Why Sony should launch a PlayStation 2 Mini and why it would sell – Reader’s Feature

Should Sony make a mini version? (Sony)

A reader is convinced Sony should give the idea of mini-consoles another go, despite the failure of the 2018’s PlayStation Classic device.

The PlayStation 2 isn’t just another retro console; it’s the generation defining platform. From radically expanded 3D open worlds to blockbuster role-playing games, the PlayStation 2 shaped modern gaming.

A carefully positioned, well-curated PlayStation 2 Mini, as an official Sony product, would not only sell strongly on nostalgia but also reach new players who never experienced the machine first time around – and it would likely outperform the PlayStation Classic in both cultural cachet and commercial appeal.

At the moment, the PlayStation 2 is the best-selling home console of all time, with around 160 million units sold worldwide. That scale proves enormous, long-standing demand and broad cultural penetration.

The PlayStation 2’s library includes many evergreen, blockbuster sellers. For example, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas sold over 20 million copies – one of the highest totals for any PlayStation 2 title.

Other PlayStation 2 super-sellers include Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (around 14–15 million copies) and multi-million sellers such as GTA: Vice City, GTA 3, Final Fantasy 10, Kingdom Hearts, and God Of War – titles that still have huge name recognition and modern followings.

Those sales figures translate into two practical advantages for a PlayStation 2 Mini: a proven catalogue of household-name titles, that can be packaged and marketed, and a massive nostalgic audience who already purchased and loved these titles.

Why a PS2 Mini would outsell the PS1 Mini

Sony’s first retro mini-console, the PlayStation Classic, missed expectations. It had limited title selection, questionable emulation choices, and weak sales and discounts undercut consumer confidence in ‘mini’ PlayStations. The PlayStation Classic’s poor reception demonstrates that execution matters, but it doesn’t mean the market doesn’t want classic PlayStation hardware.

Here’s why a PS2 Mini, done right, would sell better:

Bigger, deeper library = more hooks

The PlayStation 2 library is orders of magnitude larger and more culturally diverse than the PS1’s. It contains landmark franchises across genres, including open world, racing, role-playing games, action, and survival horror. That gives Sony far more options to create multiple line-ups and limited edition bundles for different countries (e.g. Best of RPGs, GT & Racing Pack, Rockstar Open World Pack), increasing purchase triggers.

More modern relevance

Many PlayStation 2 era franchises are still cash cows or culturally relevant today (Grand Theft Auto, God Of War, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo). Remasters and the continuing success of later franchise entries proves ongoing interest and that cross-promotion to modern franchises would drive sales.

Emulation and quality of life features

A PlayStation 2 Mini could include modern conveniences the Classic lacked: accurate emulation, upscaling to HD, save states, multiple language options, official controller support (DualShock 2 feel), plus online leaderboards or rewind – features that modern buyers expect. Executed well it would greatly outperform the static, limited PlayStation Classic offering.

Nostalgia and discovery

Millions who grew up with PlayStation 2 are now in their mid-20s to 40s – prime purchasing power for collector editions, gifts, and ‘play with the kids’ items. At the same time, younger gamers who play modern remasters and follow legacy franchises would be eager to experience the originals cheaply and legally. The combination of nostalgia and new discovery widens the audience beyond what the PlayStation Classic captured.

Cultural and design legacy: why PlayStation 2 matters to modern gaming
The PlayStation 2 wasn’t just commercially massive, it was formative. It made DVD mainstream, helping consoles become home entertainment hubs, pushed cinematic storytelling in games, and birthed or elevated countless franchises that continue to shape triple-A game design and production.

Titles like GTA 3/Vice City/San Andreas redefined open world design; Final Fantasy 10 pushed narrative scale and cinematics in Japanese role-players; Gran Turismo 3 raised the bar for realism in racing; and Shadow Of The Colossus/God Of War influenced modern narrative action design. Putting these experiences back into players’ hands helps younger developers and gamers understand the lineage of modern mechanics and storytelling.

Bottom line

Sony has a unique, low risk, high reward opportunity: a well-executed PlayStation 2 Mini would tap into a huge installed-base nostalgia (PlayStation 2 sold ~160.6 million units), an extremely strong catalogue with multiple multi-million sellers, and modern demand for retro experiences done well.

If Sony applies lessons learned from the PlayStation Classic, the PlayStation 2 Mini is primed to outperform the PS1 Mini by a wide margin – commercially and culturally – while giving new generations a convenient, official way to rediscover the games that helped build today’s industry.

By reader gaz be rotten (gamertag)

The PlayStation Classic was a major disappointment (Sony)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at [email protected] or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE: Hollow Knight: Silksong proves why all video games should be cheaper – Reader’s Feature

MORE: The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games line-up is depressingly bad - Reader's Feature

MORE: Why Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is one of my favourite PS2 era games – Reader’s Feature

Comments