PlayStation Classic
Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiled the PlayStation Classic at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2018. The console officially launched on the 3rd of December 2018, marking exactly twenty-four years since the original PlayStation hit store shelves. This timing was not accidental but a deliberate nod to the platform's legacy. Critics immediately began comparing the new device to Nintendo's earlier mini consoles like the NES Classic Edition and Super NES Classic Edition. The announcement generated immediate interest from fans who had long hoped for an official retro solution from Sony.
The internal architecture relies on a MediaTek MT8167a Quad A35 system on a chip with four central processing cores clocked at 1.5 GHz. Graphics are handled by a Power VR GE8300 graphics processing unit paired with 1 GB of DDR3 memory. Storage capacity sits at 16 GB of eMMC flash storage which holds the preloaded software. Two replica controllers come bundled with the unit featuring USB interfaces and cords measuring approximately 4 feet in length. These controllers lack analog sticks and vibration feedback found in later revisions of the original hardware. An HDMI cable connects the device to modern televisions while power is supplied via a standard USB connection. The AC adapter required for operation is sold separately rather than included in the box.
Twenty games ship with the console running off the open source emulator PCSX ReARMed instead of proprietary software. Five titles were revealed during the initial September 2018 announcement before the full roster appeared one month later. Eight specific game selections vary depending on the region where the console is purchased. Nine of these titles utilize PAL releases favored in European countries regardless of the platform's release location. This choice forces those games to run at a slower frame rate of 50 Hz compared to the NTSC standard of 60 Hz used in North America and Japan. Players in NTSC regions may find these nine titles respond slower than they expect from the original versions. The system does not interface with PlayStation Network nor can users add new games after launch. Each title allows players to suspend gameplay by pressing the reset button to save their state instantly.
Critics panned the emulation quality and game selection while praising the nostalgic design of the unit. Tristan Ogilive of IGN criticized the lack of popular titles and noted that almost half of the library consists of PAL versions causing consistency problems. Sam Loveridge of GamesRadar+ praised the look but complained about weak presentation due to black bars on the screen side. John Linneman of Eurogamers Digital Foundry highlighted subpar emulation and poor image quality alongside the use of PAL releases on North American units. Chris Carter of Destructoid stated the emulation was sometimes worse than the original hardware itself. Joe Juba of Game Informer lamented the absence of analog sticks and the barebones menu making it suitable only for an extremely specific audience. Despite the criticism, Twisted Metal, Jumping Flash!, Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VII, and Metal Gear Solid received praise as standout genre examples.
The console sold 120,000 units during its first week in Japan alone. Sales figures remained noticeably low in the United States within the first four weeks leading up to Christmas. Major retailers like Amazon began offering discounts as low as $59.99 just months after launch. Walmart further reduced the price to $49.99 shortly after the initial holiday season ended. By June 2019, prices dropped to $49.99 across U.S., European, and U.K. retailers during PlayStation Days of Play events. Best Buy and Amazon eventually listed the unit for as little as $39.99 by July 2019. Reasons for these steep cuts included overproduction of the unit and consumer disinterest following negative press from journalists. The combination of high initial pricing and weak reception drove these rapid price reductions throughout 2019.
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Common questions
When was the PlayStation Classic officially launched?
The PlayStation Classic officially launched on the 3rd of December 2018. This date marked exactly twenty-four years since the original PlayStation hit store shelves.
What internal hardware components power the PlayStation Classic console?
The PlayStation Classic uses a MediaTek MT8167a Quad A35 system on a chip with four central processing cores clocked at 1.5 GHz. Graphics are handled by a Power VR GE8300 graphics processing unit paired with 1 GB of DDR3 memory and 16 GB of eMMC flash storage.
How many games come preloaded on the PlayStation Classic system?
Twenty games ship with the PlayStation Classic running off the open source emulator PCSX ReARMed instead of proprietary software. Eight specific game selections vary depending on the region where the console is purchased.
Why do some PlayStation Classic games run at a slower frame rate?
Nine of these titles utilize PAL releases favored in European countries regardless of the platform's release location. This choice forces those games to run at a slower frame rate of 50 Hz compared to the NTSC standard of 60 Hz used in North America and Japan.
At what price did the PlayStation Classic sell during its first week in Japan?
The PlayStation Classic sold 120,000 units during its first week in Japan alone. Sales figures remained noticeably low in the United States within the first four weeks leading up to Christmas.