Iconic Moment Revived
Back in 2013, Sony cleverly capitalised on the gaming community’s backlash against Microsoft’s restrictive game-sharing policies for the Xbox One. They released a viral instructional video that captured imaginations across the competitive console landscape. In this video, Yoshida, then PlayStation’s president of first-party studios, handed a physical copy of Killzone: Shadow Fall to Boyes, who was in charge of third-party relations. This simple act, which highlighted the straightforwardness of sharing games on the PlayStation 4, was immensely popular, garnering 21 million views in the years since.
Reunion with a Hint of Humour
Yoshida used his social media to share his reunion with Boyes at the Tokyo Game Show 2026. Alongside playful remarks like “Met with a best friend,” he posted a photo emulating their iconic pose, albeit without a game to pass between them. The lack of a physical game was not lost on fans, who saw it as a subtle nod to Sony’s current trajectory.
The All-Digital Future
This playful reunion comes against the backdrop of a significant shift in Sony’s strategy. Earlier in 2023, Sony announced plans to cease production of physical discs for PlayStation games by 2028, a move that has sparked considerable controversy among fans of tangible game ownership. The announcement stirred discontent, leading to organised protests and concern among retailers specialising in physical media. Industry analysts have suggested that this strategy could significantly impact traditional game stores and brick-and-mortar retailers.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.