Playstation Anthology: The Tetralogy

📍 Montmorency, France (FR)

🏷️ Anthologies

     Over 30 years ago the PlayStation 1 forever changed the world of video games. As the first mainstream 3D console — a machine of endless possibilities — it left a lasting mark on an entire generation of players, creators, and dreamers of virtual worlds.

     Born from that very passion, the PlayStation Anthology tetralogy stands as an exhaustive, well-documented, and heartfelt tribute to the history of a console that transformed not only the video game industry but also the way it is perceived. 

This limited & numbered 4-volume box set edition of over 1,300 pages includes:

• The complete history of the PlayStation 1
• Reviews of more than 4,100 official games released for the system
• Over 25 interviews with the people who shaped PlayStation history
• List of Collector’s editions games and consoles
• Hardware Chapter
• The Collector’s Guide (see below)
• The Box Art Collection…and much, much more...

     This first 460-page volume is a reissue of the PlayStation Anthology – Collector’s Edition, originally published in 2018. It includes 6 Chapters, including: 
 

The PlayStation History

     How did we get here? How could a company as experienced and pragmatic as Sony allow itself to be drawn into such a risky venture? Neither mockery nor criticism was enough to stop it. On June 24, 1992, the former president of Sony Corporation, Norio Ohga, took the subsidiary’s future into his own hands. Without any internal consensus, he gave Ken Kutaragi full freedom to pursue his “precious little project.” The bewilderment of Ohga's staff did nothing to dissuade him. Sony was to enter the great race of video games, standing alongside the established giants of the industry, despite having no experience in the field and facing already fierce competition.

     It was a decision that would have enormous consequences and ultimately shape the course of video game history. Ohga’s choice remains one of the boldest moves Sony ever made. And in many ways, it reflects a way of thinking that can be traced back through Sony’s history, all the way to its origins. This chapter includes: 

• The early days of Sony — from its origins to its entry into the video game industry.
• The conception of the PlayStation and its launch in Japan, North America, and Europe.
• The gaming, commercial, and marketing battles waged between Sony, SEGA, and Nintendo.
• The final years in the life cycle of Sony’s first 32-bit console.

The interviews

     Thirty years now separate us from the very first commercial release of the PlayStation. Far from any mercantile or commercial considerations, these three decades have allowed hearts to open, voices to loosen, and memories to resurface. Under such conditions, it becomes not only interesting, but truly exhilarating, for anyone passionate about the subject to speak with the people who, in one way or another, contributed to what would become the greatest success in the entire industry. Across the four corners of the world, we went to meet twenty-six of these individuals who, through their creativity, their emotion, their determination — in short, through their passion — helped shape a part of our lives: our lives as players.

• Lorne Lanning (Oddworld Inhabitants – Abe’s Oddysee, Abe’s Exoddus...)
• Charles Cecil (Revolution Software – Broken Sword...)
• Yūji Horii (Enix – Dragon Quest...)
• Rodney Greenblat (PaRappa the Rapper...)
• Osamu Sato (Asmik – LSD...)
• Kanta Watanabe (Fill-in-Café – Panzer Bandit, Rakugaki Showtime...)
• Hitoshi Sakimoto (Square Enix – Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics...)
• Martin Edmondson (Reflections – Destruction Derby, Driver...)
• Hiromasa Iwasaki (Denkegi PlayStation Magazine...)
• Masaya Matsuura (Composer – PaRappa the Rapper...)
• Denis Friedman (Psygnosis – Adidas Power Soccer, The City of Lost Children...)
• Jason Rubin (Naughty Dog – Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter...)
• Carlo Perconti (Toka – Burning Road...)
• Michiru Yamane (Composer– Castlevania...)
• Pascal Jarry (SCEE – Porsche Challenge, Rapid Racer...)
• Naosuke Arai (Technosoft – Thunder Storm...)
• Yokoyama Hideyuki (Atlus – Thousand Arms, Legend of Kartia...)
• Julien Merceron (Ubisoft – Rayman 2...)
• Yoshinori Kitase (Square Enix – Final Fantasy...)
• Tommy Tallarico (Composer – Time Crisis, Earthworm Jim...)
• Harada Katsuhiro (Namco – Tekken...)
• Minoru Kidooka (Arc – Guilty Gear...)
• Suda51 (Grasshopper – Silver Case...)
• Akitoshi Kawazu (Square Enix – Final Fantasy, SaGa Frontier...)
• Sir Ian Livingstone (Eidos – Tomb Raider...)
• Hideaki Itsuno (Capcom – Street Fighter Alpha, Star Gladiator...)

