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PS1 timeline hero showing original console in close-up
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30 years of play

Join us for a journey through PlayStation® history and the consoles and games that made us. 

PlayStation 1994/
black background

Japanese release

December 3rd 1994

North American release

September 9th 1995

European release

September 29th 1995

30 years ago, our journey begins with the PlayStation® console. Launching in Japan on December 3rd 1994, the first PlayStation console became an instant hit and went on to be the breakout product of E3 1995 and launch later that year to huge success in North America and Europe.

Original PlayStation print advert showing game IP and colourful lines exploding from a console

Do not underestimate the power of PlayStation...

Since launch, the original PlayStation console went on to sell over

102,000,000

consoles worldwide from 1994-2006

Changing the game

The launch of the PlayStation console introduced players to a new dimension in games. Traditional 2D experiences gave way to real-time rendering of more complex 3D worlds that pushed the boundaries of what was possible from home video games.

montage image showing screenshots of iconic PS1 games

32-bit CPU

At the heart of the PlayStation console was its powerhouse 32-bit R3000 CPU. Capable of millions of colors and able to generate hundreds of thousands of polygons, this was cutting-edge gaming hardware.

Maximum color depth of

16,700,000

true colors

3D graphics

That polygon processing power meant the original PlayStation could bring 3D arcade games like Tekken and Ridge Racer into the home and support all-new visually thrilling experiences such as WipEout and Crash Bandicoot.

Graphic capability of up to

360,000

polygons per second

Games on CD

By using the CD-ROM format, PlayStation games could be much bigger than cartridge alternatives, opening the door to classic titles like Final Fantasy VII to be developed for the PlayStation console and manufactured faster and more affordably
for players. 

ps1 with disc tray open showing a CD game
PS1 print ad, reading "tell dad if you stay home, you can't total the car"

Welcome to PlayStation

a 90s style TV showing the PS1 welcome sequence
ps1 start up

Embedded into every PlayStation gamer’s subconscious is the iconic start-up chime, a short burst of ambient music composed by Takafumi Fujisawa that welcomed players to every gaming session from 1994.

“I expressed the excitement to the game that begins after this sound by starting the music quietly in order not to scare the user when they turn the power on and follow it with the sound quality that sounds original and also welcoming.”

Composer Takafumi Fujisawa, speaking to PlayStation Blog

Console variations

Throughout its lifespan, the PlayStation console has existed in different designs and styles. 

Original PlayStation, PS One and PS Classic consoles in a row

PlayStation launch model

The original PlayStation console launched with one controller and a demo disc, allowing new owners to preview available games.

PS one

The slimmer, lighter sibling to the PlayStation console, PS one was released in 2000 to make play more portable and affordable.

PlayStation Classic

Fast-forward 24 years and the original PlayStation console design returned in miniature, with a selection of pre-loaded games and a pair of original controllers.

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Portable play with the PS one ‘Combo Pack’

PS one ‘Combo Pack’ showing a PS One console with attachable screen

Taking control of play

An iconic console called for an iconic controller design, with three iterations hitting players’ hands throughout the first generation.

the original PlayStation controller

PlayStation controller

Shipping with every PlayStation console, our original controller’s buttons introduced the iconic PlayStation shapes to the world.

the dual analog controller

Dual Analog controller

Three years later, thumbs take control with the introduction of dual analog sticks, giving a greater degree of movement in 3D worlds.

the first dualshock controller

DualShock

Soon after, controller design was shaken up again with the addition of dual vibration motors, as well as analog sticks with rubber grips and longer stems to improve control.

PS One print advert "original dualshocks, Imitators are shaking in their pleather boots"
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The introduction of analog sticks

the PlayStation analog joystick, a grey accessory with 2 joysticks and 8 buttons

PlayStation accessories

Along with the iconic controllers, the original PlayStation console was compatible with a range of accessories that enhanced the new era of gaming.

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Lara Croft taking over the world

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider in 90s style TV

Iconic PlayStation games

Many iconic games and characters were born or found their home on the original PlayStation console, including: 

Iconic PlayStation games

Many iconic games and characters were born or found their home on the original PlayStation console, including: 

Ridge Racer PS1 box art

Ridge Racer

This PlayStation launch title brought high-speed arcade racing to home consoles like never before, boasting accessible gameplay, crisp 3D visuals and a propulsive soundtrack. 

Tekken PS1 box art

Tekken

Another arcade hit that found a home on PlayStation, the 3D brawling of Tekken was an instant hit with beat ‘em up fans and casual gamers alike, spawning a series that continues to innovate.

Wipeout PS1 box art

wipEout

Futuristic anti-gravity racer WipEout – a European launch title – merged intuitive controls with incredible speed, and then threw weapons and a killer soundtrack into the mix to become a classic of the early PlayStation lineup.

Tomb Raider PS1 box art

Tomb Raider

The game that made Lara Croft an icon, this 3D adventure had it all: a compelling plot full of mystery, demanding platforming, immersive environments, tense shootouts... and a T.rex to backflip away from, obviously.

PaRappa the Rapper PS1 box art

PaRappa the Rapper

Rhythm-action gameplay meets oddball humor in this hip-hopping rush of colorful visuals and summery beats. Keep PaRappa’s lyrics flowing to impress Chop Chop Master Onion, Prince Fleaswallow and other curious characters.

Resident Evil PS1 box art

Resident Evil

A survival-horror essential that spawned a hugely successful series, the original Resident Evil is a blood-pumping playground of fiendish puzzles and groaning, moaning creatures that can still deliver a jump scare to this day.

Crash Bandicoot PS1 box art

Crash Bandicoot

A pioneer of 3D gaming, Crash Bandicoot was a challenging and colorful adventure with a jumping, spinning, Wumpa fruit-eating central character who became a PlayStation icon of the ‘90s.

Final Fantasy VII PS1 box art

Final Fantasy VII

The grandest, boldest, biggest and perhaps greatest of the Final Fantasy games at the time of release, this PlayStation epic was the first in its series to be presented in full 3D and introduced gamers to Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, Sephiroth and others. The rest is history.

Gran Turismo PS1 box art

Gran Turismo

The Real Driving Simulator was celebrated for its astounding realism and huge number of drivable cars. The first Gran Turismo sold over a million copies in its first month just in Japan, leading to a series that continues to inspire racing game pros and casuals alike.

Oddworld Abe's Odyssey PS1 box art

OddWorld: Abe’s Odyssey

A puzzle-platformer with a lot of heart, this was the first game to star the titular Abe and his fellow Mudokons as they realize, to their horror, that they’re the main ingredient in a new food line. Cue: a desperate escape, fiendish obstacles, and the occasional fart.

Metal Gear Solid PS1 box art

Metal Gear Solid

Modern action-stealth elements owe a debt to Metal Gear Solid, where the player must quietly and carefully infiltrate a nuclear base as the iconic Solid Snake. Keep an eye on your Codec and be ready to hide in a cardboard box at a moment’s notice.

Ape Escape PS1 box art

Ape Escape

In this hilarious action-platformer, players must round up an army of time-travelling apes. The first PlayStation game to need the DualShock controller, its twin analog sticks make ape-ensnaring gadgets incredibly easy to handle.

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The Psycho Mantis boss fight

Tomb Raider in TV