Sony is releasing a “Limited Edition 30th Anniversary PS5 Collection” on November 21, pre-order window is Sept. 26 and it’ll surely sellout, but is it worth it?
If you’re a Nike fan, you know the drill: give a nod to the past with a retro colorway, keep it limited, charge a premium for said nostalgia, and…underdeliver.
My two biggest beefs:
How can you release a PS5 that harkens back to the OG PlayStation and not include a disc drive? (It will be sold separately, no bueno.)
Where’s the backwards compatibility? How cool would it have been to be able to play games from the PS1, 2, 3 and 4 on the PS5?
Here are some other issues I have with this retro ‘Anniversary’ collection:
1. Limited Availability
- Extremely Low Supply: With only 12,300 units of the PS5 Pro available globally, the collection’s limited availability has frustrated many fans. The scarcity has led to concerns about resellers buying up consoles and reselling them at inflated prices, making it difficult for genuine collectors and long-time PlayStation fans to get their hands on one.
- Pre-Order Process: In regions where PlayStation’s direct store isn’t available, fans have to rely on participating retailers, which can be unpredictable in terms of stock availability. This could lead to people missing out, sound familiar Nike fans?
2. Lack of Significant Hardware Upgrades
- No Major Technical Advancements: While the Limited Edition PS5 is nice to look at with its nostalgic design, there are no significant hardware improvements over the standard PS5. Some fans expected a bit more, like new features, improved cooling, or additional system enhancements beyond the increased storage and Wi-Fi 7 support.
3. Price Point
- High Cost for Aesthetic Changes: While currently unknown, the price of the Limited Edition PS5 will most likely be significantly higher than the standard versions of the console, but the differences are mainly aesthetic. Some consumers feel that paying a premium for nostalgia and branding rather than added value or functionality, especially since the additional accessories and collector’s items don’t necessarily what is sure to be a the steep price increase, I’d expect a 4-digit price.
Look Ma, a paperclip!
4. Bundled Items Are Underwhelming
- Lackluster Collectibles: While the collector’s items (like the original PlayStation-style cable connector, stickers, and paperclips) are a thing, they have been seen by some as underwhelming, especially given the anniversary milestone. Fans expected more exclusive and unique memorabilia for such a significant release—items like custom artwork, unique in-game content, or more sophisticated collectibles would have better captured the spirit of the occasion.
5. Nostalgia Over Functionality
- More Focus on Nostalgia than Innovation: While the retro-inspired design is a nice tribute, some fans feel Sony leaned too heavily into nostalgia rather than offering new, innovative features for the PS5 experience. They were hoping for something more groundbreaking, like new gameplay mechanics or additional capabilities that tie back to the classic PlayStation days.
6. Digital Edition Lacks Distinction
- Fewer Features in the Digital Edition: Some criticism is aimed at the Digital Edition of the console, which lacks some of the high-end features seen in the PS5 Pro version (like 2TB storage or Wi-Fi 7). While this is expected given the nature of the Digital Edition, some consumers feel that the Digital version doesn’t offer enough bang for the buck, especially considering its high price.
7. Design Not for Everyone
- Polarizing Retro Aesthetic: While the retro-inspired colorway appeals to long-time PlayStation fans, not everyone is a fan of the design. Some younger gamers or those who prefer modern, sleeker aesthetics may not appreciate the throwback gray look. It’s a specific design that may feel dated or out of place for those not nostalgic about the original console era.
8. Missed Opportunities for In-Game Content
- No Exclusive In-Game Content: For a 30th-anniversary celebration, some fans expected the collection to include exclusive in-game content, such as special skins, themes, or early access to certain games. Including some digital goodies to match the physical collectibles could have elevated the overall value.
Overall, while the Limited Edition PS5 30th Anniversary collection successfully taps into nostalgia and offers a visually unique console, it faces criticism for its limited availability, high price for mostly cosmetic changes, and lack of significant new features or upgrades feeling more like a collector’s novelty than a substantial offering for the gaming community.
At least the PS1-themed controllers can be purchased separately, which I suspect many people, myself included, will opt to do.
Will you try to pick up the Anniversary edition PS5? Let us know here.
