PlayStation Classic, a tiny version of the original PlayStation, is coming soon

The PlayStation Classic looks almost exactly like the original PlayStation console — except much smaller.

The original PlayStation console looked like a piece of futuristic technology when it arrived in 1994. The design holds up remarkably well to nearly three decades of age!Sony

The differences between the PlayStation Classic (left) and the PlayStation One (right) largely come down to one thing: Size.

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PlayStation Classic is a shrunken down version of the original PlayStation console — it’s 45% smaller, according to Sony.

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There’s at least one other major difference: Since the internals of the PlayStation Classic are completely different from the original PlayStation, the buttons do different things.

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The power button still turns the console on and off, but the Reset and Open buttons have new functionality.

The Reset button acts as a way to suspend games, enabling players to pause a game anywhere and come back to it later without having to use memory cards or requiring the game to have its own save system.

Similarly, the Open button is used to swap out games. Instead of opening a CD-ROM reader — like the original PlayStation console — you’ll push Open to “swap virtual discs.” Sony has yet to show what the console’s user interface looks like, so it’s not clear exactly how this will work.

On Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition and Super NES Classic Edition consoles — miniature versions of classic game systems — you’re able to save four “suspend points” for each game. It’s likely that Sony will adopt a similar system.

Since the PlayStation Classic is a new console, it’s got an HDMI port in the rear — as opposed to the original RCA (red/yellow/white) cables that came with the original console back in the mid-’90s.

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Sony’s calling these “replica” controllers, but they look pretty spot on. Notably, there are no analog thumbsticks — this is Sony’s PlayStation gamepad before Sony added thumbsticks!

Madness!Sony

Rather than using the original proprietary Sony ports for the gamepads, the PlayStation Classic uses a more modern port: USB.

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Notably, Sony putting USB ports on the replica gamepad opens them up for use in other applications — any instance where you could plug in a USB peripheral, like a PC.

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Here’s everything that comes in the box when the console arrives this December:

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Notably, Sony says, “A compatible USB AC adaptor (not included) is required to use this console. Use an AC adaptor that supports 5 V, 1.0 A USB (Type A) output.”

It appears that the console doesn’t include an AC adaptor for some bizarre reason, but you probably have one laying around anyway.

The PlayStation Classic is scheduled to launch on December 3, and will cost $100. Here’s the box, which no doubt will also be adorably small:

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Take a longer look at the PlayStation Classic console in the debut trailer, right here: