September 9, 2015September 18, 2015

20 Years Ago Today…

Where were you 20 years ago?

I was in Tokyo, already enjoying my PlayStation as it had launched over nine months earlier in Japan, December 3, 1994, and I am sure I was still chasing the final black racer in Ridge well into 1995. By the time the PlayStation launched in North America on 9/9/95, I was splitting my time between Tekken and Battle Arena Toshinden and trying to get a US copy of ESPN Street Games (incidentally, the first game I worked on at SCEI to localize for the Japanese market.)

Those were exciting and pioneering times for all of us: new technology, the arcade experience in the home, and no guarantee that we would still be around come the turn of the century –- or sooner. Exciting times indeed.

But we did make it. And thanks to the dedication and passion of the greatest gaming community of all time, the PlayStation Nation, we are celebrating the twentieth birthday of the original PlayStation system, which officially launched in North America on September 9th, 1995. At its launch, PlayStation was a stylish, powerful, developer-friendly game console that popularized polygonal 3D graphics and CD playback of games and music.

Will you be playing any classic PlayStation games today to celebrate? I’m going to fire up my PS3 and see if I have retained any of my wipEout anti-grav skills. Damn that game was rock hard, and it still has the best soundtrack ever.

If you want to share your celebration of the twentieth anniversary with your fellow gamers, I’m also pleased to announce the launch of a 20th Anniversary SHAREfactory theme which will be available today for free on PlayStation Store in North America.

Before I go, I wanted to point out that PlayStation.Blog is celebrating PlayStation’s big 2-0 today and tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled. Look out for a tough-as-nails trivia quiz, a video unboxing of the original PlayStation, and a chance for PlayStation fans to officially name the best PlayStation game of all time.

U R NOT e


20th Anniversary DualShock 4 PlayStation.com	20th Anniversary Wireless Headset PlayStation.com

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123 Comments

Kidd_VX
September 9, 2015 at 10:40 am PDT

Congratulation’s PlayStation in your 20 year Anniversary and thank you for all the good times.
death_nation100
September 9, 2015 at 10:43 am PDT

I believe the 1st time i touched a PS1 was at TARGET they had a demo and 1 demo was Battle Arena Toshindin , when i saw the buttons on the shoulders i thought those are alot of shoulder buttons . But the 1st full game I ever touched was Crash Bandicoot the game look amazing especially how he ran up to the camera i didn’t know games are PS1 are 3D until Tekken 2 lol.
sleeKSP3
September 9, 2015 at 10:43 am PDT

Happy birthday PlayStation! Unfortunately, I ended up buying the other certain competing game console, so I didn’t purchase a PlayStation right away. I did get one few years later realizing that it is a better gaming console. PS4 is going to rock 2016, so let’s focus on releasing games Sony.
SteeLFaisca
September 9, 2015 at 10:45 am PDT

Congratz to everyone of us!

And “U R NOT e” what is this?
- joaryche
  September 9, 2015 at 11:30 am PDT
  
  marketing campaign to coincide with the shape buttons.. and can you take your game to the next level? U R NOT (red e)
GoPens35
September 9, 2015 at 10:55 am PDT

Imagine if those competent people who decided to turn Nintendo’s sleight into a product all their own where still with Sony, MS wouldn’t be able to make the sad but true claim that they will offer the most software titles this generation machines that’s for sure.
KanataSD
September 9, 2015 at 11:05 am PDT

I still have my original Playstation I got in December 1997. It’s been in storage for awhile and coming out soon, but last time it was plugged in it still worked [ leaning sideways against a wall :) ]
Kasaix
September 9, 2015 at 11:07 am PDT

Thank you for 20 years of awesomeness, PlayStation and Sony! Here’s to another 20 more and beyond!
NotTheFace-
September 9, 2015 at 11:13 am PDT

This would have been a pretty ideal time to release PS1 Classic compatibility for PS4.

