Sony’s shiny black behemoth launched in Europe five years ago today. It had been out in Japan since November 10th and the US since November 17th but March 23rd was the date that retailers from most EU countries, Australia and New Zealand finally got the chance to throw open their doors to the expectant masses, clutching their savings and dreaming of a brave new world of Sony console gaming.
It launched with a hefty price tag of £425/€566-€659 for the 60GB model, with a 40GB version offering a cheaper alternative in many countries. Europe didn’t get the budget 20GB model at launch so it really was quite a major investment. At the time, it was also the cheapest way to buy a top quality Blu-ray player for those of you lucky enough to be an HDTV early adopter too.
The launch line up was perhaps a little weaker than we’d like to remember, with Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm the most attractive. In Europe, the PS3 counted Call of Duty 3 as a launch title too, and Activision also brought Tony Hawk’s Project 8 to the console. Ridge Racer 7, an updated version of The Godfather and Enchanted Arms offered plenty of variation in starting options for new PS3 owners while A healthy collection of sports titles including Virtua Tennis 3, FIFA 07, NBA 2K7, NHL 2K7, Fight Night Round 3 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 gave the launch line up some energy.
The early advertising was probably some of the weirdest, with the launch campaign in Europe focussed on their “This is Living” slogan, rather than the US’s slightly more coherent “Play B3yond” campaign which had the PS3 facing off against creepy dolls and Rubik’s Cubes.
Here’s the full cut of the North Europe advertising campaign, be warned that there is a NSFW moment at 2:30. And again at around 3:20. And little bits of marginally NSFW from then until the end, really. Did I mention that it’s bonkers?
My earliest memory of the PlayStation 3 is being insanely jealous when my brother-in-law got one just after launch and I couldn’t afford one. This means that I had the odd go on Call of Duty 3 and MotorStorm in those early days but I missed out on a lot of the launch excitement. Of course, my launch day PlayStation 2 was still going strong, beside my CRT TV but the marvel of controllers without wires, Six Axis motion controls and those amazing graphics were beyond my reach.
Of course, since then the PlayStation 3 has literally changed my life. It went from being an object of desire, outside of my budget to something that is now central to my working life. Thanks to the PlayStation 3, I found this website, returned to some of the skills I’d left behind and formed some genuine lifelong friendships that are more valuable than any expensive launch-day price tag could have indicated.
Help us celebrate the occasion by sharing your PS3 launch stories in the comments!
Spence1115
Had mine ordered for release from Play.com, along with a 32″ Samsung HDTV. The TV arrived early, got it all set up etc, still using it now 5 years on. The PS3 however didn’t arrive, because Play.com screwed up and forgot to ship it. The free extra dual shock controller did get posted, so that was nice. I rushed to the bus stop, into town, and into Virgin Megastores to buy a 60GB with 2 controllers (so I had 3), Motorstorm, Resistance and Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and I soon bought NBA 2K7, Genji and Need for Speed Carbon. First game to truly grab me though was Heavenly Sword.
Taylor Made
I never bought the ps3 til the slim version was released couldn’t afford the original but happy birthday ps3
Watchful
Pre-ordered from one of several local GAME stores. Took day off work to pick it up when the doors opened that morning. Took my now long-dead 60GB memory card reader-toting PS3 home along with Resistance:FoM, MotorStorm and Ridge Racer 7 and a second SIXAXIS (non-wobbling coz Sony said we didn’t need it) controller.
A week later I’d concluded my 36″ Sony CRT wouldn’t cut it anymore and I needed a 1080p Bravia. Shortly afterwards my free copy of Casino Royale arrived and the picture quality just blew me away (particularly the sharpness of the playing card graphics in the titles sequence).
Played RR7 the most of the launch titles and it’s still in my top ten most-played PS3 games. F#@king loved it!
Sab7786
Very happy with my ps3 as its still a launch 60gb model still going strong (touch wood)
wick15
I remember getting my old 60GB at Christmas 2007. Payed £450 for it off ebay. Spent that much because I remember thinking the newer 40GB models were rubbish and I wanted the original one with the extra features. Been through 3 PS3’s since then. 2 died of my own doing. Got myself a neat 320GB Slim now. Happy Birthday PS3.
JesseDeya
I was deployed at the time and managed to pick one up in the country I was in at the time. I still remember the thrill of tearing through Motorstorm levels in coop mode with my friends and colleagues looking on all suitably impressed by the fluid graphics, fantastic feel and cheer inducing slow motion wrecks!
Ah yes, it brings a tear to my gaming eye to think back to the days of Firmware 1.00. Amazing to compare the machine of 2007 with that of 2012! Back then, almost every firmware brought with it a raft of improvements, to be fair many of which it probably should have shipped with, but welcome none-the-less.
As someone who was ultimately unimpressed by the Xbox package of 2006 (feature list and value for money), the PS3 was a joy to unbox and use for the first time. Although PC gaming did and does blow consoles away graphically, I’m still ever impressed by the experience the PS3 continues to provide to this day and I’d be quite happy if there were no PS4 for a couple more years yet. Christmas 2013 would be a good date :)
Klart
Bought a PS3 & Resistance at launch. An HD TV shortly after. Never stopped gaming since.
I’m a sucker for console launches. It just feels great playing a console that’s just out & blows the last one out of the water.
OriginalJonty (Aran Suddi)
Bought my 80 Gig in September 2008 and got Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames from GAME for £299. Didn’t get a HD TV until almost a year later due to my tight student budget.
An-dz
i remember when i bought my first PS3 from game. i had been saving since way before so i could afford it.came with the transformers game and resistence too. i wont be having a memory like that for the next consol though since game is saddly on its last legs now :(
TSBonyman
I took the day off work, went to shops first thing and picked up the 60gb plus Motorstorm and Resistance for €700. I spent the whole day just trying out all the features and didn’t play any games until much later – mind you, i did download a few things from the store and there was no background downloading then so i had to wait.. and read the manual :)