Thirty years ago, the PlayStation console kicked off a new gaming era with its launch in the US and Europe. To celebrate this milestone, Sony has announced that it’ll be exploring the history of the console with PlayStation: The First 30 Years. Scheduled to ship out in 2026, you can now preorder the book for $125.
PlayStation: The First 30 Years
$125 | Releases Spring 2026
Published by Read Only Memories–a British publisher specializing in producing books about the history of video games–PlayStation: The First 30 Years is a hardcover 400-page book designed to be a definitive visual chronicle of the console. The book is full of unseen images from Sony’s archive of research and development materials, including prototypes, concept sketches, and development models.
Alongside the images you’ll find commentary from key figures involved in the creation of the PlayStation, like Ken Kutaragi, Teiyu Goto, and Yujin Morisawa, and there are new images captured by NASA: Past and Present Dreams of the Future photographer Benedict Redgrove. Another nod to the past here is that the art direction for this book was led by Nicole Motby and Studio.Build, the graphic-design house responsible for creating the original cover art for Wipeout, Wipeout 2097, and Wipeout 3.
PlayStation: The First 30 Years Deluxe Edition
The $325 Deluxe Edition of the book will be limited to 1,994 copies, and it comes with several extras like exposed binding, a clamshell presentation box, and exclusive prints. At the time of writing, 50 of these books have already been sold through Read Only Memories, so it looks like this will sell out very fast.
For now, it looks like this initial release might only be through Read Only Memories, but a wider release could come through another publisher. This wouldn’t be unusual, as Read Only Memory’s books like WipEout Futurism: The Graphic Archives, Like a Hurricane: An Unofficial Oral History of Street Fighter 2, 500 Years Later: An Oral History of Final Fantasy 7, and Videogame Atlas: Mapping Interactive Worlds have been published worldwide by Thames & Hudson and with different covers.
This sounds like an exciting release for PlayStation fans! Celebrating 30 years is a significant milestone, and a history book is a great way to commemorate it. Looking forward to seeing all the memories and milestones included!
Absolutely! It’s a great way to reflect on the impact PlayStation has had on gaming over the decades. Plus, the history book might include some behind-the-scenes stories that fans have never heard before!
I completely agree! It’s fascinating to think about how PlayStation has not only shaped gaming but also influenced pop culture as a whole. The history book will surely highlight some iconic moments that many fans may have forgotten.
Absolutely! The way PlayStation has influenced gaming culture and technology over the years is remarkable. It’ll be interesting to see how this history book captures those pivotal moments and how they’ve impacted the industry as a whole.