Sony Mini PlayStation Classic: What Aussie Gamers Need To Know


Following in the footsteps of the Nintendo Classic Mini NES and Nintendo SNES Classic, Sony is releasing a miniature retro console of its own. Say g’day to the PlayStation Classic!

Welp, we suppose it was inevitable that this would happen. We’re actually surprised it took Sony this long to copy Nintendo’s phenomenally successful idea. (We’re going to assume that third-party licencing held up the process somewhat.)

Here’s what we know about the device so far.

What is it?

The PlayStation Classic is a retro remake of the original PlayStation/PSX console (which was retroactively dubbed ‘PlayStation One’ after the release of the PlayStation 2.) It is approximately 45% smaller, as depicted in the image below.

The original console launched way back in 1995 and helped to usher in the 3D gaming era. Many iconic video game franchises that are still going strong today – including Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and Grand Theft Auto – originally debuted on this console.

PlayStation Classic Australian release date

The PlayStation Classic will go on sale on December 3, 2018. Sony is aiming this thing squarely at Christmas shoppers and make no mistake.

PlayStation Classic Australian price

The PlayStation Classic will sell for $149.99 in Australia. That’s a tad higher than SNES Classic which retailed for $119.99. When you consider actual current-gen consoles sell for under $300, this could be a little too high for the average nostalgia fan.

PlayStation Classic games

Curiously, Sony has not released a full games lineup for the PlayStation Classic console. We do know that it will ship with 20 “generation-defining games”. Confirmed titles include Ridge Racer 3, Final Fantasy 7, Jumping Flash and Tekken 3. It’s a safe bet that most of the titles will be from studios owned by Sony or franchises it still holds the rights to.

PlayStation Classic ports and controllers

The PlayStation Classic will come with two controllers and connect to your TV via HDMI. There’s no word whether it will ship with a separate power supply or run directly off USB power. Much like the Nintendo NES Classic, the PlayStation Classic’s games media port is purely aesthetic – so don’t get excited about mini disc releases of old video games.

The power button works just like the original, while the reset button now suspends games. The open button now “changes virtual discs”. We think this means it takes you back to the inbuilt library.

Should you buy one?

Before we can answer that question we’ll need to see the full list of games. But we will say one thing: the PlayStation One is very much a product of its time. The games for the system have not aged well. Despite coming out several years after the Nintendo SNES, they lack the timeless quality of the older console’s best 2D offerings. But we remain cautiously optimistic.

You can check out Sony’s announcement video below.


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