Sony has launched the limited edition PlayStation 4 in time for the celebration of its 20th anniversary in the gaming industry. It was on Dec. 3, 1994 when the machine was first released in Japan. Nine months later, it made its way to Europe and North America.
Sony will be selling 12,300 PlayStation 4 units, the number being symbolic of the console's release date. All of the units will be colored in the original gray hue and will be assigned a number unique to every console.
"Today is a very special moment in our history," said Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida. "It's been 20 years since the launch of the original PlayStation, which released in Japan on December 3rd, 1994. It seems like only yesterday! I'm so glad that we can celebrate this moment together."
The gray-colored PlayStation 4, a collector's edition, comes with a matching gray controller and camera. Even the cables and other accessories are matched in the same color scheme. The PlayStation 4 logo also bears the original four-color design. Moreover, it comes with a special vertical stand and is packed in a special white retro box, which has an engraving of the words "20th anniversary."
While the limited edition PlayStation 4 is not compatible with those games that are loaded from the original version, it can play retro titles available through digital downloads. The console's DualShock 4 has kept its familiar controls even if it has borrowed the color scheme of the gamepad's original version.
Sony said that the console, owing to its limited number, will not be available at retail stores. Fans from the U.S. and Canada can start placing pre-orders on Dec. 6 even though the pricing details, which are said to be $499, are yet to be confirmed. Likewise, it will sell at 49,980 Yen in Japan and €499 in Europe.
While fans from Japan can also start pre-ordering on Dec. 6, there's no word yet on how the product will retail in Europe. It's also not clear how the consoles will be distributed in each of the regions. It remains to be seen whether the consoles will be equally distributed or certain regions will have a higher number.
"Given this very limited production run, the 20th Anniversary Edition will not be available via traditional retail channels in the SCEE region," said Sony on its EU PlayStation blog. "Look out for more information soon on how you can get your hands on one of these highly collectable consoles."
