An extremely rare Nintendo PlayStation prototype controller was recently auctioned off for an incredible price of $35,000. The auction was held by Heritage on August 23, 2024, and was the first time a controller from the now-canceled console was sold at auction alone. The event will go down as a significant moment in gaming history, as it is one of the few rare items to have ever been offered at public auction.

The end of the Nintendo and Sony partnership

Developed in 1988, the Nintendo PlayStation was a hybrid console capable of playing both Nintendo’s SNES cartridges and Sony’s CDs. The project could have been a potential game-changer, but for a variety of reasons, Nintendo ended its partnership with Sony and signed a new deal with Philips. This decision led Sony to create the PlayStation 1, which was launched in 1994.

This prototype system was never officially released, and its production was limited to only 200 units. It is also said that after the partnership broke up, all of these units were deliberately destroyed. Despite this, some fragments of this prototype console still exist. In 2020, a Nintendo PlayStation was auctioned for $360,000, which also included a prototype controller.

Rare controller sold at Heritage Auctions

The rarity of this Nintendo PlayStation prototype controller offered at auction by Heritage cannot be ignored. The auction house clarified that “we do not know if we will ever have the opportunity to offer an item related to Nintendo PlayStation again.” The controller was sold with a no-return condition, as the hardware required to test it was not available.

The interesting aspect of the discovery of this prototype controller is that it was originally purchased at an auction of the estate of a Sony executive, which was later found by his son in his attic in 2015.

Nintendo PlayStation: A Unique Chapter in Gaming History

Although the Nintendo PlayStation can only play SNES games because the “Super Disk” games were never developed for it, it is still a remarkable piece of gaming history. Earlier this year, a gamer built a Nintendo PlayStation console on his own, using the shell of a SNES and the inside of a PS1 system. The console worked correctly, although the method of its construction was a bit haphazard.

Final Thoughts

The auction of the Nintendo PlayStation prototype controller was not only a huge moment for gaming collectors, but it is also proof of how important unseen and unusual elements play a role in gaming history. As time goes on, rare pieces like this are becoming even more valuable, and it will be interesting to see what other priceless items come to light in the future.

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