Sony announced today that they will be releasing a limited edition PS4, in celebration of the original PlayStation’s release, in Japan, twenty years ago today. It reminds us of a simpler time, before Sony decided to start making their consoles exclusively black.
The “original grey” PS4 features the original “four-color” PlayStation logo, etchings of the iconic shapes of the four main buttons of the PlayStation controller (as well as the number “2,” for the twentieth anniversary), and a small aluminum plate in the lower right corner. This plate denotes which number of the limited edition you have. Did I mention? Only 12,300 units are being produced. Globally.
Of course, the console also comes with a DualShock 4 wireless controller, and what kind of special edition wouldn’t have neat features for its controller? Also grey, the controller’s “Home” button features the original PlayStation logo, and the touchpad is also etched with lots of little squares, triangles, circles, and exes, oh my.
The bundle also comes with a grey vertical stand for the PS4, normally sold separately (and also not grey), as well as a PlayStation Camera, which is, you guessed it, grey. It also features the classic, colorful logo.
It’s cool to see Sony celebrating the anniversary of their very first console. Originally hired by Nintendo to develop a CD-based add-on for the Super Nintendo (which, coincidentally, was the same deal Nintendo had with Phillips, which spawned the infamous CD-I), Sony defied the expectations of the world and created an innovative, popular console. We have the PlayStation to thank for the standard dual analog controller, the popularization of DVDs in game systems via the PS2, and the downfall of DVDs due to the Blu-Ray via the PS3.
Pre-orders will be opening this Saturday, December 6th, following the PlayStation Experience’s keynote. It is expected to retail at $499, which makes sense considering the limited quantities and extra features. We should also find out the release date on Saturday.
Personally, as a kid who spent his childhood being envious of his best friend’s PlayStation, I think this is very cool. But, as someone who already has a PS4, and doesn’t wish to spend another five hundred dollars, I’m afraid I’ll have to admire it from afar.
Happy birthday, PlayStation. Eagerly looking forward to the grey PS8 for the 40th anniversary.
