Hello PlayStation.Blog readers! Today is a very special moment in our history. It’s been 20 years since the launch of the original PlayStation, which released in Japan on December 3rd, 1994. It seems like only yesterday! I’m so glad that we can celebrate this moment together.
20 years is a long time! In 1994, many outsiders thought that Sony was slightly crazy to launch the original PlayStation into an incredibly competitive gaming market. Who could blame them? Sony was (and is!) famous for engineering great electronics, audio equipment, and many other consumer devices. But game consoles?!
Sony Computer Entertainment, founded by my mentor Ken Kutaragi, was a project borne out of sincere passion and deep admiration for the craft of game development. The mid 90s were an exciting time for game developers, driven by the explosion of powerful but affordable 3D graphics rendering hardware and the birth of many young and adventurous development studios. The original PlayStation was meant to embody that sense of adventure and discovery, that sense that anything was possible.
We sincerely thank you for joining us on our exciting 20-year journey. You have made every bump and scrape we took along the way worthwhile. And there’s so much more to come! :D
But I don’t want to go on for too long, because we have a big piece of news to reveal: a very special 20th Anniversary Edition PS4!
Our friend Sid Shuman has some details in the video above, so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think.
I look forward to celebrating the anniversary and all things PlayStation with you this week in Las Vegas at the PlayStation Experience.
Thanks for a great 20 years, and here’s to 20 more.
AT alien3165: probably won’t even say that
@Redsoxnation1975 yea And some of those Ebay listings are fake as well from what i am seeing on Ebay
you I would not be surprised if something happens to our accounts since we have been talk badly on Sony lol.
I’m very sorely disappointed. I tuned in for the PSX keynote, which ran for longer than scheduled. No information about how to pre-order this version of the console was given at that time, like this page stated it would be.
I was dragged away by other plans, and by the time I was able check for updates, the pre-order page had been open for an hour. Now the window is closed, they’re all snapped up, and I can’t order this. Way to screw over someone who was trying to jump through the hoops you set forth to get this. In the future, please don’t give out bogus information to would-be consumers.
This was the only surefire way I was going to order a PS4. Since I can’t get this version–and because of why–I’m not interested in trying out this console anymore.
@Criollisimo & Count_Trekula : I did the same exact thing, my friends. Sat through 7 hours of that damn keynote, hoping to get a chance to pre-order this thing. Too bad we all wasted our time and it was all for nothing.
Well played and shame on you, SONY.
Here’s an idea Sony! The original PSX was released in Japan on 12-3-94, press up another 94 units and make them available for the members on this blog and it’s a win win. You still have the same effect with the console being limited and were all happy. What do you guys think? That’s fair right?
Or make another run with a difference or two and based the number on the North American release date.
I had one in my cart, but it was removed after million failed PayPal confirmation. Now Im very sad and dissapointed. Its just not fair. :(
Just got of the phone form Sony. Apparently if you received an email confirmation, you are golden!!!!!
Is that right……..(@mulkaka73)
@Mulkaka73
If you got one of them Confirmation letters Mulkaka73 Grats man !!
some people will be getting good news from your post.
This was done absolutely horrible. Watch the keynote for details on ordering. I watched the keynote and nothing. Find out now that the link was on twitter. Where does it say anywhere that I should go to twitter? Sony of America should do what they are doing in Japan and hold a lottery. Everyone can pre-order, but only some will get one.
Easy come, easy go… looking forward to the 30th Anniversary release. Can I put a pre-order in now for that one? I’ve waited longer for other things.
Sony, you f#$%ed up today big time. I am a very patient person, but you even managed to piss me off. This whole PS4 20 anniversary Edition thing was an enormous fiasco. First you tell to tune in to your keynote at the PSX for more info. Well I did, I sat through the entire 2.5 hours (wayy to long) darn thing and NOTHING, you did not give ANY information about how to pre-order it. Then by sheer chance my girlfriend looked at your Twitter and found out that supposedly “shortly” after the keynote, there would be a link about where to pre-order.
Well, ok, we sit there and wait, only to find out people who were at PSX got gol bracelets and would be able to pre-order their 20 anniversary edition, while the rest of us got screwed…ehhh…had to “stay tuned”, whatever that means. Finally, after another agonizing hour or so, the link is finally up.
At this point, I think to myself, “Yipee, I’ll get my PS4 20 anniversary edition now”. Nope, wrong again. I click on the link and the Refresh Nightmare begins. Every freaking step of the way I had to refresh a million times just to get to the next page. I entered my personal info… then Refresh, refresh, refresh……ad nauseum, for god knows how long, until I get to the next page. Well same f#$%ing story there again. Here I made the mistake of hitting Back on my browser button, which took my back to the previous page for a lot more refreshing nightmare. In the meantime, my gf is trying it on her iPad and smart phone. She couldn’t even get past the PRE-ORDER link. It kept taking her to the main Sony Store page, over and over again. She finally gave up. I still kept at it as I had it in my car and I thought I had a chance.
