Am I out of touch? No, it’s the children who are wrong: The Wii and PS3 are ‘retro’ now, according to iconic Japanese gaming show
A Japanese gaming retrospective show has classified the Wii and PlayStation 3 as "retro" consoles, prompting PC Gamer to reflect wryly on the passage of time in the games industry. The piece frames the news as another reminder of how quickly technology once considered cutting-edge gets reclassified as vintage, a recurring source of mild existential dismay for gamers who grew up with those systems still feeling current.
The article is largely a light-hearted opinion piece built around the premise that consoles many still consider "modern" — the Wii and PS3 launched in 2006 and 2006 respectively, roughly two decades ago — are now being treated as retro hardware by an established Japanese gaming programme. It uses this classification as a springboard for humour about ageing gamers and shifting generational perspectives, rather than reporting substantial new facts about the show itself or the criteria used to define "retro" status.
In short
- Japanese TV show now labels the Wii and PS3 as "retro"
- Both consoles launched around two decades ago
- Piece is a wry take on gaming nostalgia and ageing
Explained simply
The Wii, made by Nintendo, and PlayStation 3, made by Sony, were released in 2006. They belong to the same generation of home consoles, though the Wii became known for motion-controlled games while the PS3 focused on more powerful graphics and online features.
“Retro” has no fixed age limit in gaming; the label can depend on a show’s own choices and on how players view older technology. The classification reflects how quickly games hardware can move from familiar to historical, and why younger players and those who grew up with these consoles may see them differently.