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It turns out Sony does like physical media after all, at least when it comes to Lego bricks, as the long rumoured PS1 console is officially unveiled.

It’s somehow very reassuring that Lego remains as popular as it is. Despite all the pleasures of the online world, the core enjoyment with Lego comes from handling and using thoroughly tangible, physical objects. The tactile joy of putting together a set is something you can’t replicate on a digital screen.

There are plenty of fun Lego video games, such as the recent Legacy Of The Dark Knight, but there’s also an increasing number of Lego sets based on gaming properties. The majority of these have been Nintendo related, such as the new Pokémon sets and separate Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Zelda themes.

There’s also been two sets and a game based on Sony’s Horizon Zero Dawn franchise, and now Lego and Sony have taken their relationship up a notch, with a recreation of the original PlayStation console from 1994 (or 1995, as it was in the UK).

The OG PlayStation needs no introduction but suffice it to say that Sony’s first console changed the entire balance of power in the games industry, while ushering in a new era of CD-based media, with games and marketing aimed at an older than normal audience.

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The iconic grey box is replicated perfectly here, and it’s almost exactly the same size as the original, at 26cm wide, 19cm deep, and 6cm high. It also comes with a plug-in, brick-built controller… which is not a DualShock.
That came later, after the Nintendo 64 popularised the idea of analogue controls, but the original, nameless controller only had a D-pad and no analogue sticks.

1,911 Lego pieces go into making the console, including a working lid and power button (in the sense you can press it, obviously it doesn’t actually play any games).

The coolest feature is that there’s two hidden dioramas inside, based on Gran Turismo and Ape Escape. Anything that raises the profile of Ape Escape, and the chances of it getting a new entry is welcomed by us, but it’s a slightly odd choice because the game was the first to require you to use the DualShock and didn’t actually work with the original controller. But hey, it’s Lego, so you can always add on the analogue sticks yourself.

The set is not cheap, because Lego never is, but it’s not quite as expensive as you might expect, with a UK price of £139.99. It’ll be available at Lego stores and the Lego website from October 4 or you can get it from October 1 if you’re a Lego Insider (which requires only a free sign-up).

While gamers are well used to leaks spoiling video game secrets the world of Lego fandom is much the same, with almost everything leaking out before there’s an official reveal.

It’s usually accurate but there have been rumours that there’s going to be a free Astro Bot gift with purchase – a smaller, exclusive set to accompany a larger one, that is only available at launch and isn’t otherwise sold in shops.

The fact that it’s not been mentioned so far by Lego seems to suggest the rumour is false, or perhaps that there was some confusion and Astro is getting his own standalone set, since he doesn’t really have anything to do with the original PlayStation console.

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