Books - PlayStation: The First 30 Years – Sony celebrates three decades of gaming history with a collector's edition book

By Mulder, 29 september 2025

In this symbolic year, as the PlayStation brand celebrates its 30th anniversary in the West, Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to mark the occasion with a prestigious and emotionally charged object: a 400-page book entitled PlayStation: The First 30 Years. This project, which will be available in spring 2026, is more than just a compilation of nostalgic images. It is a true journey through time, a behind-the-scenes look at the design of the consoles that shaped the history of modern video games and left their mark on entire generations of gamers. Officially announced on September 29, 2025, the anniversary of the European release of the first PlayStation, the book perfectly embodies the spirit of celebration and transmission desired by Sony.

The book is the result of close collaboration between Sony Interactive Entertainment and British publisher Read-Only Memory, known for its heritage approach to gaming culture. The artistic direction was entrusted to Michael C Place, a renowned figure in graphic design who had already made his mark on PlayStation history by creating the iconic packaging for the game WipEout and its sequels WipEout 2097 and WipEout 3. The photographic eye is that of Benedict Redgrove, famous for his book NASA: Past and Present Dreams of the Future, who applied the same aesthetic rigor and fascination with engineering to the documentation of PlayStation consoles and accessories. The whole was laid out by Nicole Motby at Studio.Build, giving the book a clear and contemporary visual identity.

Beyond the spectacular photos revealing never-before-seen prototypes, forgotten models, and sketches of alternative controllers, the book includes valuable testimonials from the brand's founding figures. Ken Kutaragi, considered the father of PlayStation, looks back on the technological and strategic challenges that led to the creation of the first console. Teiyu Goto, the man behind the console and controller's sleek and functional design, explains the aesthetic choices that would become iconic. As for Yujin Morisawa, current artistic director of PlayStation Design, he brings a more contemporary perspective on the brand's evolution and how the legacies of the past interact with current innovations. These intertwined voices offer a narrative that goes far beyond a simple collection of objects, delivering a truly human and creative story.

While the content promises a rich and unique journey through three decades of innovation, the object itself is decidedly a collector's item. Two editions are available: a standard edition for €115 and a deluxe edition for €290, limited to 1,994 copies, a nod to the year the first PlayStation was launched in Japan. This prestigious version includes a presentation box, exposed binding, and exclusive prints, affirming its status as an essential collector's item. Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, emphasized the desire to make this book a visual tribute to enthusiasts and collectors, an object that transcends generations and stands as a cultural milestone.

This book is part of a broader celebration. In addition to this publication, Sony has launched a number of initiatives to celebrate 30 years of PlayStation, ranging from limited edition consoles to original collaborations, such as the PlayStation x Reebok sneaker collection inspired by the first console and available in the regions where it was originally launched. The company has also encouraged players to share their memories using the hashtag #PlayStation30Memories, reminding us that the brand's history is not only written by its technological innovations but also by the emotions experienced by its community. The testimonials collected have been used to create a commemorative video that highlights the intimate connection between PlayStation and its millions of fans around the world.

Thirty years on, it's hard not to appreciate the cultural impact of PlayStation. It marked the transition from 2D to 3D, saw the birth of cult franchises such as Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider and Gran Turismo, and repeatedly redefined the way we play and design video game experiences. The release of PlayStation: The First 30 Years reminds us that behind every console and every controller lie years of research, experimentation, and creative daring. This book is aimed as much at nostalgic gamers eager to relive their first gaming thrills as it is at curious readers who want to understand how a piece of technology became a global cultural symbol.

With this publication, Sony and Read-Only Memory offer not just a beautiful book, but a major testimony to the evocative power of video games. PlayStation: The First 30 Years is not just a retrospective: it is an invitation to contemplate the evolution of a vision, one that has transformed the controller into a natural extension of our hands and consoles into portals to the imagination. By offering this unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at its 30-year history, PlayStation is affirming that it is not content to have made its mark on the past of video games: it continues to build its future with the same creative ambition.

(Source: press release)