A few weeks ago, SEGA’s Dreamcast celebrated its 25th anniversary. A 128-bit console that was revolutionary at the time, which had everything going for it, but which paradoxically suffered from competition from a small 32-bit console launched a few years earlier: the PlayStation. In recent days, Sony has launched celebrations for its first video game console, and for good reason, the first PlayStation was 30 years ago. And yes, already!
Because we haven’t always had a 4K screen in front of our eyes, an OLED HDR smartphone in our hand and wireless controllers on our knees, PasTech offers you a refreshing little return to the past, to (re) discovery of certain emblematic products which have made (or not) the history of tech. So we say 5, 4, 3, 0, and then bam, PasTech!
PlayStation, the unexpected challenger
It’s a fact, our 8/16/32-bit consoles have today become real little time capsules, able to take us back more than 30 years in the past, with a launch boot, a sound, a title screen… And in 1994, on December 3, it was Sony which shook up the world of video games by launching its first PlayStation in Japan. At that time, the console was only a modest challenger, particularly against a certain Sega Saturn, launched around ten days earlier.
You probably know the story, a merger with Nintendo in the early 90s to enter the video game market with the CD ROM, a public humiliation at CES 1991 (Nintendo then preferring Philips to Sony), from which the development of a 100% Sony console: the PlayStation.
And if the PlayStation was launched on December 3, 1994 in Japan, in Europe, we would have to wait until the end of September 1995 to finally discover this astonishing gray machine (marketed at the time at the price of 2,099 Francs), allowing you to play with games in CD format, a great first for many players who were still taking advantage of their Mega Drive and Super Nintendo cartridges.
No mascot, but revolutionary games
Unlike Nintendo and SEGA, Sony is entering the video game market without any mascot. The Japanese giant, however, took care to take care of its line-up, giving pride of place to 3D, even though many players were raving about Virtua Fighter 2 among the competition. The first PlayStation was notably accompanied by Ridge Racer, which alone justified the purchase of the console for many players.
Quickly, the PlayStation will see the arrival of many titles that are particularly attractive for the retina, including the first Tekken in 1995, but also Air Combat, Battle Arena Toshinden, Rayman, Wipeout… Also, Sony will also be able to count on choice support, notably Squaresoft and Enix, which will launch Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, ultra-popular licenses in Japan since the end of the 80s, and which PlayStation will be responsible for promoting throughout the world.
And you, which was your VERY FIRST PlayStation game? 🎮#playstation #30thanniversary pic.twitter.com/MLxOzZhT9o
— Stéphane Ficca (@StephaneFicca) December 3, 2024
Thus, rather than relying on a single mascot, the PlayStation will benefit from numerous ambassadors, often from third-party developers (Konami, Capcom, Electronic Arts, etc.). This is the case of Rayman for example, but also of Crash Bandicoot, of Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), of Spyro… In 2024, the PlayStation still does not have an official mascot, even though some might see the little robot. Astro (who could well win the title of GOTY at the next Game Awards) become the brand ambassador.
Over the years, in addition to typically Japanese RPGs (and again rather new for many players) the PlayStation will also be able to count on numerous car racing games (Gran Turismo, F1 97, Porsche Challenge, Colin McRae Rally, V-Rally , Driver…), without forgetting platform games (Crash Bandicoot, Spyro…), sports games (the famous ISS era!), but also more “adult” games starting with Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid or Silent Hill again.
For teenagers and young adults alike, in the 90s, the PlayStation was THE console to absolutely own to enjoy many video game experiences, most of them new. Even today, many PlayStation games benefit from a very special aura, not to mention the highly anticipated remakes (Crash Bandicoot; Final Fantasy VII, Spyro, Star Ocean, Soul Reaver, etc.), when they are not the games of record-breaking origins, like Dino Crisis recently launched on the PS Store.
Moreover, if the first PlayStation has masterpieces in its games library known to all, there are also titles that are a little more underestimated, but nevertheless very successful, like Heart of Darkness, Colony Wars, Alundra and many others, of which we offer you a small selection at this address. So many video game experiences that have contributed to the success of the PlayStation, which often holds a very special place in the hearts of many players. Of course, we also remember the promotional campaigns carried out by PlayStation at the time, including very innovative TV spots, sometimes bordering on disturbing.
Recently, Sony has also updated its recent PS5s, the latter benefiting (temporarily) from the very famous startup boot of the first PlayStation, enough to revive the nostalgic fiber among many players. A few weeks before the launch of the PS2, in September 2000, Sony launched a revisited version of its PlayStation, with the PSOne, which sold nearly 30 million copies. It is estimated that around 105 million PlayStations have been sold worldwide.
A constant madness with a “it was better before” side?
Of course, in 1994 (and in 1995 in our country), we were still enjoying this delicious frenzy linked to a form of permanent surprise in the face of new consoles and new video games arriving in stores, this because (or rather thanks) to a certain lack of information at the time. Added to this is a prosperous period in terms of creativity, with many new licenses and other very successful titles. In 1997 alone for example, the PlayStation will welcome Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Time Crisis, Final Fantasy VII, Oddworld, Crash Bandicoot 2, Tomb Raider 2, Moto Racer, V-Rally…
In the 80s/90s, no Internet, no social networks, no influencers… It was the time when we sometimes discovered by surprise this long-awaited new game in the video games section of Continent, or this new SEGA, Sony or Nintendo console at a neighbor’s house. Added to this is a family, societal and economic context which today transforms these memories into moments as nostalgic as they are unique. It’s hard to forget, for example, this PlayStation unpacked at Christmas, with a Crash Bandicoot, a Final Fantasy VII or a Formula One, in front of the whole family, before plugging everything (temporarily) into the “large TV in the living room“.
For several years now, it has been difficult (if not impossible) to reconnect with the excitement that once animated us, when we awaited the arrival of a new console or a new game. With the Internet, each new development is deciphered for weeks ( or even months) before its launch, so much so that it is not uncommon to be “disappointed” when discovering the announcement of a new, highly anticipated game, when unboxing your new console after having viewed several unboxing upstream (or several gameplay sequences for a video game), thus eradicating any form of surprise.
The famous “it was better before“, that’s also ultimately it.