Just sayin…
- joaryche
  September 9, 2015 at 11:21 am PDT
  
  amen!
joaryche
September 9, 2015 at 11:26 am PDT

My first PlayStation was purchased during the following summer. My first games, in the big colossal cases, were NFL Gameday, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, GEX, X-COM UFO Defense, D, Descent and Battle Arena Toshinden. I hooked it up in the dorm room and had the hall at my place taking a look at the best thing to come to entertainment.

thank you sony. here’s to another 20 years.
- joaryche
  September 9, 2015 at 11:32 am PDT
  
  I also had the greatest attachment the PlayStation Mouse
StingrayX
September 9, 2015 at 11:27 am PDT

I was playing my Super Nintendo because me and my sis asked my parents for the Playstation for christmas. That christmas morning when we saw the gray coloring in the corner of the box…then saw the P, we were freaking out and ripped it open and cheered. It was awesome!
bray4ever8
September 9, 2015 at 11:29 am PDT

Wow 20 years goes by fast. The PS1 was the very first console I pre-ordered from Electronics Boutique. My brother had picked up the early release of the Saturn that summer and after playing it I knew I didn’t want that console.

I took off early from work on launch day and bought every game they had. ESPN Extreme Games, Ridge Racer, Battle Area Toshinden and Rayman. I went to my buddies house and we played and drank for hours… Playstation was awesome~

I remember checking back every week to find out what new games were coming out and pre-ordering almost all of them. But it was it was demo discs that had me the most excited… WipeOut, Twisted Metal and Destruction Derby… I couldn’t wait to play those games. Good times…. Happy 20th Sony!
Blkant
September 9, 2015 at 11:53 am PDT

Was kind of hoping for a major secret announcement or something today to celebrate it. Oh well.
inFAMOUS-787
September 9, 2015 at 12:06 pm PDT

The nostalgia running thru my body has me on full tilt today! Happy Birthday Playstation , here’s for 20 more!!
viceforce
September 9, 2015 at 12:12 pm PDT

Where was I? I was here thinking that N64 was better then the Playstation. I even had arguments over my matron with that lol. Then I saw the Final Fantasy XIII trailer and that changed my world. Thanks for the memories Playstation keep giving out more.
livingwithoutyou
September 9, 2015 at 12:13 pm PDT

I miss those days. Games seemed so much more special back then. All the photo-realistic graphics and amazing physics will never beat a good PlayStation 1 game. I don’t know how to explain it all I can hope is that people understand what I mean.
- livingwithoutyou
  September 9, 2015 at 12:18 pm PDT
  
  Might I also mention the instruction manuals that would advertise the sequel of the game you just bought. It sound like some cheap scam now but was so cool when it was around. Now if companies did this they would be wrecked by everyone.
Duke_Nukem_2oo4
September 9, 2015 at 12:14 pm PDT

20 years ago today I unfortunately did not get the playstation but did get one a little later down the road. I got mine for Christmas and the first 2 games I got was nascar 98 and Duke nukem total meltdown. I loved my playstation and every console Sony has released since then. I even became a member of the playstation underground years ago.

Happy Anniversary Playstation and here’s to so many more enjoyable years to come.

Loyal fan for life. -Duke_Nukem_2oo4
ATES
September 9, 2015 at 12:18 pm PDT

Been my favorite place to game since I got my PlayStation for Xmas all those years ago and it started me down the patch of going to become a game designer
WaveLightning777
September 9, 2015 at 12:22 pm PDT

I got my PS1 at Christmas of 96 (I was 6 going on 7 at this time in ’95, my Mom wanted the PS1 lol)… and while I started out my PlayStation journey with Oddworld… everything changed in ’97, when I rented a little title called Final Fantasy VII. I still remember that next Christmas; I had this really big box in the corner. Unwrapped it… and there was a slightly smaller box inside. Unwrapped that, and the next box was smaller still. Ultimately my own copy of FF7 was at the core. And that’s just how my PlayStation journey began. So much has happened since then, and now…. well, #PlayStationMVP and proud of it.
ixnine
September 9, 2015 at 12:24 pm PDT

eNOS!
U R Not e!
ixnine
September 9, 2015 at 12:29 pm PDT

I remember getting the original PlayStation sometime right after it came out along with Crash Bandicoot. It totally changed my world. 20 years later and I have all 4 PS consoles hooked up to my Sony Bravia now, my PS Vita sitting on my desk and a shelf full of PS games from the last 20 years. Thanks, Sony, no single company has kept me this entertained for such a long time.
platinum4490
September 9, 2015 at 12:32 pm PDT

Congratulations on 20 fantastic years! Thanks for all the great memories, PlayStation.

