Link: http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2014/09/shuhei_yoshida_congratulated_phil_spencer_over_minecraft_acquisition

Shuhei Yoshida Congratulated Phil Spencer Over Minecraft Acquisition

Posted Sat 20th Sep 2014 08:45 by Sammy Barker

Building bridges

The console war may be painted as a fierce battleground on the web, but in reality, that’s not the case at all. We already know that Xbox chief Phil Spencer has a good relationship with many of PlayStation’s more popular executives – and that mutual respect runs both ways. In fact, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida was one of the biggest proponents of the suit when he was promoted – and also one of the first to congratulate him on the Minecraft acquisition.

“I met Phil Spencer from Microsoft the other day at a party, and I said, ‘Congratulations!’” he revealed as part of an interview with a Japanese publication. However, there may have been an ulterior motive at play: “If they had said that they were going to end the PlayStation version with the purchase, that would have been terrible for us, but they didn't say that at all.” We wouldn’t get too comfortable just yet, Shuhei.

Either way, it’s clear that the pair have a good relationship, furthered by the fact that Yoshida actually understands what Spencer says. “I understand Phil,” he laughed. “The previous Microsoft people were very business-like, and I didn't understand what they were saying much, and there were many people that I got a strange feeling from – but I can understand what Phil Spencer says.” As the folks on NeoGAF noted, this is how fan fiction starts.

I very much believe that putting a customer-oriented gamer like Yoshida in charge of WWS was instrumental in the turn-around at Playstation. Microsoft has that same kind of potential with Spencer. I think they're both genuine people who understand the industry beyond just the bottom line. I think people like that have an understanding with one another, regardless of which company they work for, that almost makes them allies against the stiff suits.

ShuXPhil.
I ship it.

I know I shouldn't because I know what industry this is but any time I hear Phil Spencer I think of this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spencer

He's more famous in the UK. :P

For some reason I do think Notch didn't shop around and just went straight to microsoft. So it is like winning the lottery!

They better hope lightning can strike twice with Minecraft 2 (unless they just plan on making bank on the merchandise.

Releasing a Minecraft 2 would be the most idiotic thing they could ever do. Minecraft doensn't need a sequel.

I call this PR.

I hope that whoever succeeds them does as good a job. Those are big Shuheis to Phil. (okay, I just wanted to say that last part)

Will Minecraft still be at Sony and Nintendo consoles or what?