Well, after an agonizing hour of refreshing because of a damn server error, I finally, finally, got to the payment page. I was so freaking happy. I put in my payment info and then the nightmare began again, Refresh and refresh after refresh, after another agonizing refresh, and NOTHING. I was so stressed out and frustrated I was having a headache at this point. I spent 20 minutes refreshing the damn thing, on the last step, but it would not go through. I finally gave up too, to preserve my health and sanity. when I tried about an hour later, of course, I get the “The item is no longer available” message.
This is literally one of the most frustrating things I’ve experienced in my life. You messed up big time SONY. How can you lie to your fans like that?! How can you only have 12,300 of those things when you have millions of fans and you know most of them would want it?! How could you not have better or more servers, or something?! People that were able to click on the link and add the item to their cart should have been GUARANTEED a PS4 20 anniversary edition. It was YOUR servers’ failure that caused me to lose my coveted PS4. I am so disappointed and frustrated right now. I really wanted that PS4. It brought back so many memories of my amazing gaming experiences with the original PS.
Shuhei how i get this console? I want one, its awsome :)
HEY SONY !! we are all waiting for answer on your part … you guys messed up big time.
I too wasted 2 hours of my life trying to get this thing. I got to the payment page many times but never got it to go past the final submit order. This was a horrible experience and executed terribly. It’s too bad they couldn’t have at least tried to limit it to those with a PSN account.
Clearly this blog says to watch the keynote for info. Heck, even Mr. Shuhei answer to XThexRealxBanksX on page 1 of this comments to “Watch the Playstation Experience live stream for info…” But of course he won’t answer to us now, right Mr. Shuhei?
Be a man of your words.
Just like most of you people who did not get one due to technical errors, I sat all morning watching keynote, then finding out about twitter and spending the rest of the day waiting for the link. I was able to place a unit into my Cart and after two hours of trying to complete the purchase I find out “This item is no longer available and has been removed from your cart”.
I am disgusted with Sony, first with the choice of random amount of only 12,300 units on 20th year anniversary and second for the technical issues that ripped a lot of us off from our purchases, after spending an entire day waiting.
I have been a loyal customer for the past 14 years and I must say this is where my journey with anything Sony may end.
I hope you make this incident right with us Sony, you really messed up.
You guys are all fussing so much. It was luck of the refresh button. What kind of answer or apology are you guys expecting? The things really did get sold in the timeframe they mentioned. I woke up at 930 to get prepared to watch the psx,watched it for 3 hours, waited and waited for another hour, and then spent the final hour and twenty minutes on error screens. All there is to say to those so outraged is that you were just caught slippin. Sorry you arent among the lucky recipients, but I am, and I’m a real, normal person. Not privelaged from sony. Had my account suspended for cursing in ps home.
Nothing unfair went on.
Thanks for making me sit through a 2 hour boring conference and then have the site mess up on my purchase of your console, You lost my business now that you lied to the public made us watch your conference to have NO INFORMATION on this special edition console, I even sold My Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PS3, I do have a PS4 but wanted this console to keep forever because I WAS a huge fan of sony and gaming I love all games but grew up with Playstation I listened to this conference while I was at work, working my ass off so that I could pay for this console thinking also you was going to present this Console information LIVE On your LIVE Stream and you did no such thing you did it on Twitter of all places, I found out through a very nice individual in the chat to go to Twitter not one person from Sony or Playstation nor you Mr.Yoshida. I had you guys followed on my Twitter and I dont even use it, And yes I work, I work hard to get things that I WANT, I had this console and your website screwed me over on it thanks alot Playstation and Sony, Long time fan but no more. Thanks for nothing and wasting my time and lying to the public. Worst thing that has happend in the gaming industry since XBox said you cant use used games.
also only making 12,300 of them is ridiculous in itself. You should have made a good amount for each region, not just the 12,300 to split up between them all. US is a big region… come on guys !!!
I think we need to get together a petition to tell Sony to make more of these just as regular bundles for stores to sell. I don’t care if I get the camera or stand with it nor do I care that they are numbered or not. Seriously Sony release this in stores as a limited edition thing for the holidays… pump these babies out.
Bel0kk you’re trying to ruin my system’s rarity bro. Please don’t hate on me because your short-comings.
I think Playstation and Sony need to have better customer service The representative hung up on me and said she could not understand me there phones were horrible, There was no reason to hang up on a potential customer. Very unprofessional
how is it killing your rarity.. yours is numbered has the stand and camera which are branded with the grey colors. its a first run.
Joe Cool your systems rarity come on man who cares unless you are in it for money, I had this console in my Cart, Credit card Information in, and it kicked me completely out and logged me out, Only to have the sorry customer Service team hang up on me, Your systems rarity is about to be downgraded by the way Playstation handled this whole thing, They Promised to have Information about this console on the LIVE Stream, They did not, They did not tell anyone to go to Twitter ONLY Canada I am in the US so I had NO idea to go to Twitter until a chatter told me to do so, So all these peoples “Short Comings” are about to make Your consoles rarity go way down because of the way they handled this situation. Horrible business handing out god knows how many Gold Bracelets at the event alone how many did they really sell to the public in America? They will not release that information because they know they did wrong. Who was there the press most of them alot of them was press no “NORMAL PEOPLE” was there. Most people at the event did not even know about the Bracelets. Crappy Business point blank, Even IF I got one I would still say the same thing.
