$150 PS1-inspired console runs PlayStation games natively — supports PS1 memory cards, controllers

(Image credit: T)

A new retro gaming console that supports the old PlayStation One system is coming on the market soon, based on the MiSTer FPGA open-source project. Popular YouTuber and Bluesky user Taki Udon shared on social media that the SuperStation One will launch on the Retro Remake website for $149. The associated SuperDock, similar to the PSone Combo pack, is also pre-selling for $5, with a target price of $35.

This console plays PlayStation One games natively, meaning it doesn’t have to deal with the overhead required by emulators. Aside from that, it also supports PlayStation One memory cards and controllers so that you can use your old accessories. As for connectivity, it has analog and digital outputs, allowing you to use it with your old 13-inch CRT monitor or brand new 85-inch OLED TV, plus NFC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, giving you all the niceties of a modern console.

Taki Udon also added that disc support is not pictured on the image, which will seemingly arrive with the SuperDock. In addition to letting you play your old PlayStation One game library, it has four USB-A ports and a 2280 m.2 SSD bay for memory expansion.

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Millennials and younger Generation X kids who grew up with these systems are most likely buyers of this retro gaming console. However, it also has the potential to introduce classic titles from our past to newer generations and maybe even inspire a few to help build systems that could preserve our history.

So, if you want to reminisce with your favorite titles and maybe introduce them to your kids, the $149 price tag is worth it. However, note that this is just for the console, so you must bring or buy your controllers, memory cards, and whatnot. You must also pay an additional $35 to get the dock if you want to run your CD and have expanded memory.

This puts the entire system at around $184. If you invest in cheap retro controllers and other accessories, you can expect the complete PlayStation One experience for just around $250. But if you have some cash to spare and can find a working example, why not add a 43-inch CRT TV to your retro console purchase?

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.

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7 Comments Comment from the forums

oofdragon

Or you can play a emulator, next
Reply
tommyhardware

oofdragon said:
Or you can play a emulator, next
Lol. Not the same at all. I'm guessing you know nothing about FPGA?
Reply
Sluggotg

I ordered a couple yesterday. With FPGA Tech you won't have any lag. Emulators have lag. I have been using Emulators since I played C64 games on my Amiga back in the day. I Love Emulators.

With Dedicated FPGA based retro consoles, you put the disk or cart in the machine and Boom, you are playing your Nintendo, (or whatever system), games on your modern TV with Full HDMI support. Using and upscaler can covert a Composite, (or whatever), signal to HDMI, but it has lower picture quality and also introdues lag. (My Favorite Upscalers are the RetroTINK brand. They have very low lag).

The FPGA based systems from Analogue and Polymega are some of the best out there. Much better than an Emulator. (Once again I love emulators).
Reply
Joseph_138

E

oofdragon said:
Or you can play a emulator, next
Emulators are never the same as playing on actual hardware.
Reply
rambo919

Joseph_138 said:
E

Emulators are never the same as playing on actual hardware.
True but how much the same does it actually have to be for games beyond a certain age? In an emulator you get save states and no need for extra hardware to take up valuable space. Another benefit of emulators is built in upscaling which is great when it works properly.

I can see the case of 16-bit consoles where TV's simply worked differently but for PSX? Anything else must be nostalgia.... which only affects a minority of people with the majority judging objectively. You can't be nostalgic for feelings you never had.
Reply
A Stoner

That just seems really expensive to replicate such ancient hardware specifications. Anyways, they seem to be successful and are selling these, so I am not the target audience. Best of fortunes for everyone involved on both sides of this! The creators and the buyers.
Reply
TerryLaze

Admin said:
The SuperStation One is a retro gaming console that can natively play your PlayStation One titles.
While FPGA recreates the original hardware, as best it can, I doubt you can call it running the games natively, a lot of things are handled by the arm cores.

tommyhardware said:
Lol. Not the same at all. I'm guessing you know nothing about FPGA?
Sluggotg said:
I ordered a couple yesterday. With FPGA Tech you won't have any lag. Emulators have lag.
If you have a fast enough system most games will play fine, it's a small number of games that have issues big enough for anything but hardcore fans to even notice.

A Stoner said:
That just seems really expensive to replicate such ancient hardware specifications. Anyways, they seem to be successful and are selling these, so I am not the target audience. Best of fortunes for everyone involved on both sides of this! The creators and the buyers.
It can replicate pretty much anything from computers to exotic consoles to rare arcade boards, it comes with an sd card already set up but without any copyrighted material on it, the ps1 is just the aesthetic they went for for the case.
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