Three decades of PlayStation and the stories it inspired

Sony’s PlayStation turns 30 this year, a milestone that highlights just how deeply the console has embedded itself in global culture. Its latest unexpected moment came earlier in the year, when Kendrick Lamar opened his Super Bowl halftime show on a colossal stage built from the familiar square, triangle, cross and circle symbols — an unsolicited but unmistakable nod to the brand’s influence. For a console that launched modestly in the mid-1990s, its reach has expanded far beyond gaming.

Thirty years on, PlayStation’s influence goes far beyond gaming

PlayStation’s cultural presence has long outgrown the living room. Characters such as Lara Croft, who leapt from the console into films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and the critically acclaimed The Last of Us, now adapted into a major HBO series, prove how consistently its worlds travel across formats. Even sitcoms and cult films have paid homage — Chandler Bing was an early adopter in Friends, and the zombie-battling hero of Shaun of the Dead practised his aim on a PlayStation.

Behind this longevity is a knack for reading the technological moment. When the original PlayStation arrived in 1995, CD-ROMs enabled a new kind of 3D gameplay at a time when cartridges still dominated. The console followed a failed collaboration between Nintendo and Sony, yet it debuted with developer input, a rare move then. Its launch library was strong, the £299 price attractive, and its target audience — teens and young adults — ensured immediate cultural relevance.

The shift from bedroom pastime to mainstream entertainment accelerated with the PlayStation 2. By integrating a DVD player, Sony turned the console into a multi-purpose home device. It went on to become the best-selling console of all time, with around 160 million units sold worldwide. The PS3 stumbled slightly, weighed down by its expensive Blu-ray hardware and further challenged by the 2011 network hack, but the PS4 restored momentum with improved multiplayer functions, streaming services and an impressive catalogue of exclusives. Today’s PS5 builds on those foundations with 4K resolution, responsive haptic feedback and adaptive triggers designed to deepen immersion.

PlayStation’s stories have increasingly travelled to film and television. Uncharted, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo and The Last of Us have already made the jump, while adaptations of Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima and God of War are under way. Industry watchers note that the platform’s emphasis on cinematic storytelling, motion capture and strong performances makes this transition feel natural.

The brand’s influence even extends into fashion and design. British Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori has created PlayStation-inspired loungewear, while Travis Scott collaborated with Nike on a pair of PlayStation-themed trainers. Fans express their devotion in myriad ways — sometimes permanently, as one restaurant-goer demonstrated when spotted with the console’s symbols tattooed on his arm.

After three decades, the PlayStation has become more than a machine. It is a cultural marker, a conduit for stories, characters and memories that continue to evolve with every new generation of players.

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