Sony is releasing a line-up of limited edition PlayStation 5 consoles and accessories destined to become collector’s items.
Channeling the design of the PS1, which turns 30 this December, the batch of goodies includes a PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim Digital Edition. Both will come with old-school takes on the DualSense controller (also sold separately) and its accompanying connector cable.
If you haven’t forked out for Sony’s latest handheld, you’ll be happy to learn that the PlayStation Portal is also part of the cosplaying collection.
Styled after Sony’s iconic first console, which helped bring gaming to a wider adult audience, the revamped hardware sports a sleek, minimalist design in classic greys and blacks.
In another wink to the PS1, the hollowed-out PlayStation logo from the current consoles has been swapped for the multi-coloured original. Even the packaging appears vintage, featuring the iconic grey box design reminiscent of the first PlayStation’s launch.
It’s enough to make you feel like you’re back in your childhood bedroom, the walls adorned with posters of Lara Croft, sitting on a carpeted floor strewn with copies of Official UK PlayStation Magazine.
In reality, you’ll probably struggle to snag the new hardware. With only 12,300 units of the PS5 Pro on offer, each etched with their limited edition number, the upcoming console will be nearly impossible to buy upon launch.
Scalpers are likely to swoop in, driving up resale prices and making it even harder for regular buyers to get their hands on one.
What’s included in the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection?
Here’s the full range of products Sony is offering as part of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection:
PlayStation 5 Pro Console – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle
- The limited edition PS5 Pro with 2TB storage
- Special edition DualSense wireless controller
- Special edition DualSense Edge controller, DualSense Charging Station, and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive (Disc Drive sold separately).
- Vertical Stand
- Collector’s items: classic PlayStation controller cable housing, four PlayStation Shapes cable ties, PlayStation sticker, limited edition poster (1 of 30 designs), and a PlayStation paperclip.
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle
- PS5 Digital Edition console with 1TB storage
- Special edition DualSense wireless controller and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive (Disc Drive sold separately).
- Vertical stand and collector’s items listed above.
PlayStation Portal Remote Player – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)
DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)
DualSense Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)
When are the new consoles coming out?
Pre-orders for the collection begin on September 26 from the PlayStation Direct online store, and October 10 everywhere else, with pricing not yet announced.
That’s the same date the standard PS5 Pro goes on sale. Don’t be surprised if the limited edition version costs more than its £700 price tag, especially as it comes with extra accessories.
Are consoles getting too expensive?
As such, Sony won’t be beating the allegations that it’s pricing many consumers out of its latest hardware. Some industry experts believe the ultra high-end PS5 Pro, a graphics powerhouse that can boost the visuals on both new and old titles, points to the future of Sony’s gaming business.
While its rivals Nintendo and Xbox try to court a wider range of gamers with wallet-friendly handhelds and multi-platform gaming subscriptions, analysts claim Sony prioritises profit margins over the mass-market appeal.
By targeting hardcore gamers with deep pockets, Sony is betting that this smaller, more dedicated contingent is willing to pay for premium performance, signalling that the era of affordable, mainstream PlayStation consoles may be ending.
Alongside budget-conscious gamers, owners of the original PS5 are also set to miss out on the new collection. It probably wouldn’t have been hard to create PS1-style swappable panels for the older console, but they wouldn’t have cost as much.
