One of the most sought-after special edition consoles of all time, the 20th Anniversary Edition PlayStation 4 which borrowed its look from the iconic PS1, just got a sequel of sorts with a special PS1-inspired PS5 console – but this one’s even more rare than its predecessor.
Just one of these was created for PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, who recently announced that he’ll be retiring in March next year after being with the business for nearly thirty years.
The console carries the iconic grey colour scheme, as does its matching DualSense controller, and in a nice touch the controller’s USB cable has a cover on one end to make it look like a classic PS1 controller connector. Even the box itself is themed on the OG packaging, making it both incredibly cool and totally tragic that these aren’t widely available. There were also cookies with Ryan’s face on them, which I’d be less excited about receiving:
Sad I won’t be around for #TheGameAwards but I couldn’t pass up the chance to go to Jim Ryan’s thank you party and be around some legends and this one of a kind “Jim Ryan” PS5 with PS1 style. pic.twitter.com/WP7qwtxDI0
— ?Yuichi (@InstallBase) December 7, 2023
“After 30 years, I have made the decision to retire from SIE in March 2024,” Ryan said in a press release in September. “I’ve relished the opportunity to have a job I love in a very special company, working with great people and incredible partners. But I’ve found it increasingly difficult to reconcile living in Europe and working in North America. I will leave having been privileged to work on products that have touched millions of lives across the world; PlayStation will always be part of my life, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE. I want to thank Yoshida-san for placing so much trust in me and being an incredibly sensitive and supportive leader.”
“Jim Ryan has been an inspirational leader throughout his entire period with us, but never more so than in overseeing the launch of PlayStation 5 in the midst of the global COVID pandemic,” added Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida at the time. “That extraordinary achievement made by the entire SIE team has been steadily built on and PlayStation 5 is on track to become SIE’s most successful console yet. I’m immensely grateful to Jim for all his achievements. Respecting Jim’s decision to finish his long career at Sony leaves me with an important decision regarding his succession given the significance of the Game & Network Services business. We have discussed intensively and have determined the new management structure. We aim to achieve Sony Group’s further evolution and growth through bringing even greater success to the Game & Network Services Business.”
