PlayStation celebrates 30 years: how one console changed the world of video games
Today, PlayStation and Sony fans are celebrating a milestone, as the PlayStation is 30 years old. So let's take a quick look back at what the first PlayStation looked like and what made it successful.
Here's What We Know
On 3 December 2024, PlayStation celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of innovation and influence on the video game industry. When the first PlayStation hit the market in 1994, its main competitors were the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64, which came later. The Sega Saturn, which came out a week earlier, failed to succeed, selling only 9.5 million units, while the Nintendo 64 sold 33 million consoles.
Among the most popular PlayStation games were such hits as Tekken, Ridge Racer and Mortal Kombat III. These games not only became classics, but also laid the foundation for the further development of franchises. The success of the PlayStation can be attributed to several key factors: first, it was the first console to use CDs, which allowed for more data storage and better graphics. Secondly, Sony actively cooperated with third-party developers, which allowed it to create a large catalogue of games at the start of sales.
Since its launch, the PlayStation has sold over 102 million units until 2006, when production was discontinued in favour of new models. This makes it one of the most successful consoles in history.
The design of the first PlayStation was simple and functional: it had a rectangular shape with rounded corners and a distinctive white trim, and the DualShock controller became the standard for players due to its ergonomic shape.
And since then, we've seen the PS2, PS3, portable PSP and PS Vita, PS4, PS5, virtual reality helmets and other accessories, and we could talk for hours about iconic games like The Last of Us. So, the release of the first PlayStation set off a chain of events that has had a dramatic impact on the gaming industry.
So we hope that PlayStatin will continue to give us cool consoles, games, and unforgettable memories.