Sony has officially revealed a Lego PlayStation set, recreating the original retro console in surprisingly interactive detail.
Shown off during the latest State of Play stream, this kit is made up of nearly 2,000 pieces and is a near-1:1 replica of the system that kicked it all off in 1994. It isn't just a display piece to look at, though; it has 'working' buttons, one for power and another that actually opens the disc tray. Rather than a disc, though, the Lego PlayStation is hiding something else under the hood: it contains two dioramas based on a couple of its most iconic games, Gran Turismo and Ape Escape.
Lego PlayStation will be available direct from Lego on October 4 (or October 1 if you're a member of the free Lego Insider program). You'll also be able to get it via PlayStation as of October 1.
UK: £139.99 at Lego
This 18+ display kit is made up of 1,911 pieces, and it's almost the exact same size as the original console; it measures over 2.5in (6cm) high, 10.5in (26cm) wide, and 7.5in (19cm) deep. It comes with an attachable controller and two mini dioramas that can be stored inside or pulled out to display separately.
Other console sets (like the recent Lego Sega Genesis kit) have been quite a lot smaller than the real thing, but Lego PlayStation bucks that trend by being close to actual size. That gives it room to fit those two tiny scenes inside. Gran Turismo's diorama is a miniature race track featuring scaled down cars, while Ape Escape is a lush island course. These mini-builds can be removed and displayed separately alongside the Lego PlayStation model; you pull away the sides to remove them from the main system.
That extra real estate allows the PlayStation controller model (which can be detached or attached via the front port) to be much more accurate too. One criticism we had for the Genesis set was its controllers being too small to do their inspiration justice, and it was an even less flattering comparison due to Lego releasing a separate, larger Genesis controller as a gift-with-purchase in 2025. This version of the PlayStation handset feels so much more accurate, though. And considering how much of a logistical nightmare it must have been to match that instantly-recognizable, curved shape with Lego bricks, hats off to the design team.
Frankly, the only thing this model's missing is that power-up sound when you turn the console on...
The one thing I've seen fans questioning is the use of Ape Escape. While it was a staple of the original PlayStation, there are arguably more iconic options. (Plus, as noted by our own retro expert Phil Hayton, having Ape Escape here without recreating the DualShock controller it required is an odd choice.) Fans on reddit have been quick to point this out, but they've also wisely noted that the lack of dioramas for IP like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, or Final Fantasy VII is likely due to licensing issues. redDKtie sums it up nicely on the same reddit thread by observing that "Crash and Spyro are owned by Microsoft now. And idk how easy it is to secure the Final Fantasy 7 license for this kind of thing. So those weren't likely."
What do you think of the kit? Will you be picking up the Lego PlayStation when it hits shelves in October? Let me know in the comments.
This isn't the only nostalgic throwback from the brick-makers next month; fans are loving new Lego Wallace & Gromit, but the same can't be said for Buddy the Elf.
- See the latest Lego kits at Lego
