Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Sony’s December 2, 2024 PS5 update temporarily transformed the console’s everyday interface into a celebration of PlayStation history. It added a retro-inspired startup and shutdown presentation, system sounds, and selectable appearances based on the original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PS4.
This was a cosmetic anniversary experience—not a performance upgrade, new game feature, or hardware revision. Sony described it as limited-time, and its continued availability in 2026 is unconfirmed.
What was the PS5 anniversary surprise?
The update gave PS5 owners a nostalgic tour through the brand’s history whenever they used the console. The startup presentation paid homage to the original PlayStation era, while menu sounds and other system feedback were redesigned with retro PlayStation styling.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Users could reportedly select appearances inspired by:
#1 Best Overall
- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
- the original PlayStation, commonly called PS1;
- PlayStation 2;
- PlayStation 3; and
- PlayStation 4.
These were interface appearances, not separate operating systems. They did not add access to games from those consoles or turn the PS5 into a PlayStation emulator. Sony’s official announcement presented the feature as a special celebration layered over the normal PS5 experience.
When did it arrive?
The feature rolled out on December 2, 2024, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation’s Japanese launch on December 3, 1994. It followed Sony’s broader anniversary campaign, including special hardware announced in September 2024 and released on November 21, 2024.
The startup sequence was inspired by the original PlayStation presentation. It should not be described as a technically identical reproduction of the original console’s firmware or BIOS.
Recommended Free Tools
How users activated it
During the December 2024 rollout, the feature generally appeared after installing the relevant system update and restarting the console. The reported process was:
Rank #2
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output, 4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
- Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Install any available PS5 system update.
- Restart the console if prompted.
- Follow the anniversary setup screen, if it appears.
- Open Settings and look for the PlayStation 30th Anniversary section or related Appearance and Sound controls.
- Choose an appearance and apply it.
Menu names can vary by language and firmware version. This path describes the feature during its original promotion, not a guaranteed 2026 menu location. If no anniversary option appears today, the promotion may have ended rather than indicating a problem with the console.
Contemporary reporting from Push Square and PlayStation LifeStyle described the selectable looks and settings.
Was it available on every PS5?
The anniversary experience was distributed as a PS5 software feature, rather than being exclusive to the PS5 Pro or the 30th Anniversary Edition. That means ordinary PS5 owners could receive it without buying anniversary hardware.
However, availability could depend on the system update, rollout timing, region, and account settings. Sony’s general PS5 firmware support should not be confused with the anniversary feature itself, and there is no basis for promising that every model or region received it at precisely the same time.
Rank #3
- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 🚀 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- 🚀 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
PS5, PS5 Slim, and PS5 Pro owners should not expect different anniversary functionality without specific evidence. The limited-edition consoles were part of the wider campaign, not a prerequisite for the software celebration.
What changed—and what did not
| Changed | Did not change |
|---|---|
| Startup and shutdown presentation | Game performance |
| System sounds and menu feedback | Resolution or frame-rate targets |
| Home-screen and menu appearance | Storage capacity |
| Overall nostalgic presentation | Game compatibility, PSN features, and DualSense capabilities |
In practical terms, the update changed the console’s personality rather than its capabilities. It made the parts of the PS5 users see every time they started the system feel like a short trip through PlayStation history.
The important catch: it was temporary
Sony explicitly described the anniversary experience as limited-time. The announcement does not establish an exact removal date, nor does the consulted official material confirm that users can preserve the themes permanently after the promotion ends.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAs of August 18, 2026, the feature is historical and its current availability has not been verified. Screenshots or videos from December 2024 may show settings that are no longer present. Installing the update at the time did not come with a confirmed promise of indefinite access.
Rank #4
- Enjoy smooth and fluid high frame rate gameplay at up to 120 fps for compatible games, with support for 120Hz output on 4K displays.
- PS5 consoles support an 8K output, so you can play games on your 4320p resolution display.
- Maximize your play sessions with near-instant load times for installed PS5 games.
- 825GB SSD allows ultra-fast load times, while 3-D audio output produces crisp acoustics.
- Explore uncharted virtual territories and slay dragons with this sleek Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console.
If you received the feature but later switched back to the standard interface, the available evidence does not establish whether it can still be restored. Likewise, there is no verified claim that changing or deleting it permanently prevents reactivation.
What to try if you never saw it
- Check Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Install any available update and restart the PS5.
- Recheck the appearance and sound settings.
- Confirm that you are not confusing the software feature with the separately sold anniversary hardware.
- If the option is absent in 2026, treat the promotion’s possible retirement as the most likely explanation—not automatically a hardware fault.
A normal PS5 system update cannot guarantee that a retired promotional feature will return. Avoid unofficial theme installers, jailbreaks, or firmware modifications: they are unnecessary for a cosmetic effect and can create security, account, warranty, and stability risks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How it differed from the anniversary hardware
Sony’s 30th-anniversary collection included the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, PS5 Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, 30th Anniversary DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers, and 30th Anniversary PlayStation Portal.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The anniversary PS5 Pro bundle was limited to 12,300 units, according to Sony’s hardware announcement. Those products provided physical styling and collector appeal, but owning one was not required for the software update.
Best Value
- Slim Design, players get powerful gaming technology packed inside a sleek and compact console design.
- 825GB of storage, keep your favorite games raeady and waiting for you to jump in and play
- Ultra-High Speed SSD, maximize yoru play sessions with near instant load times for installed PS5 games
- Integrated I/O, the custom integration of the PS5 console's systems lets creators pull datat from the SSD so quickly that they can design games in ways never before possible
- Ray Tracing, immerse yourself in owrlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games
That distinction matters in 2026. Buying scarce anniversary hardware solely to obtain the old interface may be poor value, particularly if a reseller claims that a console permanently retains a special software state. Sony’s published material does not verify that claim.
Readers who want ordinary customization can instead explore the PS5’s Welcome hub, which supports customizable widgets and backgrounds where available. It is separate from the 30th-anniversary appearance package and does not reproduce its startup sequence or system sounds.
Was the update worth getting excited about?
For longtime PlayStation owners, yes—but mainly for emotional reasons. The feature changed the interface users encounter constantly, required no anniversary hardware purchase, and offered more variety than a single PS1 tribute by referencing four generations.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Its limitations were equally clear: the sounds could become repetitive, some users preferred the standard PS5 interface, and the experience was never promised as permanent. It also offered no improvement to games, graphics, storage, compatibility, or console performance.
The best description is a small but unusually effective piece of nostalgia. Sony temporarily turned the PS5’s basic system experience into a tour through PlayStation history, then left the long-term availability uncertain once the anniversary promotion passed.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
