Sony is following in the footsteps of Nintendo by remaking the original PlayStation
Sony has officially introduced the PlayStation Classic via its YouTube channel. The new console is essentially a re-release of its 1994 bestseller, with upgraded 2018 hardware to make for an improved – but more limited – gaming experience.
The move doesn’t come as a great surprise, what with Nintendo releasing well-received NES and SNES reboots over the last couple of years. In a similar vein to its old rival, Sony hopes that the PlayStation Classic will bring retro gaming into the modern era, and be a collector’s item for any avid gamer.
The original PlayStation was a major success, confirming Sony’s position as the daddy of the console industry. It was the first gaming system to ship over 100 million units, easily outstripping the sales of the rival Nintendo 64 (of which we are yet to see a reboot).
The updated console mimics the design of the original, but is 45% smaller. It will feature a HDMI output, two replica controllers and physical buttons just like those found on the 1994 version.
Twenty games will be included in the price of the initial release, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3 and Wild Arms. These are the only five games shown in the trailer, but Sony promises to reveal the rest of the micro console’s library in the coming months, ahead of its scheduled release on 3 December.
The price of this nostalgic gaming trip? £90.
This raises the question: will anyone actually want to buy the PlayStation Classic?
At the time of writing, the original PlayStation can be purchased for just £23. The actual games themselves, however, are not so affordable. A quick check on Amazon shows that Spyro, Crash Bandicoot and Rayman will cost you upwards of £20 each.
These days, you could also pick up a PSP, PS Vita or PSTV on the cheap and play a whole plethora of PS1 games that are downloadable from the online store, without the niggly wires and buttons found on the original console.
So there are other options, but the PlayStation Classic still definitely has the potential to be a success story. Nintendo’s Classic Mini NES sold out just weeks after its release, with some units from third party sellers going for as much as £1,000 at one stage.
If Sony can produce a solid lineup when it reveals the 15 remaining included games, whilst producing a practical console that maintains a retro gaming feel, they could just have a gem on their hands.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk