Insanely Rare "Nintendo Playstation" Headed to Auction

Source: Heritage Auctions

Discovered in 2009, the fabled co-branded console prototype is believed to be the last of 200 made in the early-90s.

The long mythologized "Nintendo Playstation" is very real. And in 2020, it'll head to the highest bidder.

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According to Polygon, an insanely rare prototype for the shelved collaboration between gaming juggernauts surfaced in a blind auction for a storage unit owned by Olaf Olafsson, ex-CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.

Now, after making the rounds at gaming conventions for nearly 10 years and a restoration to working order, owner, Terry Diebold, is ready to let it go. Heritage Auctions, who are handling the sale, note the prototype is believed to be the last of 200 made by Playstation creator, Ken Kutaragi, who invented the Super Nintendo's sound chip and spearheaded the fabled co-branded console. But if you're looking to pick up a new toy for 2020, this might not be the one.

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Nevermind the fact that no games for the CD-ROM/cart hybrid have ever been found. Diebold reportedly turned down a $1.2 million offer from a Norwegian bidder, which seems logical for "a last remaining survivor" scenario. But it could end up backfiring. Auction house rep, Valarie McLeckie, admitted to Polygon, "We don’t have any sample as to what this could possibly sell for," adding, "The market’s going to have to dictate the value on this one."

The auction is set for March 5th-7th of 2020, with early online bidding beginning in February.