A rare prototype of Sony and Nintendo’s ill-fated PlayStation console has appeared on Imgur and Reddit, showcasing the device which was planned to support both CD-ROM software and Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES) cartridges.
The prototype is owned by a member of Assembler Games forum, who claims the device originally belonged to his father who worked alongside a Nintendo employee. Apparently, he discovered the PlayStation prototype after shifting through a box of junk after the firm went bankrupt.
The owner says his intends on opening up the device and taking pictures of its circuitry at some point, although he’s unable to boot it up at present as he lacks the correct power cord.
This is a significant find, as it’s a crucial piece of PlayStation history dating back to the late 80s when Sony and Nintendo formed a partnership to create the SNES-CD, a device capable of reading CD-ROMs for Nintendo’s existing console.
However, a licensing disagreement between both hardware giants ultimately lead to the partnership collapsing, and the project was abandoned. Or was it?
Fast forward to 1991, and the Play Station was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show, with Nintendo announcing a partnership with Phillips the very next day.
Undeterred by its patchy relationship with Nintendo, Sony moved forward with the PlayStation under Ken Kutaragi’s leadership, resulting in the device we know and love today, which saw its Japanese launch in December 1994.