Sony's slip: before PS5, we looked at PlayStation tech that didn't work

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• Sony's slip: before PS5, we looked at PlayStation tech that didn't work

As we move into the next generation of consoles, Sony currently owns all the cards and will be looking to build on the monumental success it has found in the current generation. Sometimes it's easy to forget how well the PlayStation 4 sold, with more than 102 million sales worldwide, making the system the second best-selling console of all time (without the pocket computers). Also, as the launch of the PlayStation 5 approaches, it is always fascinating to see what new products and devices from Sony will be released, for better or worse. After all, Sony likes to get a little weird. Who can forget the famous DualShock 'Boomerang' unveiled at the PlayStation 3 conference? Although the controller never went dead, it has become extremely memorable...for all the wrong reasons. That's why we've rounded up a list of PlayStation innovations that never really crash-landed, and while some should be applauded for daring and courageous experimentation, others allow you to question boardroom decisions and weird strategy moves.

PlayStation Classic

(Image credit: TechRadar) We start with one of Sony's most recent flaws: the PlayStation Classic. The Japanese firm has tried to capitalize on the huge appetite for nostalgic throwback consoles, thanks to Nintendo, which has proven its worth through its popular NES and SNES Classic. Yes, the PS Classic seemed to be an easy win. This is until the schedule of the games is revealed. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Castelevania, Tomb Raider, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and many others disappeared due to license fees. Not to mention the poor emulation of select titles meant that the classic PS felt half-baked. Initially released at a price of €99 / £89.99 / AU$149.99, the system quickly crashed, making its way to various trading bins in stores around the world.

PlayStation Eye - The Eye of Judgment

(Image credit: Sony) A bundled game can work wonders. Just look at the success of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the Nintendo Switch to see that one game can make a difference. Now take the digital camera device called the PlayStation Eye. Did Sony use one of its most popular mascots to help introduce the new technology? What about Solid Snake? Kratos? Or even PaRappa? No, he opted for The Eye of Judgment, a turn-based collectible card game with fantastic generic monsters. In addition to the reported interface issues, the game had trouble finding an audience, as many found that playing without full gear actually provided a better experience. While the PlayStation Eye itself has become a hit (replaced by the PlayStation Camera for the PS4), The Eye of Judgment has gone out of business less than three years after its release.

PlayStation Vita

(Image credit: Barone Firenze / Shutterstock.com) After dominating the console space, Sony plunged triumphantly into the world of handhelds. The sleek and powerful powerhouse that was the PlayStation Portable has amassed over 80 million sales and received positive feedback from critics and fans alike, but its successor, the PS Vita, hasn't broken the 16 million mark by most estimates. Run by a passionate fan base (Vita Island forever), the handheld suffered from terrible third-party support, exorbitantly priced memory cards, and a frustrating exclusivity deal with AT&T. What's more, Sony's marketing of the product was lacking on all fronts, along with the most daunting nail in the coffin, namely that support for the first part had quickly disappeared. At another time, in another place, the Vita might have been a whole different story. At least it has become a place of comfort for the self-employed.

PlayStation TV

(Image credit: Sony) Another victim that had so much potential, the PlayStation TV could have been right up there with Netflix and Apple today, had it been better implemented. Offering compatibility with the original PlayStation, PSP, various PS3 titles, and the Vita, the concept seemed golden. Handhelds finally on the big screen. It was the dream. Unfortunately, the reality was shaky 720p output with a very limited number of actually playable Vita games, starting the device off on the wrong foot from day one. Sony's support also faltered and anyone daring to start was put off again by the same expensive memory cards that plagued the Vita.

PlayStation Mouse

(Image credit: Tom Gaudasinski / Wikipedia) It's hard to imagine Sony releasing a mouse for its hardware these days, but when it hit the market in December 1994, the PlayStation Mouse made its debut. With personal computers now synonymous with distant homes, using the device to work in tandem with a home console made perfect sense. However, the lack of support from Sony (we're starting to see a trend here), equals only 70 games and more accessible. Sales of the PS mouse have declined as a result, and the company has veered from the idea ever since.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (PlayStation phone)

(Image credit: TechRadar) Sony makes phones. Sony makes game consoles. Why doesn't Sony make a gaming phone? Well, actually, the company did just that in April 2011 with the launch of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play or, as it was infamous, the "PlayStation Phone." Powered by Android, the mobile phone came with its own PlayStation Store, but it wasn't the full-fledged gaming phone promised by the manufacturer during early promotions. While the drop-down joystick proved popular, emulation suffered and sales were subsequently lower than expected, though Sony never let it go. "Don't worry, it's a revolutionary device, it shakes up the market, we're very pleased with it," said Dominic Neil-Dwyer, Sony Ericsson's head of market development on May 12, 2011. Less than two weeks later, it was announced that the Xperia Play would not receive an update to Android 4.0, citing "stability issues".

PlayStation now

(Image credit: Sony) Released into the wild early in the PS4's lifecycle in 2014, the cloud gaming subscription service PlayStation Now has never quite reached its peak. In beta for nearly half a decade, Sony's management and deployment of one of the biggest next-gen attractions has been frozen. It happened over three years ago, Xbox Game Pass and the emphasis on backwards compatibility put PS Now to shame in almost every way, due to PS Now's need for a constant and stable internet connection. As consumer hunger for games on demand grows, PS Now's failures may prove more crucial when launching the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Going back can be a wonderful thing.