I know what some of you are thinking; the PS1 was released back in 1994 in Japan, which makes it 31 years old. Well, it came out in September 1995 in both the USA and the UK, specifically on the 9th in America and the 29th in the UK. And to celebrate 30 years of the PS1 for Western gamers, Sony have teamed up with Reebok to bring out a new range of sneakers that pay homage to their iconic console.
As there are 3 key dates that the PS1 released across the world, there will be 3 designs to mark each release date. And yes, you've guessed it - each design is territory specific.
So if you want to get all three designs, you're either going to have to get savvy on the internet or rack up some air miles heading to each country to pick them up!
The UK gets the first release, with Sony and Reebok working backwards from last release to first. We're getting the Reebok Workout Plus shoe (pictured above), designed in traditional PS1 grey with the traditional PS1 logo on the side. They're very traditional Reeboks and the kind of thing I used to sell a lot of back when I worked in a shoe shop in my 20s, meaning they'll go down an absolute storm here in the UK. They'll only be available from the shop End from the 15th of October, and they'll cost £150.
Yes, you read that right - £150... but you do get a cool lace lock that looks like the original controller connector on them too.
Annoyingly, the US is getting the best-looking shoe of all. On October 17th, the Reebok Pump Omni Zone 2 will release with a price tag of $220. The PlayStation logo is bigger, the lace lock sits perfectly on the front, and they're hi-top boots - what's not to love? You'll be able to get yours from CNCPTS.
Finally, there's the Reebok Instapump Fury 94 which is releasing via Beams in Japan on October 14th. I think we can all agree that they've got the best name of the bunch. These don't have any laces, but they do have a cool label on a chain that hangs from the side and the kind of futuristic look that we went wild for back in the 90s. The PS1 Grey colour with accents is very cool, and to be honest, they look insanely comfortable too. They'll cost ¥37,000.
It's a very cool idea and one that keeps things interesting for fans around the globe. I do wish I was in the US to get those boots, but I'll definitely be looking into the UK pair for that cool lace lock alone. Which are your favourites?
