Father of PlayStation Discusses Origins of Iconic Console; „Everyone at Sony Told Us We Would Fail in This Project”

As a long-time gaming enthusiast, I’ve witnessed the transformation of the industry from a curious bystander. The tale of PlayStation 1 and Ken Kutaragi is one that never fails to inspire awe. Thirty years ago, the odds were stacked against them, yet they dared to challenge Nintendo, the undisputed leader.


30 years ago, Nintendo dominated the console development scene without any real competition. Sega was a close second, but it seemed like Nintendo’s dominance was unshakable. However, the introduction of PlayStation 1 turned everything upside down. At that time, Ken Kutaragi led the department. Sony executives were hesitant to challenge Nintendo, as they had recently worked together on a project.

Sony thought that the PS1 would be lost

At the Tokyo Game Show 2024, held from September 26th to 29th, Ken Kutaragi made an appearance. Often referred to as the “father” of PlayStation, he reminisced about the origins of the first console and unveiled fresh insights into its past. At that time, Sony was skeptical about the console’s success, with many people thinking Kutaragi’s team would not be victorious.

It’s been demonstrated through history that such individuals were mistaken. PS1 paved the way for Sony’s prosperity, as indicated by the special editions of the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro, which are reminiscent of the original PlayStation’s colors. The platform now plays a crucial role in Sony’s offerings and continues to advance, such as the release of the latest PS5 Pro, whose pre-orders started today.

In addition to sharing a brief story about the PlayStation 1, Ken Kutaragi spoke about his views on gaming and its related industries. He predicted that the advent of real-time computing would bring about exponential growth across the industry. This development might pave the way for more sophisticated game mechanics like NPCs reacting differently based on player actions.

Playing these new games will offer a fresh, unpredictable adventure each time, since we won’t know how the non-player characters will respond as their reactions are scripted at present. Additionally, advancements in artificial intelligence should further enhance the evolving gameplay experience.

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2024-09-26 15:31