Greatness Awaits.
Kharmeister
September 9, 2015 at 12:32 pm PDT

It was definitely playing Ridge Racer, Battle Arena Toshinden, Rayman and ESPN Street Games for me and my brothers, as that was the package we were forced to take from our local retailer to get our PlayStation on day one. Oh, and of course, playing that fabulous Wip3Out demo over and over again, using the CD swap trick to listen to our own soundtracks and restarting the race just before the finish line to avoid reloading. Great times.
DismantleRepair
September 9, 2015 at 12:35 pm PDT

Prior to the PSone, I had dabbled in the NES and played some friends’ SNES’s, owned a Sega Genesis and enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t say I was obsessed. When I got my first PSone for Christmas of ’98, in tow with a copy of Crash Bandicoot Warped, I was hooked. The next day I added Spyro the Dragon and Jet Moto 2 to my budding collection. It’s been a great 20 years of gaming and Sony has remained my first choice when it came to indulging in the newest generation of games. I credit the Playstation family of consoles for turning me into a lover of all things video game, from 8 bit to now. Thanks for all the great memories, looking forward to making many more.

A short list of my absolute favorite PSone titles:
Metal Gear Solid – this one has to be the top for me
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Crash Bandicoot Warped
Spyro the Dragon and Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage
Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9
Medal of Honor
NFL Blitz
Hot Shots Golf
Parasite Eve
Resident Evil 2

Ok not so short, what can I say?
Kharmeister
September 9, 2015 at 12:42 pm PDT

Here’s to the next 20, with luck I’ll still be around and playing (just turned 43 myself).
- GAMERAMA
  September 9, 2015 at 1:45 pm PDT
  
  A toast to u and PlayStation lol I’m only 24 happy 43 buddy
XNightWarriorX
September 9, 2015 at 1:24 pm PDT

happy 20 anniversary to sony playstation.
GAMERAMA
September 9, 2015 at 1:25 pm PDT

20 Years ago today I was in a residential group home and my father called me up from playing outside with friends and told me I have a present for you Vinny and its was a PlayStation I was proud to be born in to Gaming I had Test Drive Eve Destruction. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 Driver 1 Driver 2 & 3 Thrasher Presents Skate And Destroy Dave Mirras Bmx Metal Gear solid Tom Clancys Rainbow Six. and more what I am is proud to be a PlayStation Fan Thank-you and To more. GAMERAMA
Agonves
September 9, 2015 at 2:17 pm PDT

My favorite PlayStation games are Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped and Crash Team Racing.
billgod
September 9, 2015 at 2:39 pm PDT

Sony congratulations for their 20 years of playstation, all these years have been part of my life! so we need more support PSVITA and PS TV, thank you!
mcbuttz78
September 9, 2015 at 2:48 pm PDT

I don’t know exactly were i was. But i know i played alot of games in 20 years in playstation. But i think during that time, I was playing Gta when it was not popular or heard of also writing to them by lettered mail ever so often. I actually still have the stickers and poster they sent me. Rockstar games names was dma games back then.. They was very very small a indie pc company.

My ps1 was a gift , I did not buy the console. my gaming friend from over seas sent it day3 it came out. Told me to such get games . we sent games back and forth., We both bought stock in sony years earlier prior to this… This was was very long long time ago..

