Sony is revisiting a popular aesthetic from the late 1990s with its new Prism Collection, featuring transparent DualSense controllers and matching PS5 console covers. The collection will be available in three distinct colorways: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray.
Preorders for the Prism Collection are set to open on November 10 at 10 AM local time, with the full product launch scheduled for February 4 of next year. The DualSense controllers in this collection will retail for $84.99 USD (€84.99/£74.99), while the accompanying PS5 console covers will be priced at $74.99 USD (€74.99/£64.99).
A PlayStation blog post detailing the collection offers a closer look at the see-through designs. Leo Cardoso, a PlayStation designer, stated that the team aimed to "bring back the iconic see-through trend of the late '90s in a fresh, modern way that complements the PS5’s industrial design." The transparent casing is intended to give consumers a better view of the internal craftsmanship of the DualSense controllers and PS5 consoles.
Designer Satoshi Aoyagi described the chosen colors: a vibrant orange that develops a rosy hue where the transparent material overlaps, a deep hunter green that gains depth through its transparency, and a cool-toned storm gray. The Prism Collection will be available for preorder through PlayStation Direct and select retailers.
This release follows a pattern of varied hardware releases from Sony, including numerous DualSense color variants and limited-edition controllers tied to specific games like Astro Bot and Death Stranding. The company has also explored collaborations with external artists and personalities, such as a recent DualSense controller designed with K-pop star Lisa. However, the 30th Anniversary PlayStation collection was noted as a particularly popular release.
The Prism Collection appears to tap into a consumer demand for retro-inspired designs that evoke nostalgia for earlier gaming eras. This move comes even as Sony faces ongoing industry scrutiny regarding its decisions to reduce disc production and recent studio closures. Despite these controversies, PlayStation 5 sales reportedly increased by 22% in the past month, potentially influenced by titles such as Insomniac's Wolverine and anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6.