A PlayStation photography book featuring never-before-seen design concepts is on the way

Sony has been marking the 30th anniversary of PlayStation by selling you stuff, like PS5 consoles and accessories styled after the PS1. The company has something else lined up to mark the occasion: a photography book showcasing “never-before-seen prototypes, concept sketches and design models that shaped hardware development” from the early days through to the current PS5 era.

PlayStation: The First 30 Years is a 400-page hardback book printed on heavyweight matt art stock. You better hope your coffee table is sturdy, since this book is a chonkster. It weighs in at 5kg (11lbs). 

Sony worked with publisher Read-Only Memory on PlayStation: The First 30 Years. The collaborators have offered a peek at what’s inside the book. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating glimpse at some of the designs Sony tried for its hardware over the last few decades. 

For instance, the original PlayStation could have looked much different, more directly exemplifying designer Teiyu Goto’s “vision of simple squares and circles coming to life.” (For what it’s worth, Engadget deputy editor Nathan Ingraham said this design looked like a proton pack):

Some of the controller concepts are pretty out there too. Some don’t look all that comfortable to hold or use for extended gaming sessions. This one — which appears to be for the PS3 at the earliest, given the inclusion of the PS button — is truly bonkers. Thank goodness Goto landed on the SNES-style design with grips that has proven so successful (and comfortable) over the years:

The book isn’t entirely limited to hardware concepts, as it features photos of Sony’s design labs. The tome seems like a very cool item for PlayStation fans and those who love gaming history to have, but there might be an element of sticker shock. 

The book is available via Read-Only Memory’s website for $182. A deluxe edition with exposed binding, a foil-stamped clamshell presentation box and a photographic print signed by Goto and photographer Benedict Redgrove will run you $467. The fancier edition has a limited run of 1994 copies. Coincidentally, that’s the year the PS1 debuted in Japan. Both editions of the book will ship in spring 2026.

Meanwhile, Sony has teamed up with Reebok for a collection of 30th anniversary sneakers styled after — you guessed it — the PS1. The kicks will be available in October and the three designs are linked to the PS1’s launch regions. They include the InstaPump Fury 94 for Japan, Pump Omni Zone II for the US and Workout Plus for the UK.