Thats true. Mine would still be more rare. So the rarity isn’t killed, just injured. Still hating. Go for a white one or something
its the equivalent of first print of a game vs the greatest hits reprint
your system will still be worth more.
I am in the same boat as Zidane6432.
The rarity isn’t about money for me at all. But if more people have a grey ps4, It would be easily mistaken and would seem as if the fact that I own mine is not as significant. It is sorry to see that people just turn for profit on ebay. But I will relish this sytem, and brag about it to my friends, PSN and ordinary alike.
I have a white one and a day one launch PS4.
Joe Cool Sony and Playstation both lied to us
Point blank, I went through hell and high water for this console I had all information in in 10 seconds after the link was revealed to only have the site kick me out and give me the middle finger and to have the customer service dept hang up on me and say they could not hear me.
Like many of you, I’m disappointed. I Clicked the link 3 seconds after being posted to twitter and managed to reach the checkout page. First tried Sony Checkout and it timedout so I went back and tried checking out with paypal and managed to reach the “Submit Paypal Order” in Sony’s checkout but failed continuously for 2+ hours. Only for the PS4 to be removed from my Cart.
HEY PLAYSTATION, WHY THE HECK YOU SOLD 4 CONSOLES TO JUST ONE CUSTOMER, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE PER CUSTOMER. I WAITED THE ENTIRE DAY TO ORDER THIS AND NEXT THING I KNOW YOUR SERVER FAILED INCLUDING CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE LINES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE YOU REALLY SOLD THE SYSTEMS TO RESELLERS, WHO IS CURRENTLY LISTED THEM ON EBAY. OPEN YOUR EYES SONY. YOU SHOULD CANCEL EVERYBODY ORDERS OR CHECK TO SEE WHO ORDERED MORE THAN 2 AND LET THE TRUE COLLECTORS ORDER THIS. WHAT A DISAPPOINTING. I DECIDED NOT TO PURCHASE THE PS4 AT ALL. THANKS SONY YOU LOST ONE MAYBE THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS.
Thanks a lot Sony for removing it from my cart while trying to checkout through your broken site after waiting so long for any information on ordering. Great work.
WHere did you find that information Whatsoldout?
Hey Zidane6432, I have contacted several people on eBay and they stated that they have currently 4 system available for sale, which they provided me with the proof of order confirmation having 4 consoles in one invoice. This is why I am so angry like wtf.
Yeah I was at work, Working my ass off listining to the stream on twitch, and I sold my Xbox One, PS3, And Xbox360 for this console and worked over time and my boss was nice enough to have everything ready on their computer ready to go on the Sony Site Also, I was ready to go waiting on the stupid Twitter Link I found out through a chatter in the twitch site, Was hard to catch with all the chatter going on so I got lucky on that regaurd, and it kicked me out also I had everything hit in I could not had done it any faster than what I did. And to top it all off they gave out Bracelets to people at the event and most people had no idea about it, Sounds like they kept it under wraps. Its sad very sad.
Whatssoldout take a snip of those conversations from Ebay that will ruffle some feathers.
I am really upset and I know how you feel. I hope sony reads this posts and maybe do some corrections so we all could purchase this without spending $2000 on eBay.
yeah I have all the messages and contacted customer support to complain but they just ignored me. I really starting to hate Sony now. :/
Do you have a snip of that conversation? That will really spark some trouble for this company, because they was supposed to sell to ONLY one customer and 1 per IP address, but also there are IP changers out there and I am sure people used IP changers to get more than one
I’m not sure how they got so many on eBay per user. I tried to click on different quantities (2) and said it was too much on the Sony store, so I ordered one instead. I was able to get the console in my shopping cart within seconds the link was available. I received the errors everyone else did but I kept trying, refreshing, refreshing for at least two hours and finally by using Paypal my order went through around 3:30 PST. Around the same time mine did, other users on IG were relieved there orders processed as well and a reddit blog that was also discussing this all around the same time.
Hmmmm I am trying to think of a way to get this out…. I have a twitch account could you send me those conversations add me on PSN and I will have you on my channel live to speak out about this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Playstation-4-PS4-20th-Anniversary-Edition-Pre-Order-SOLD-OUT-NEW-SEALED-/121510081070?pt=Video_Games&hash=item1c4a90b22e
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PlayStation-4-20th-Anniversary-Edition-SEALED-PS4-/131371627330?pt=Video_Games&hash=item1e965bf342
this are the first two who actually ordered two of them at same time
Also very disappointed,looking forward to getting one of these even though i already have a day one ps4. Been a PS fan since the beginning. Colossal failure on Sony’s part, for not having the servers to handle the load on the website. Spent over 3 hours trying to checkout, endless refreshing to complete the ordering process. Then had Ps4 removed from my cart, you would think that if you managed to get one in your cart that would guarantee you said item in your cart. Am I wrong? It’s not any fault of ours that Sony dropped the ball, all of us here that went though this deserve a ps4 anniversary.