The PlayStation Classic is a special video game console made by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It plays games that were first released on the original PlayStation from 1994. The console was announced in September 2018 at the Tokyo Game Show. It was released on December 3, 2018, which was the 24th anniversary of the original PlayStation's release. This console is similar to Nintendo's earlier mini consoles, the NES Classic Edition and Super NES Classic Edition. Critics gave the PlayStation Classic mostly negative reviews. They criticized the limited selection of games, the use of the original PlayStation controller instead of newer models, the inclusion of PAL versions for some games, and its expensive price. However, the console's design received praise.
Specifications
The PlayStation Classic comes with two replica PlayStation controllers (the original model without analog sticks or vibration), an HDMI cable, and a USB Micro-A to standard USB-A cable. An AC adapter for the console is sold separately. The console weighs about 170 grams (0.37 lb) and measures approximately 149 mm × 33 mm × 105 mm (5.9 in × 1.3 in × 4.1 in). It is about 80% smaller in volume than the original PlayStation and 45% smaller in width and length. The console has ports for both controllers, HDMI output, and power via USB.
Each controller’s cord is about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) long. The controllers use a USB interface. The console has two USB ports in the front for the included controllers. It cannot use PlayStation memory cards. Inside, the console uses a MediaTek MT8167a Quad A35 system on a chip with four central processing cores running at 1.5 GHz and a Power VR GE8300 graphics processing unit. It includes 16 GB of eMMC flash storage and 1 GB of DDR3 memory.
The Classic uses the ReARMed branch of the free and open source emulator PCSX to play its games instead of Sony’s proprietary emulator. A retro receiver (8Bitdo) for PS1 and PS2 is available for purchase to connect with a modern gamepad.
Games
The PlayStation Classic includes 20 games that are already installed on the device. These games run using a type of software called PCSX ReARMed. When the console was first announced, five games were shown, and the full list of 20 games was shared one month later. Eight of the games differ depending on the region where the console is sold. The device cannot connect to the PlayStation Network, and no additional games will be added after it is released. Players can pause a game and save their progress by pressing the console's "reset" button. Nine of the games use the PAL version (common in most European countries), which causes them to run at a slower speed of 50 frames per second. This is different from the NTSC standard (used in North America, parts of Japan, and some Asian countries), which runs at 60 frames per second. Games using the PAL version may feel slower to players from NTSC regions.
The North American version of the console received an "M for Mature" rating from the ESRB because it includes games like Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil: Director's Cut. The European version received an "18" rating from the PEGI group. The European package also includes a German "USK 16" rating (which is not officially recognized in Germany) and an Australian "MA 15+" rating (as the console is sold in Australia, a PAL region). While the system box suggests the console is suitable for all ages, and some games like Mr. Driller and Rayman have ratings that match this, the console allows access to all 20 games without any parental controls or settings to limit which games can be played.
Reception
The PlayStation Classic received mostly negative reviews from critics. Many pointed out problems with the game selection, as it did not include many popular PlayStation titles such as Wipeout, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Tomb Raider, PaRappa the Rapper, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Gran Turismo, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, The Legend of Dragoon, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, MediEvil, and Silent Hill. Some critics also criticized the use of PAL versions of certain games, which caused issues in NTSC regions. The original controller, which lacked analog sticks and vibration, and the $100 price were also mentioned as drawbacks. However, the console's design was praised by some reviewers.
Tristan Ogilive of IGN noted that the console missed many well-known games and had a basic user interface. He also mentioned that about half of the games included were PAL versions, leading to consistency problems. Sam Loveridge of GamesRadar+ appreciated the console's appearance but criticized the limited game selection, the black bars on the screen during gameplay, and the short length of the controller cables.
Reviewers also pointed out issues such as lower frame rates, poor emulation quality, and a weak user interface. John Linneman of Eurogamer's Digital Foundry gave a negative review, mentioning the console's poor image quality and use of PAL games on North American units, though he praised the user interface. Chris Carter of Destructoid said the emulation was sometimes worse than the original versions but noted the console's instant-state recovery feature and large internal storage. Joe Juba of Game Informer criticized the lack of analog sticks on the controller, the limited game selection, and the simple menu, calling the system suitable only for a very specific audience. However, some games like Twisted Metal, Jumping Flash!, Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VII, and Metal Gear Solid were praised as strong examples of their genres.
In response to complaints about the limited game selection, some users modified the console to play ROMs from external storage, effectively turning it into an emulator similar to Retropie.
The PlayStation Classic sold 120,000 units in its first week in Japan. Sales were much lower in the U.S., with many retailers offering discounts as low as $60 within the first four weeks after its Christmas release. Reasons for the price drop included overproduction, high initial pricing, and lack of interest due to negative reviews. By early 2019, the console was discounted further to $40 by Walmart. In June 2019, prices dropped to $29.99 in the U.S., €29.99 in Europe, and £26.99 in the U.K. as part of PlayStation's "Days of Play" sale. By July 2019, Best Buy and Amazon sold the console for as low as $20.