As PlayStation approaches its 30th anniversary, Sony is gearing up for a year of celebrations to honour three decades of gaming excellence. After debuting in Japan in December 1994, PlayStation has evolved across four console generations, ushering in a new era of 3D gaming and spawning iconic gaming franchises including Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, Tekken, and Gran Turismo.
The celebration began with the release of Astro Bot (2024), a platform game developed by Team Asobi for PlayStation 5. As the sequel to Astro’s Playroom and the third in the Astro Bot series, the game is filled with nostalgic nods to beloved PlayStation mascots and classic gameplay. After 30 years of innovation and unforgettable gaming moments, PlayStation continues to be a major force in the industry—and this anniversary is shaping up to be one for the history books
In addition to Astro Bot, Sony is planning a series of events, special activities, and new content to commemorate the milestone. Here’s a glimpse of what PlayStation fans can look forward to as the big celebration unfolds.
Gran Turismo Nostalgia
One of the highlights of the 30th-anniversary celebration is a nostalgic tribute to Gran Turismo by Polyphony Digital. A free trial of Gran Turismo 7 will welcome both veteran fans and newcomers, featuring some of the most iconic cars, tracks, and race events that capture the thrill of the franchise’s early days. The trial, available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, is slated for release during the holiday season, with more details to come.
Game Soundtracks Go Digital
In collaboration with Sony Music, PlayStation will release digital soundtracks from iconic PlayStation games starting in October through January. Fans can stream music from legendary titles like God of War, God of War II, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Twisted Metal, Starhawk, and Unit 13, on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. To kick off the celebrations, Sony has released a special PlayStation 30th Anniversary playlist on Spotify, showcasing some of the most-streamed tracks from PlayStation games around the world.
Shapes of Play: Celebrating PlayStation’s Iconic Symbols
In December 2024, Sony will release a new collection of products called “Shapes of Play,” inspired by the iconic PlayStation button symbols, and designed by the same team behind the PlayStation consoles. This playful collection includes three unique products:
- Shapes of Play: Battle – A board game where two players compete to line up four different shapes of the same colour on the board to win.
- Shapes of Play: Create – A set of magnetic blocks that can be rearranged to create fun designs and shapes.
- Shapes of Play: Recharge – A set of stress-relief toys designed to help players relax after an intense gaming session.
These products will be available exclusively on the PlayStation Direct website for customers in select regions, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Benelux. Pre-orders are open exclusively through direct.playstation.com
Multiplayer Weekend & Esports Showdowns
Sony is hosting a free online multiplayer weekend on September 21 and 22 to kick off the anniversary celebrations. PlayStation owners on both PS4 and PS5 can enjoy multiplayer modes for the games they own without needing a PlayStation Plus membership. Alongside the free multiplayer event, Sony will host a series of PS5 esports tournaments featuring popular titles such as NBA 2K24, NBA 2K25, Madden NFL 24, MLB The Show 24, EA UFC 5, Tekken 8, and Guilty Gear Strive. Players who qualify for the tournaments will compete for a special 30th-anniversary-themed PlayStation avatar and other in-game rewards.
Unleashing the PS5 Pro
As part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations, Sony officially announced the PS5 Pro, a major upgrade over the original PS5 on September 10. With a powerful upgraded GPU offering 67% more compute units, 28% faster memory, enhanced ray tracing, and AI-driven PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the PS5 Pro promises an even smoother 60FPS experience. Features like PS5 Pro Game Boost, backward compatibility with PS4 titles, and support for VRR and 8K gaming make it ideal for gamers seeking high-performance visuals and speed.
What’s even more intriguing is that Sony subtly teased the PS5 Pro design during its 30th-anniversary announcement. Several eagle-eyed fans spotted an unusual console design in a montage image posted by Sony. This new design, featuring three black stripes, closely resembles a leaked sketch of the PS5 Pro reported by Dealabs just a week earlier. This Adidas-like design only fueled further excitement, with pre-orders starting on September 26 with the console launching on October 10, 2024.
More Surprises to Come
As the anniversary celebrations unfold, Sony promises even more special events, promotions, and surprises for PlayStation fans. From exclusive merchandise to nostalgic content and community events, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a memorable year for PlayStation. Stay tuned to PlayStation.com and the official PlayStation blog for the latest updates on upcoming activities.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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