Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
    • Gaming
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
    • PC
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
    • Tabletop & Merch
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
      • Gift Guides
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Quizzes
    • Newsletters
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Black Friday
    • View Black Friday
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
      • Gift Guides
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Quizzes
    • Newsletters
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Hand holding G'AIM'E Time Crisis Lightgun connected to console with TV running game in backdrop.
Retro The G'AIM'E Time Crisis Lightgun console has gloriously revived my favorite arcade shooter, but I'm worried about the genre's future
Evercade Alpha closeup with Ryu from Street Fighter on screen
Retro Best retro game consoles 2025: my favorite ways to play classic capers
Promotional art for Final Fantasy 7
Games "Nintendo created their big competition": Shuhei Yoshida says Super NES ditching PlayStation at the last minute was "almost helpful"
Photo of SuperStation FPGA console in midnight blue next to original DualShock controller.
Retro "The world's first affordable FPGA gaming console" - I'm mesmerised by this new Superstation One PS1 system snapshot
Xbox prototype rebuilt next to OG retail Xbox
Xbox 25 years later, the original $36,000 Xbox prototype that was shaped like an actual X has been rebuilt, and it's fully functioning
Close up of Virtual Boy logo on accessory with red backdrop
Horror Games "I knew the PlayStation was much better": Programmer behind legendary PS1 horror game tried to duck out of Virtual Boy development because he knew the VR console "wasn't going to sell well"
Theme Park
Games Sony was "very close close to getting the FIFA license," former PlayStation exec says, and nearly bought Peter Molyneux's studio before losing it to EA: "It was easier and cheaper to buy them"
Crash Bandicoot
PlayStation PlayStation immediately outperformed Nintendo and Sega in Europe at launch because neither had a "consistent marketing strategy," and Sony "didn't say no to things"
Wipeout 64 cover art
Racing Games PS1-era Sony nearly fell out with one of its most legendary studios because the "traitors" put Wipeout on Nintendo 64: "What the f*** was Psygnosis doing on the N64?"
holding Virtual Boy for Switch 2 with red backdrop
Games "That's the way Nintendo is": Tetris legend says Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi "made Nintendo's game business, for chrissakes" but that still didn't save him when "Virtual Boy was dead on arrival"
PlayStation
PlayStation Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has one regret from the PS1 era: the US and Europe missed out on too many Japanese classics
A photo shows a page in the upcoming photography book PlayStation: The First 30 Years that shows a green and grey controller
PlayStation PlayStation celebrates 30 years with $325 deluxe photo book that Sony says is "sure to become a coveted collectors item" instead of answering fans' prayers for more retro games
Gametank console with Ganymede gameplay in backdrop.
Retro "This isn’t just another emulator" - I can't believe we're getting a new 8-bit console that's not a NES clone
Snake looks to an explosion in the distance
PlayStation Sony was so desperate for video games and the PS1 to look "f***ing cool" that marketing execs say they'd take games to "places that were almost quite dangerous" to be "associated with alcohol, drug taking… anything"
James in James Channel video using home made Xbox handheld to play Halo with disc spinning at the front.
Handhelds "Now I can take Steel Battalion with me everywhere!" - Hey gamers, I've found your Xbox handheld
Trending
  • Early Black Friday deals
  • Fallout Season 2
  • New Games for 2025
  • Gift Guides
  1. Games

Take a look at the original Sony/Nintendo PlayStation prototype that never happened

News
By Leon Hurley published 3 July 2017

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
CATEGORIES
PS4 Platforms PlayStation
Leon Hurley
Leon Hurley
Social Links Navigation
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.

UPDATE: There's a video of the prototype Sony/Nintendo PlayStation.

Pay attention, 10 second history lesson: way back in 1988, Sony and Nintendo worked together on a CD-ROM peripheral for the SNES. In 1991 it was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show by Sony but the day after, Nintendo announced that, actually, it was partnering with Phillips for its CD tech. Sony, furious, more or less spite-developed its half of the tech into the PlayStation 1 we know today, to get back at Nintendo.

Because it was never actually released the Sony/Nintendo PlayStation is quite rare. So this one is quite a big deal. It apparently turned up in some junk belonging to imgur user DanDiebold's dad. Here's the real kicker though, this is the story he posts behind the images:

You may like
  • Promotional art for Final Fantasy 7 "Nintendo created their big competition": Shuhei Yoshida says Super NES ditching PlayStation at the last minute was "almost helpful"
  • Photo of SuperStation FPGA console in midnight blue next to original DualShock controller. "The world's first affordable FPGA gaming console" - I'm mesmerised by this new Superstation One PS1 system snapshot
  • Xbox prototype rebuilt next to OG retail Xbox 25 years later, the original $36,000 Xbox prototype that was shaped like an actual X has been rebuilt, and it's fully functioning

"My dad worked for a company, apparently one of the guys he used to work with, I think his name was Olaf, used to work at Nintendo and when my dad's company went bankrupt, my dad found it in a box of 'junk' he was supposed to throw out". 