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Reactions danikerhino, swendro and 8tothe24Also, a DLC has been available for GOTY for forever. The rules weren't changed for Erdtree. Hell even the DICE awards (Where only devs vote) from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences allows any and all games to be nominated for GOTY. The only disqualifier is a remaster of something.
I feel like the debate here is does there need to be a DLC category? Which I think there should be. And additionally, do people think Erdtree took up another spot of something more deserving? However, there are panels of people who get together, discuss, debate and whittle down the nominations to get the finalists. So it’s not like someone just slid it in there. I expect it to be up for the DICE GOTY as well.
As much as I personally loved the game, do I think Erdtree should win? No.
Would I have liked to see Silent Hill nominated especially after it got nominated for best direction? Absolutely.
My nom list would have been:
Wukong
Rebirth
Metaphor
Silent Hill
Animal Well
Astro Bot
Reactions Gordonson, T0INE, Bad Religion and 3 othersHope this doesn’t happen
Reactions danikerhinoI've done pretty much everything and still can't access my games, or even delete them.
When I reformatted it, it said that the drive may not be fast enough(something it didn't do when I first installed it)
It's wild having to just use console storage for now, I can maybe squeeze 4 games on there:smh::lol:
Reactions mr j 858 and T0INEWhich M.2 ssd were you using?
I don't think there is enough DLC/expanisions year in and year out to carry that category.
It would just be another one of those categories that gets read off in one of those rapid fire segments anyway.
Reactions GordonsonThis year we had SotE, FF XVI The Rising Tide, MK1 Khaos Reigns, Destiny 2 Final Shape, Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail, Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred, Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis The Answer
SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 2TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 Gaming M.2 Internal Solid State Drive Memory Card
Reactions spiderjerichoTeam PS Portal needs to let us know how it works.
The PlayStation Portal remote player experience to evolve with new system update
Pre-download now... the installation will be activated tomorrow!
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Reactions tr1ll and yungxcveThanks for the alert, need to queue that up via the app today.
I've been so smitten with the clear glass filter that the pro puts on PS4 games, the only PS5 title I have played so far has been GT7. Wanted to make sure I could tell the difference between base PS5, Pro pre-update and the w/ the update. Should be interesting. So far only noticed the super-locked 120fps with ray tracing mode. VR improvements seemed less noticeable imho... and just a bit snappier overall.
Which heatsink did you use with that guy?
Reactions Sinner🤔
The Gran Turismo 7 November Update: Five New Cars and Rotiform! - Gran Turismo® 7 - gran-turismo.com
Reactions jopxUmm... 32GB and no pro patch... yeah. I'll need to read that. preciate.
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Reactions spiderjericho and JustBlaze.Wow, so you were running it properly... if the thermal pad was properly in place.
Since they still sell the ssd, you can swap it out and move on if not interested in going the warranty route or moving to a different model.
I'm probably gonna just get a different, bigger sized model when I get the Pro.
I was already debating on doing that, this just made the decision for me.
I'm happy it's just the M.2 and nothing else is wrong w my launch day PS5
Reactions migu420, spiderjericho and Sinner
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Reactions spiderjerichoThey have gotten so popular, many retailers are now holding for BF.
Reactions SinnerIt’s been a long while since I bought a video game
So can I just buy it from Best Buy at midnight (website) 😆 😆
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Reactions MaxP_3, geraldg2309, T0INE and 33 othersA few more hours and I'll get to see my two boys in complete shock that they actually got a PS5 for Christmas :nthat:
Reactions riverdale road, ballinsam23, jrp44 and 29 othersTonal workout system came in as well.
Excuse the mess, got a couple more pieces coming and then it’ll be complete
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I'd trade my PS5 for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
That said, Destruction Allstars is awesome and I can play while holding him.
Reactions DungaDon, RIP Screw, bonde111 and 27 othersDamn that's almost $50 in credit at Gamestop :wow:
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Reactions fahqu001, ggarvinxx3, skylondiggs and 26 othersMerry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!
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******* FINALLY!!!!!
I see the charge on my card and everything. Just waiting for the confirmation email.
No more playing my friends ps5
YES CONFIRMATIOIN THERE!
YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS
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Reactions ihust1e, DungaDon, Gordonson and 18 othersI didn't know the ps5 was the size of the actual NBA championship trophy.. :rofl:
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