How Sony Tried to Bring the Internet to PS1

When i-mode Took PlayStation Online

In 2000, excitement around the PlayStation 2 was reaching a fever pitch. Sony’s next-generation console had been unveiled with promises of near-cinematic graphics, DVD movie playback, and a leap in processing power that would redefine what home gaming could be. Pre-orders sold out instantly in Japan, and Western audiences eagerly awaited its arrival. With the future of the PlayStation brand seemingly locked in, many assumed the original console would quietly fade away. But Sony had other plans. Instead of retiring the system that had reshaped the industry, they doubled down on it. Through strategic price cuts and a wave of fresh accessories, Sony gave the aging PlayStation a second life. Rebranded as the PSone, the slimmer, redesigned model launched in July 2000 and quickly became a compact, budget-friendly option for new gamers. While the PS2 grabbed headlines, the PSone quietly kept selling by the millions.

That same year, in a move few outside Japan even noticed, Sony took the origi…