The Hardware

     The PlayStation’s swift rise to glory was possible due to its rich game library; supported by the unparalleled capabilities of its hardware. The shockwave it created at launch brought together some of the most talented creators, developers, animators, graphic designers, and musicians, all rallying behind the Sony cause. The Hardware chapter includes: 

• Inside the Beast
• The Different Models
• The PlayStation Controller
• The CD-ROM Drive
• The Different Packagings
• The Bundles & Accessories
• The Special Editions 

The Collectors & Special Editions 

     A trailblazer through and through, the PlayStation 1 set its own trends in gameplay, technology, and even gamer mentality. One particular movement it helped fuel was that of collecting, which expanded dramatically with the rise of 32-bit consoles. In the early 1990s, the West had not yet warmed up to the idea, especially in Europe. There was little available beyond a few Super Nintendo and Mega Drive/Genesis bundles that included a peripheral with the game. Collecting remained the domain of a niche group of connoisseurs. Publishers were therefore unwilling to take risks with such ambitious products, which would have further increased the already high price of their games. It was Sony — the outsider — to step in before publishers began taking these kinds of initiatives, and before video games as a whole would finally gain the support and recognition of a broader, more open audience. This 70-page chapter includes more than 250 special editions sorted by year, and every PlayStation 1 limited edition. 

The Unreleased Games 

     Every console has had its fair share of unreleased and cancelled titles: some highly anticipated, others completely forgettable. With the commercial success of the PlayStation 1 across the globe — over one hundred million units sold — the environment for developers and publishers around the year 2000 was such that even some truly terrible games still managed to reach the market. However, due to financial instability and issues related to exploitation rights, more than a hundred titles were developed and produced only to be abandoned before launch day. In this chapter of the PlayStation Anthology, it feels only fitting that we take a moment to acknowledge the games that fell through the cracks.

The Collector’s Guide

     A definitive reference work, the PlayStation Collector’s Guide meticulously lists every title released for Sony’s console across all regions. Designed for both dedicated collectors and enthusiasts of video game history, it stands as an essential resource for understanding, cataloging, and preserving this unique legacy.

Note: If you already own the PlayStation Anthology – Collector’s Edition, purchasing this first volume is not necessary. Your existing copy fits perfectly into the Collector’s Box Set alongside the three other volumes (reward: PS Anthology Vol.2, 3, 4 + Box Set)

     Spanning more than 750 pages and covering over 4,130 unique titles, these two volumes immerse the reader in the remarkable diversity of the PlayStation catalog — from little-known RPGs and legendary shoot’em ups to cult curiosities and regional exclusives. Together, they form a genuine map of the global PlayStation industry.

     The collection compiles reviews of every officially released PlayStation game in Japan, North America, and Europe between 1994 and 2006. Each entry lists the alternative titles used across regions (for example, Bust-A-Move ’99 in North America, retitled Bust-A-Move 3 DX in PAL territories and Puzzle Bobble 3 DX in Japan), along with the publisher, developer, number of CDs, and release dates for each of the three markets. Titles are organized by year, with each section introduced by an analytical overview that highlights the trends and evolution of the PlayStation market over time. 

     A symbol of an entire generation, the PlayStation 1 made history not only through its games but also through the distinctive visual identity of its cover art. This fourth volume aims to highlight the graphic contrasts between the Japanese, American, and European editions.

     From one continent to another, the image representing the same game could change dramatically: a poetic illustration in Japan might become an explosive action scene in the United States, while Europe often struck a balance between the two. These variations reflect the aesthetic, cultural, and marketing choices unique to each market, telling in their own way the global story of the PlayStation.

     Together, they form a gallery of visual interpretations — a reflection of a time when cover art played a decisive role in how a game was perceived. More than just a catalog, this fourth volume stands as both a visual archive and a work of memory, celebrating the boundless creativity of Sony’s first console and the diversity of the imaginations it inspired.

     Through these covers, an entire facet of PlayStation culture emerges: a dialogue between art, marketing, and video games; a testament to an era when every box, every image, told a story. 

Specifications of all Volumes:

Printing: High-quality 4-color process on 135 gsm gloss-coated paper
Trim size: 8.5 × 10.5 in (216 × 267 mm)
Cover: 4-color process with Pantone detailing, matte lamination, and spot gloss UV varnish for enhanced contrast
Paper cover: High-density gloss-coated stock for superior finish
Binding: Premium hardcover, thread-sewn with 2 mm thick cardboard, head and tail bands, and protective shrink-wrap
Weight: 8kg, 17 lb.

NB:
Chapters and pagination are subject to change according to production requirements. A heading may be interchanged from one volume to another.

Release date: Fourth Quarter 2026

Note: 
Those books are not authorized or endorsed by Sony. All registered trademarks, game art, and game screenshots used are the property of their respective holders, subject to copyright, and are utilized here under fair use.