Just a few weeks before Christmas 2018, Sony released the PlayStation Classic. This miniature version of its retro PlayStation One console offered a lightweight, all-in-one way to play games from the old system. It included a controller and 20 pre-loaded titles at no extra cost. But how did Sony’s latest piece of hardware fare when it entered the market? And was the market even interested in a product like this?
Why Retro Games Are Very Popular At the Moment
As it happens, the PlayStation Classic is entering the market at exactly the right time. It follows the recent success of the NES Classic and the SNES Classic, the Nintendo retro consoles that sold millions of units between them. With Nintendo’s retro franchises being brought back, it was only right that Sony took its fans on a trip down memory lane too.
And then there are the remakes. The Crash Bandicoot ‘N Sane Trilogy offers remakes of the first three Crash games and it has been a major success, selling more than 2 million copies around the world. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy, which also offers remakes of the classic Spyro games for current-gen consoles, has been a big success too. The PlayStation Classic also appeals to gamers who are increasingly looking for greater choice when they play. Customers have come to expect variety thanks to traditional gaming platforms like Steam and online casinos each offering hundreds and thousands of games at a click. At most online casinos you can find all manner of live casino games, for example, including live blackjack and live roulette games with real-life dealers. Similarly, the PS Classic, which has 20 games, allows players to choose from all kinds of different takes on different game genres. There’s plenty of choice and players don’t have to look far.
Pros and Cons of the PlayStation Classic
The PlayStation Classic offers both pros and cons. For longstanding Sony fans, it gives them a way to experience the games that they grew up with, some of which have yet to receive full remakes. Perhaps, if the original developers and publishers of the PlayStation Classic games see the support for their games, these franchises will get new releases.
However, the PlayStation Classic is far from perfect. The console has already been discounted and is available in many places with a 20% discount indicating that sales are not quite as hot as expected. This is for several reasons including the possibility that Sony jumped on the retro gaming trend too late and that players are already satisfied with other retro consoles, retro slots, and remakes. The selection of 20 games has also been a point of contention as some have suggested that other classics such as Ridge Racer should have been featured.
The exact sales performance of the PlayStation Classic is unclear for now. But there is a case both for more retro re-releases to happen and for this nostalgic throwback to be left in the past.
Leave a Reply