Persevering with in my sequence the place I study the collectability for PlayStation consoles in 2026 right here within the UK, it’s now time to take a look at the PS3. I’ve preciously written on the PS1 and PS2. So, with the inflow of individuals into the passion and fast growth of the retro online game market, is it nonetheless value it to gather for the PS3 in 2026? Let’s discover out!
The State Of Gaming And The PS3’s Historical past
The very first thing we have to acknowledge is the state of the retro online game market. It doesn’t fairly really feel proper to name the PlayStation 3 “retro,” however the console did launch virtually 20 years in the past, so I’ll reluctantly admit it. The overall state of affairs is that because of the inflow of individuals into the passion, demand is growing. Based on commonplace financial idea, which means market forces are growing the costs of video video games, particularly as provide dwindles.
The PlayStation 3 launched November 11, 2006. It was discontinued on Might 29, 2017. It bought 87.4 million models and is the eighth best-selling console of all time. It at the moment stands as Sony’s least profitable dwelling console. It’s definitely proof of the model’s success that the worst promoting PlayStation dwelling console narrowly averted 90 million gross sales. Many video games are locked to the PS3, primarily due to its bespoke cell processor. When the console was designed, it was made with an authentic sort of processor that triggered challenges for builders. This has, in current time, began to gas demand for the system. Many, like myself, had the PS3 throughout a lot of our youth. Accordingly, a number of the unique titles and nostalgia itself are making a heightened curiosity within the system.
Availability for the PS3 console is kind of excessive in the mean time within the UK. It’s not solely effectively stocked at most retailers and impartial retro sport shops, but in addition fairly moderately priced. A Console can value as little as £60. Now, that definitely isn’t extremely low-cost, however the worth for the system has not risen very a lot in recent times. That is almost definitely influenced by its recency. It’s honest to count on quite a lot of worth will increase within the close to future, given the tendencies in the remainder of the market.
Nevertheless, it could be a mistake to maneuver on with out discussing the backwards suitable PS3. That model of the console, which has {hardware} backwards compatibility, ranges from £200-£300 depending on situation. Contemplating this variant of the system has the best failure fee, the availability for this variant is kind of constrained. Additionally, the {hardware} compatibility with three generations of PlayStation makes it a desired alternative for a lot of to play these retro methods on a contemporary show with a wi-fi controller. Accordingly, the system is on the entire reasonably priced, however there are variants that do command a excessive worth.
It is very important acknowledge that regardless of the current availability of consoles, that sooner or later this can change. As beforehand talked about, market forces will result in worth rises. That is particularly so, contemplating methods will fail, be misplaced and retained by collectors. This can imply that the quantity of obtainable models will lower over time. We could at the moment be within the beginnings of this course of.
PS3 Software program And Video games
Now that we now have thought of the system itself, we subsequent want to take a look at the software program. The PlayStation 3 is in a novel state of affairs right here due to the arrival of the PlayStation Retailer. Because of this there are some digital-only titles. Moreover, on account of licensing points, some video games are already misplaced to time. Nevertheless, for these video games with each a bodily and digital launch, it’s definitely fascinating to see how this case impacts costs. We’ll check out that later within the function.
The PlayStation 3 bought round a billion models of software program, in response to Sony. There have been round 5,146 titles developed for the system, with round 2,387 obtainable in PAL areas. That is really much less titles than the PS2, which had a shorter lifespan.
Now, let’s take a look on the prime 5 promoting video games on the console:
RankGameSales1Grand Theft Auto V29.52 million2Gran Turismo 511.95 million3Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception9 million4The Final of Us8.4 million5Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves6.5 million
When in comparison with different extra fashionable methods, such because the PS5, it definitely appears prime heavy. The perfect-selling PS5 sport is at the moment Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which launched in 2023 and has 11 million gross sales. Solely two of the highest 5 beat that determine. Grand Theft Auto V, nonetheless, has an outstanding quantity of gross sales. It has an attachment fee of round a 3rd. Accordingly, while the gross sales are fairly modest total, there are no less than some titles which might promote effectively even by fashionable requirements.
What this demonstrates is that in comparison with PS2, software program gross sales are decrease total. Because of this after we think about the unfold of gross sales between areas, and there definitely exists the situations which have typically made different retro gaming libraries costly.
Finally, my argument right here is barely completely different than my earlier options. I’m arguing that costs are rising on account of market situations, but in addition that we’re approaching a time the place costs will begin to improve at a a lot quicker fee.
There are different components that may have an effect on this. When Sony determined to shut down the PlayStation Retailer in 2021, it began to gas an increase in costs. Nevertheless, it normalized after they later reversed that call. An identical state of affairs occurred with one other console of the identical era, the Xbox 360. When the web retailer closed, costs elevated as provide was affected.
When contemplating earlier generations of consoles nonetheless, the PS3 is extraordinarily reasonably priced. In comparison even to the PS2, the common costs of video games are a lot decrease. While the underlying mechanics of the market may have an have an effect on, it’s unlikely that the PS3 will attain the extent of consoles such because the Tremendous Nintendo or Mega Drive for a few years at current. Because of this the console might be in the direction of the tip of its interval the place it’s fairly low-cost, and shifting in the direction of an analogous state of affairs to the PS2, the place it’s reasonably priced, however not low-cost.
Nevertheless, there are nonetheless some video games which can be fairly costly. Godzilla is usually the most costly sport on the console. It sells for round £290. Final yr, the sport bought for round £180. One other notable rarity is Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn. That sport used to promote for round £50 at the beginning of the last decade. Now it goes for round £190. These costly titles haven’t fairly reached the heights of elusive titles for the PS1 or PS2, however they’re nonetheless undoubtedly costly.
Though, you will need to think about that the aforementioned titles are “excessive examples.” I calculate the going fee of my very own assortment. Contemplating the titles I’ve bought from the tip of final decade to current, I’ve seen a rise of 70.84%. At first look, that sounds completely alarming. Nevertheless, we have to think about that the financial worth represented by this improve is smaller than that of the extra modest share will increase of my PS1 and PS2 collections. What this serves to display is that this assortment is seeing giant worth rises statistically as a result of it’s approaching a time the place it turns into extra scarce. Once we have a look at the common I paid for my PS3 video games, it really works out as £6.13. Thus far, the PS3 is clearly the most affordable console to gather for that we now have thought of.
In conclusion, it’s nonetheless value it to gather PS3 within the UK in 2026. If something, now could be the time. Market forces and worth tendencies are indicating that a budget and obtainable interval of the console in the marketplace is drawing to an in depth. If you happen to’re within the implausible sport library of an total implausible system, now is a superb time to leap in. It is among the most cost-effective methods to gather for in the mean time, nevertheless it received’t be for lengthy.
What do you suppose? What’s your prized PS3-era sport? Tell us beneath!
