A prototype for the SNES PlayStation has been spotted in the wild, bringing back memories of when Sony was working with Nintendo in making a games console.
It’s been twenty years since SCE released the PlayStation, and twenty four years since Nintendo originally announced the SNES PlayStation, then called the SNES-CD, in collaboration with Sony.
Gamers may not be familiar with the history behind the PlayStation, and much of it is still misunderstood. While some may know of the fateful press conference when Howard Lincoln declared they rejected Sony for a new deal with Philips, and that Nintendo still kept third parties captive with regressive licensing agreements. However, many don’t know that Philips worked with Sony in creating the compact disc, or that Sony wanted to take all the profits from CD game sales. You can read a quick rundown of that history here.
In any case, this is a flashback to a happier time between the two companies, and a peek at what could have been. As you can see, the prototype combines a CD drive with SNES hardware components. Sony and PlayStation insignia are all over the console, including the Super Famicom controller. The prototype also came with a mysterious cart. We don’t know if the prototype still works, but from all appearances it certainly looks legit.
The original poster claims this came from a former Nintendo employee who worked with his father. It’s not confirmed here, but some speculate the father, Olaf, is actually old Sony employee Olaf Olafsson, who helped negotiate the deal between the two companies.
Would you have wanted the Nintendo PlayStation? Or are you content with how history played out in that time? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. In the meantime, check out more photos below.