I liked ps1. i stayed with it even after ps2 game out. I sent my friend a ps2 over seas even before I even had one. I bought another a month after that. I still played both consoles. ps1 more. Some great games on that console. One game i never could get into was jet moto, im sorry great franchise just out my league in terms of genre well it more of getting served in a lost.

i think my 1st game was ridge racer, man i loved that franchise.
CosmosHeretic
September 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm PDT

The PS1 actually beat me into the world by about 6 months, going off the NA version, but I did always play it at my uncle’s house, mostly Atari arcade classics and a Pac-Man title that I’ve forgotten the name of now. I jumped on board the PS bandwagon in, I think 05 or 06 when the PS2 slim came out, and by that time I had played plenty of PS2 titles, most notably FFX and KH1, with friends when I decided to get the console for myself. Although I did go over to the 360 when Sony first launched the PS3 ($600 paperweight, anyone?) for reasons of price, as soon as Sony launched the PS3 superslim, I went right back over to Playstation and have stayed loyal since, even trading up to the PS4 last year. I’m excited to see what the future is going to bring for Sony and for Playstation, and if the last 20 years have been any indication, then I’ve got nothing to worry about.
liamboy
September 9, 2015 at 4:19 pm PDT

First ps game I played was jumping flash. I thought it was Awful! so swapped for a dreamcast. Came back and played suidoken and that was that! :) best console ever :)
kirogasama
September 9, 2015 at 4:21 pm PDT

For e its very easy!! Final Fantasy VII
Kazriko
September 9, 2015 at 5:15 pm PDT

I missed out on the launch, but bought one as soon as FF7 came out. I was asked to buy a game for my younger cousin to play as well, so I grabbed PoyPoy as well. That turned out to be an excellent game.
AgentX
September 9, 2015 at 5:39 pm PDT

I remember when the PlayStation launched in the US on September 9, 1995. I was in line to get my system that day, and picked up NBA Jam Tournament Edition as my first game. In the months that followed, I added more games–Mortal Kombat 3, Doom, Street Fighter Alpha, and more. I eventually accumulated over 70 games for the original PlayStation system, and still own almost all of them. Of course, I followed up with other newer systems in the PlayStation family as well.

I already started celebrating the 20th anniversary of PlayStation in suitable fashion–by finally getting the inFamous: Second Son platinum trophy to reach level 20 on my profile! I might have to toss in some classic games to continue the celebration. Wipeout is certainly a good choice–I still haven’t won the championship after all these years (I always choke on Silverstream at the end), but that game sure is fun.

Happy 20th Anniversary, PlayStation! As great as the first 20 years have been, I hope the next 20 are even better!
stalepie
September 9, 2015 at 5:41 pm PDT

I remember first seeing the “PSX” in game magazines and I thought it looked like another “me too” system, kind of, as there had been a couple of rocky years with hardware releases like 3DO, CD-i, Jaguar, etc. In fact, I thought it looked kind of like the FM Towns Marty. I didn’t expect it to be such a success. Sony’s previous adventures in games had been such hits as Dracula for the Sega CD and other movie games like Cliffhanger and Hook. They didn’t exactly light the world on fire. But then there was Wipeout. And Ridge Racer. And Battle Arena Toshinden…

I wonder, do they still own Sewer Shark?
alzang676
September 9, 2015 at 6:19 pm PDT

i miss the old days so much.
i remember all the buzz with PS1 and having the 16 bit systems at the time was huge seeing the leap in graphics
i also remember the fact of no real internet at the time and almost zero video footage, we had magazines giving us the info a month later.

congrats on your 20th, PS1, all the good franchises are either dead or not what they once were. all i can hope for is new IP’s that stoke the fires once more that made PS good. just look at PS2’s fall 2001 lineup, it’s insane that that was all SONY EXCLUSIVE.
JRey38
September 9, 2015 at 6:28 pm PDT

I’m going to be playing Crash Bandicoot 1,2,3, & Spyro the Dragon 1,2,3 on my PS3 Slim All night.
RendangSapi2
September 9, 2015 at 7:06 pm PDT

My first experience with Playstation was back when i still in middle school and played Wild Arms 1 on my friends house.

After that i’ve been a PS fans and never skip PS console / handheld.

So here for another 20 years of awesomeness ^^

PS:

Make Wild Arms 6 for PS4 pleassseeeeeeee! >.<
Pink-Moonlight
September 9, 2015 at 7:14 pm PDT

Happy Birthday PlayStation! God, has it been THAT long since I first picked up a PlayStation controller? I’m celebrating by planing some Crash Bandicoot 2 on my original PlayStation 1. Which I now have hook up to a 40″ screen.