Now this bit seems almost too good to be true because 'Olaf' could possibly reference Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, the original co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Not only could this be one of the first ever PlayStations, it could be one that belonged to its creator. 

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

Read more
Promotional art for Final Fantasy 7
"Nintendo created their big competition": Shuhei Yoshida says Super NES ditching PlayStation at the last minute was "almost helpful"
 
 
Photo of SuperStation FPGA console in midnight blue next to original DualShock controller.
"The world's first affordable FPGA gaming console" - I'm mesmerised by this new Superstation One PS1 system snapshot
 
 
Xbox prototype rebuilt next to OG retail Xbox
25 years later, the original $36,000 Xbox prototype that was shaped like an actual X has been rebuilt, and it's fully functioning
 
 
Close up of Virtual Boy logo on accessory with red backdrop
"I knew the PlayStation was much better": Programmer behind legendary PS1 horror game tried to duck out of Virtual Boy development because he knew the VR console "wasn't going to sell well"
 
 
Theme Park
Sony was "very close close to getting the FIFA license," former PlayStation exec says, and nearly bought Peter Molyneux's studio before losing it to EA: "It was easier and cheaper to buy them"
 
 
Crash Bandicoot
PlayStation immediately outperformed Nintendo and Sega in Europe at launch because neither had a "consistent marketing strategy," and Sony "didn't say no to things"
 
 
Latest in Games
Screenshot from Hytale, showing three warriors with a sword, bow, and staff sighting a big, icy dragon.
Hytale creator says "right now, the game is not good enough" for an Early Access launch, but when that happens, it'll "feel real Early Access"
 
 
Megabonk low poly monkey
Roguelike superstar drops out of The Game Awards because Megabonk "is not my debut game," but fans beg solo dev to reconsider: "Wait until you hear about 'indie' games in the indie category that are backed by multi-billion-dollar corps"
 
 
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined hero on a boat
Dragon Quest creator wants to "oversee everything" in the legendary JRPG series until he dies: "I think the next goal for me is to witness the 50th Anniversary [2036]"
 
 
Subnautica 2
Subnautica 2 studio was working on a secret game code named Project Labrador before Unknown Worlds leads were fired, and ex-CEO says he still hopes "to see that game come to light"
 
 
Rust
Rust studio COO wants an official Delta Force collab after calling out the game for allegedly stealing assets: "Cinematic is great though, hopefully next time we see a Rust Hazmat in their next season"
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 screenshot of Verso, a man with black hair with white streaks running through his fringe
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says "cult classic" Xbox 360 JRPG from Final Fantasy creator is "one of the best games of its kind" and "the last game that made me cry"
 
 
Latest in News
The cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Knives Out 3 director Rian Johnson says he and star Daniel Craig are "already starting to formulate" ideas for more sequels: "I don’t know why I would stop doing it"
 
 
Twisted Metal season 2
Peacock renews Twisted Metal for season 3 with The Boys writer joining as showrunner
 
 
The Marionette in Five Nights at Freddy's 2
A new Five Nights at Freddy's 2 clip brings the game's creepiest puppet to life – and I'm so excited
 
 
The Na'vi preparing for battle in Avatar: Fire and Ash
A new clip from Avatar: Fire and Ash has been released, featuring an intense chase from the Ash People
 
 
Last Samurai Standing
Hideo Kojima says he "binged" new Netflix samurai show with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score: "It was so good"
 
 
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero in Wicked: For Good
When is Wicked: For Good on streaming? Speculation on the potential Peacock release date
 
 
  1. Keyart for Demonschool showing Faye's face split into pieces for artistic effect
    1
    Demonschool review: "This Persona-inspired RPG is full of fun, flair, and ready to chomp away at your free time"
  2. 2
    Morsels review: "The Binding of Isaac style roguelike shooting gets somehow grosser, but struggles to set itself apart"
  3. 3
    Dispatch review: "Critical Role fans rejoice – episodic gaming has been superheroically saved by this incredibly charming band of misfits"
  4. 4
    Where Winds Meet review: "Sekiro-style combat meets seemingly every videogame idea ever in this bloated but fun open-world martial arts adventure"
  5. 5
    Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault review: "Dungeon delving, balancing sacks of loot, then hawking your wares is still a compelling loop – but the exchange rate between those pillars is wobbly in early access"
  1. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked: For Good
    1
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  2. 2
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  3. 3
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  4. 4
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  5. 5
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  1. Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, looking scared, in Pluribus.
    1
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  2. 2
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  3. 3
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  4. 4
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  5. 5
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...