The Nintendo PlayStation, a prototype console resulting from a failed collaboration between Nintendo and Sony, has become a highly sought-after piece of gaming history. This collaboration aimed to create a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), but it ultimately fell apart when Nintendo chose to partner with Philips instead. Despite the project’s cancellation, approximately 200 prototypes were reportedly produced, though most were thought to have been destroyed or lost over time.
In recent years, the Nintendo PlayStation has gained significant attention from collectors and gaming historians. In 2020, the only known working prototype of the console was auctioned for $360,000, making it one of the most expensive gaming collectibles ever sold. This prototype featured both a cartridge slot for SNES games and a CD-ROM drive, marking an ambitious attempt to merge Nintendo’s and Sony’s technologies.
An incredibly rare prototype Nintendo PlayStation controller just sold for $35,000 at @HeritageAuction.
— cllct (@cllctMedia) August 23, 2024
The console itself has only sold once publicly, setting a record when it sold for $360,000 in March 2020.https://t.co/B5NHBHiZmG
More recently, a prototype controller for the Nintendo PlayStation was auctioned off separately, fetching $35,000. This controller, resembling a Super Nintendo controller but branded with “Sony PlayStation,” highlights the unique intersection of the two companies’ designs. Despite its high auction price, the controller’s functionality remains unverified due to the rarity of compatible hardware.
The Nintendo PlayStation represents a fascinating “what if” scenario in gaming history, illustrating how close Sony and Nintendo came to collaborating before Sony independently launched the PlayStation, which went on to revolutionize the gaming industry. The ongoing interest in these prototypes underscores their significance as relics of a pivotal moment in the evolution of video game consoles.
