Games

Sony plugs into the retro mini console craze with PlayStation Classic

Sony plugs into the retro mini console craze with PlayStation Classic
Sony has announced the PlayStation Classic, a retro mini version of the original games console
Sony has announced the PlayStation Classic, a retro mini version of the original games console
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The PlayStation Classic will come with 20 games preinstalled, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms.
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The PlayStation Classic will come with 20 games preinstalled, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms. 
The PlayStation Classic is about 45 percent smaller than the original console
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The PlayStation Classic is about 45 percent smaller than the original console
Sony has announced the PlayStation Classic, a retro mini version of the original games console
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Sony has announced the PlayStation Classic, a retro mini version of the original games console
The PlayStation Classic includes two controllers, a USB cable for power and an HDMI cable to output to a TV
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The PlayStation Classic includes two controllers, a USB cable for power and an HDMI cable to output to a TV
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While we've been waiting all year for Nintendo to announce a Classic Mini edition of the iconic Nintendo 64 console, it looks like the company's main rival of the time has answered the call instead. Sony has just announced the PlayStation Classic, a mini version of the original console to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

It seems Sony has taken quite a few design cues from Nintendo's Classic Mini NES and SNES consoles. The PlayStation Classic looks like the original machine, but is 45 percent smaller and packs 20 preloaded games, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms.

Two full-size controllers are included, although strangely enough they're the very first editions, before Sony stuck the dual thumbsticks on there. That might take some getting used to, and could rule out certain classic games that needed that control scheme.

The PlayStation Classic will come with 20 games preinstalled, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms.
The PlayStation Classic will come with 20 games preinstalled, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms. 

Of course, there are a couple of modern concessions as well. The disc tray is obviously for show – all the games are installed on an internal flash drive – but pressing the Open button will bring you to the game select screen, while the Reset button lets you suspend a save point, a trick lifted from Nintendo's Classic Mini handbook. The PlayStation Classic is powered through a USB cable and outputs to a TV via HDMI.

As interesting as it seems, we're a little cautious until we see the full games list. The five announced so far aren't very exciting. Where's Tomb Raider? Metal Gear Solid? Soul Reaver? The original Grand Theft Auto? Ape Escape even? Plus, many of the console's best games have been or are currently being remastered – think Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Medievil, Oddworld: Abe's Odyssey, Final Fantasy VII, Parappa the Rapper and Wipeout.

The PlayStation Classic includes two controllers, a USB cable for power and an HDMI cable to output to a TV
The PlayStation Classic includes two controllers, a USB cable for power and an HDMI cable to output to a TV

Still, there are 15 more games to be announced, so maybe those will help separate us from our hard-earned cash. Your move, Nintendo – there's still time to surprise drop a Classic Mini N64 before year's end.

The PlayStation Classic is due to launch on December 3 – which marks the 25th anniversary of the original release to the day – for US$99.99.

Check it out in the video below.

Source: PlayStation

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2 comments
2 comments
fb36
"all the games are installed on an internal flash drive"
And that means, all the games in it, will be lost a number of years later, whether anyone use the machine or not!
(It seems smart way for Sony to prevent indefinite ownership! (I am pretty sure they could use ROM chips instead, to make those games permanently available!) :-)
exodous
I think I'll pre-order on the hope that it will be hacked like the NES and SNES classics were to add more games. It really needs to include Crash Bandicoot and Resident Evil 2 to be legit though.