Everybody gets a little nostalgic sometimes, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially when we’re talking about gaming. It’s no secret that most players have at least a few favorite consoles or accessories that just bring back some fond memories. And it is not always something huge; it could even be the smallest design detail that reminds us of the good old days. And it seems like Sony is no stranger to this idea because the new Prism Collection for the PS5 brings back the transparent hardware designs that were popular in the 1990s.
The collection includes DualSense controllers and PS5 console covers in three colors: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray. Many people would agree that it’s great to see Sony experiment with different colors. However, even though the new collection provides more designs to choose from, it also highlights a much bigger problem with the way PlayStation approaches hardware customization. Players don’t necessarily have much freedom when it comes to having their console look the way they want, and when we compare the PS5 to the customization options available to PC gamers, it’s very hard not to feel like Sony is missing an opportunity.
Sony’s Customization Options Are Still Too Limited
To be fair, it’s not like Sony has never tried to introduce more colorful accessories. In fact, it has released several collections, including Chroma, Deep Earth, and Hyperpop. What they all have in common is that Sony gets to choose what they look like, and the only freedom players have is to choose between the available options. Of course, it goes without saying that having several designs is better than having none, but the approach is still quite limited when it comes to customization. This becomes painfully obvious when we look at PC gaming, where players can combine lighting, cases, and components from other manufacturers to create something unique that actually reflects their style properly. It’s true that a console is a very different piece of hardware, but maybe that doesn’t mean that Sony has to limit customization to a handful of predetermined designs.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Moreover, not every official PS5 cover is compatible with every version of the console. Sony has different panels for the original PS5, Digital Edition, Slim, and PS5 Pro. In other words, players have to consider the model they own before purchasing anything additional. Considering how many hardware differences there are between these systems, this is not very surprising, but maybe it makes customization a lot more difficult than it needs to be. What’s frustrating for a lot of people is that this limitation has nothing to do with how much a player is willing to spend; it is just a limitation that is there by default. This is one of the many reasons why compatibility between console models is worth considering, especially if Sony wants to do something about the issue at hand.
Players don’t necessarily have much freedom when it comes to having their console look the way they want, and when we compare the PS5 to the customization options available to PC gamers, it’s very hard not to feel like Sony is missing an opportunity.
Speaking of the financial side of things, this is probably where Sony’s approach is most questionable. PS5 console covers and DualSense controllers are sold separately, so those who want their setup to match have to purchase additional accessories. Obviously, the Prism Collection follows the same model. In any case, although selling optional accessories is fine, it’s worth remembering that players have also spent a considerable amount of money on the console itself. It’s worth mentioning that there are plenty of ways for Sony to approach customization. To be fair, not each one of them has to necessarily involve separate purchases for a change.
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Image via PlayStation -
Image via PlayStation -
Image via PlayStation
What is interesting, though, is that Sony is basically bringing back a design trend that was popular decades ago and reselling it. However, although nostalgia alone might be able to get people to feel like these products are worth spending money on, it may not look that great in the bigger picture of things. In other words, there have been more than a few complaints when it comes to customization through the years, and to be honest, Sony could have thrown players a bone and at least given them something new.
It’s Time for Sony to Let Players Get Creative
At this point, Sony has released plenty of collections to prove that it knows how to make its hardware look exciting, so it’s a little bit disappointing for a lot of people to see Sony relying on nostalgia so much. It’s time for Sony to give players more freedom when it comes to deciding what their console should look like, even if it’s just a platform for people to submit their own designs and vote on which ones should become official accessories.
This idea has the potential to give the community something to look forward to beyond another collection that it had no say in. Last but not least, considering how creative the gaming community is, this may actually be a huge opportunity.
