Sony celebrates the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation brand with the launch ofPlayStation 5 console and accessories inspired by the original PS1, and is expected to launchA heavyweight photography collection, fully presenting the design prototypes, concept sketches and development models from the first generation PlayStation to PlayStation 5, spanning three decades.
A 400-page photography collection
This photo book, titled "PlayStation: The First 30 Years," was produced in collaboration between Sony and publisher Read-Only Memory. At 400 pages, printed on heavyweight fine art paper and weighing in at 5 kilograms, it's positioned as a collector's item. It also includes numerous never-before-seen design materials, offering a glimpse into the diverse experiments in PlayStation hardware over time.
For example, early prototypes of the original PlayStation were actually more compact. Designer Goto Teisuke originally intended a "simple combination of square and round elements" to create the design, but ultimately settled on the familiar body shape. The evolution of controllers is even more intriguing, with some designs barely ergonomically practical. Ultimately, a design similar to Nintendo's Super Nintendo (SNES) controller with a grip was adopted, becoming the foundation for today's widely accepted DualShock series.
The collection goes beyond product sketches and also includes footage from Sony's design labs. For readers fascinated by gaming history or design culture, this book is a truly valuable addition.
However, the price of this photography collection is not affordable: the standard edition costs US$182, while the deluxe edition limited to 1994 copies costs US$467. It comes with a bare back binding, a gold-stamped storage box, and photographs signed by Goto Yoshiyuki and photographer Benedict Redgrove. At the same time, the limited number 1994 echoes the year of the birth of PlayStation in Japan.
Both editions of the photobook are expected to ship in Spring 2026.
Apple previously launched two sizes of design books in November 2016.《Designed by Apple in California》The book, written by renowned American photographer Andrew Zuckerman, uses 450 photos to interpret Apple's product design from 1988 to 2015, including the first iMac, the first iPhone, and even last year's Apple Watch and Apple Pencil, showcasing Apple's design craftsmanship over the past 20 years.
Collaborated with sports brand Reebok to launch a joint shoe for the 30th anniversary of PlayStation
In addition to publications, Sony has also partnered with sportswear brand Reebok to launch a PlayStation 30th anniversary shoe collaboration, inspired by the classic grayscale color scheme of the original PlayStation. The collection includes three designs, corresponding to the three major regional markets where PlayStation was first released: the InstaPump Fury 94 in Japan, the Pump Omni Zone II in the United States, and the Workout Plus in the United Kingdom. These shoes will officially launch in October 2025.
