Sony Announces PlayStation Classic Mini Console December Release Date

Sony has announced that it will be releasing a mini version of the original PlayStation this December. The upcoming gaming device will be called the PlayStation Classic and it will have pre-installed classic PS1 games.

Sony said that the PlayStation Classic is around 45 percent smaller than the company’s original console from 1994. However, it still comes with the same look and feel as the original gaming machine, including its packaging. The PlayStation Classic will also ship with two controllers, which will enable local multiplayer for compatible games.

Speaking of games, the PlayStation Classic will arrive with 20 pre-loaded classic titles, including “Final Fantasy VII,” “Jumping Flash,” “Ridge Racer Type 4,” “Tekken 3,” and “Wild Arms.” Those are the only game confirmed so far and there’s currently no information on what the other pre-loaded games will be.

“Long-time fans will appreciate the nostalgia that comes with rediscovering the games they know and love, while gamers who might be new to the platform can enjoy the groundbreaking PlayStation console experience that started it all,” Sony said on its blog post. “All of the pre-loaded games will be playable in their original format.”

Some of the PlayStation Classic’s buttons have different functionalities than what’s found on the original console. The “Open” button will be used for changing the “virtual disc” to switch games, while the “Reset” button will be used for suspending a game that’s currently being played. The “Power” button will still be used to power up the console. The lid on the disc tray doesn’t open and the memory card slots won’t have any function.

The PlayStation Classic also comes with an HDMI port on its back, so it should play well with majority of modern TVs. It will be bundled with an HDMI cable and a USB cable that will deliver power to the console. Unfortunately, the PlayStation Classic won’t have an included AC adapter in the box and gamers will have to buy that separately, as pointed out by Kotaku.

The PlayStation Classic will be available on Dec. 3 with a $99.99 price tag. The release date of the Classic is also the same launch date of the original console in Japan in 1994.

It seems as though Sony is taking a page from Nintendo’s book. Nintendo released NES and SNES Classic consoles, and those were extremely popular. The Verge pointed out that Sony seems to be better than Nintendo when it comes to hardware supply, which should mean that customers won’t have a hard time buying one for themselves.