I’ve been a loyal PlayStation fan for the entire 20 years, having gotten PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 retrospectively. All of which I still have and love to this day. Thank you Sony for creating the best place to play games and the best consols for the last two decades. As a dedicated PlayStation fan, I look forward to another 20 years with the #1 brand in gaming. :)
HeavyD-Love
September 9, 2015 at 7:15 pm PDT

All this news about Playstation 20th anniversary really makes me think about PSOne classics.

What a perfect time for Sony to finally announce digital PSOne classics cross buy/play on PS4 as they currently are on every other PSN connected system EXCEPT PS4 (PSP, Vita, and PS3)…… so us now PS4 only owners could actually PLAY these classic games.
__________________________________________________________

I used to own all 3 of those systems PSP, Vita, and PS3 and had purchased a large library of digital PS1 classics over the years. Unfortunately i had to sell my other systems due to financial hardships but I figured since digital PS1 classics cross buy/play is supported on every PSN connected system, just assumed it would also be on their newest most powerful PS4. Very disappointed not yet anyway, most likely thanks to PS Now >:(
retro25
September 9, 2015 at 8:09 pm PDT

Happy 20th birthday PlayStation!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it’s been that long since PlayStation really changed video games forever with it’s great graphics and very massive gameplay. I’ve been a PlayStation gamer since 1998 when dad bought us our very own PS one console with a copy of Tomb Raider 3, but my sister didn’t play that much so I play that game for a while and I was hooked. My first experience with PlayStation was at someone’s house and got to play the demo disc with Crash Bandicoot and I really enjoying it. I have all 3 PS systems and two PS handhelds and I have lots of PlayStation games (PS2 games mostly) and someday I’ll get the PS4 console. So Happy Anniversary PlayStation and here’s to more years of PlayStation.
NMinicanX
September 9, 2015 at 8:40 pm PDT

20 years ago I was doing this!!…https://youtu.be/M803mbnVpXs
honkayjeezus
September 9, 2015 at 10:11 pm PDT

Special thanks to Yoshida for trying his best to bury Sony first party. Special cheers for the guy who said “Demon’s Souls is terrible” when given the option to buy the Souls IP. Then he gets on stage and when introducing Bloodborne he says the developer is “very close to his heart”. The guy who gave the greenlight to Driveclub and The Order and thought it was a good idea to stop the Driveclub PS Plus Edition from being released for eight months even though the offline version could have been released.

Thanks, Yoshida.
tbaby2008
September 10, 2015 at 2:32 am PDT

Happy 20th Birthday PlayStation!!! Thanks for all the gaming fun you’ve provided over the last #20YearsOfPlay & here’s to many more to come! ^__^
anszbd1
September 10, 2015 at 3:43 am PDT

Congratulations sony and here’s to another 20 years :)
iREVOLTER
September 10, 2015 at 5:46 am PDT

So many great and not so memories with Playstation. Thx for such awesome journey and here’s to 20 more!
ROLO_ONFIRE
September 10, 2015 at 9:58 am PDT

Sadly with the arrival of Kaz Hirai, SCE sent backwards compatibility down the drain. I don’t like this guy at all
Welmosca
September 10, 2015 at 11:34 am PDT

No clue where I was but I got contact with PS in 1999,a friend of ma uncle went to travel and left his PS1 with him…played Tekken 3 and NFS Hot Pursuit 3 there and instantly fell in love with the PS1,then afterwards I finally got a PS1 in september 1999 which was the 1st video game machine I’ve ever owned.
Insanely fond memories were built from that time till today…will carry these precious memories with me forever,its impressive how far PS has come and how amazingly things evolved…thanks PS to all these years of fantastic moments.

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY PS!!
Psychonon
September 10, 2015 at 7:49 pm PDT

This is so funny because my birthday is September 9 and the PlayStation One was my first gaming system. So I find it incredible that two amazing things were born on the same day. Still my PS1 by the way, also got the PS2, PS3, and the PSP. Love PlayStation.
Alexandre_Maciel
September 11, 2015 at 5:19 pm PDT

Recently I gathered all PlayStation. My collection is complete, and with it all the joys of my adolescence until the present day. PS1 to PS4 all my gaming partners throughout my 35 year old!

PlayStation Congratulations!