Man, am I getting old: It’s astonishing to realize I’ve been gaming on PlayStation consoles for almost 30 years. I’ve owned multiple versions of each generation, with at least one of each still gathering dust in my closet. To commemorate this three-decade milestone, Sony is going retro.
And… it’s gone – Update (Sept 26): As anticipated, Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro Anniversary Edition sold out quickly. Pre-orders for the collector’s bundle opened this morning at a $1,000 price point, and all 12,300 units were secured within seconds. Scalpers are already listing them on eBay with exorbitant asking prices.
Of course, this rapid sellout isn’t solely due to high demand. Similar to the standard PS5 launch on November 12, 2020, scalper bots likely snapped up most of these units. Back then, Sony Direct offered the best chance to secure a console since buyers had to log in to their PSN account to purchase. However, due to supply shortages, Sony rarely sold consoles there, preferring to allocate stock to retailers.
Scalpers have improved their bots significantly over the past four years, likely figuring out how to bypass Sony’s sign-in requirement. This seems to be the only plausible explanation for such a rapid sellout. Even if all 12,300 units were waiting to be purchased, it would take a human more than just a few seconds to add an item to the cart and check out.
Those eagerly waiting to pre-order a PlayStation 5 Pro might want to pause for a moment. Sony has just announced a 30th-anniversary edition that nostalgically harks back to the early PlayStation days. The console comes in classic PlayStation gray and features the original multicolor PS logo. Each unit will also have its limited edition number etched into it. A matching two-tone gray DualSense Edge controller completes the package.
The bundle includes a 2TB SSD, WiFi 7, a DualSense charging station, and a cover for the disc drive compartment–disc drives are sold separately (above). It also features some cool collector’s items, such as an original PlayStation controller-style cable connector housing, cable ties, a PS sticker, a poster, and a PS paperclip (below).
Sony hasn’t disclosed the price for this classically themed bundle, but expect it to be more than $700, which is the retail price of a standard PS5 Pro–if you can manage to get one. Sony plans to produce only 12,300 retro PS5 Pros, which will undoubtedly sell out quickly.
For those not interested in a PS5 Pro but looking for a standard model, Sony has a solution with the 30th Anniversary PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. This edition features a 1TB SSD, a matching DualSense controller (not the Edge), and the same collector’s items as the Pro model. The blog post did not mention a limited supply of these collector units, so they might be easier to obtain.
Additionally, to be inclusive, Sony will release retro-themed versions of the PlayStation Portal, DualSense, and DualSense Edge controllers. These items have not been priced yet, but they should be reasonable.
Fans can pre-order the PlayStation 5 Pro, Portal, and DualSense Edge limited editions through PlayStation Direct starting September 26. Sony has also partnered with 26 retailers that will stock these items in regions where PS Direct is unavailable.
Pre-orders for the retro PS5 Digital Edition and DualSense controller (not Edge) also open on September 26 through PlayStation Direct. If you need to order from a retailer, reservations for the PS5 Digital won’t begin until October 10. However, controller pre-orders through retailers will start on September 26.
For those ordering from traditional retailers, it might be worth revisiting any tricks used during the 2020 PS5 Covid launch, as scalpers will quickly grab these units. Regardless of where or which SKU you order, all shipments will commence on November 21. Happy hunting.
