I purchased a PS3 in 2025 and this is how one can too

Whereas many nice video games have been launched to this point this 12 months, equivalent to Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, Dying Stranding 2: On the Seaside, and Donkey Kong Bananza, I’ve just lately discovered myself frequently going again to play older video games on the PlayStation 3 (PS3).

Why, you might ask? Again within the late 2000s, I initially had an Xbox 360, so I completely missed out on all the good video games the PS3 needed to provide, equivalent to Uncharted, Demon Souls, and Metallic Gear Strong. So, when the PS3 received a system update earlier this 12 months, regardless of being almost 20 years outdated, it sparked a renewed curiosity within the console for me, which made me understand I lastly want to select one up and expertise all the pieces I missed out on. And most significantly, PS3 consoles and video games are low cost in a time when the price of video games and consoles continues to rise.

That mentioned, with the PS3 having been launched initially in 2006, it’s now not a console you possibly can merely stroll into any retailer and purchase these days. If you wish to purchase a PS3 in 2025, it is not tough, however there are a couple of totally different choices, with every providing totally different trade-offs. Here is how one can get your palms on a PS3 in 2025.

GameStop Retro and native recreation shops are the best choices

You will get a console that you understand works, and is prone to include a guaranty

One of many best methods to purchase a PS3 in 2025 is thru GameStop Retro. Should you’re unfamiliar with it, final 12 months, GameStop started converting some of its US locations to GameStop Retro shops, which concentrate on promoting older consoles and video games. You’ll be able to view their collection of pre-owned PS3s on-line, and have it shipped proper to your entrance door, or you possibly can decide it up in-store if a GameStop Retro has it close to you.

Whereas GameStop Retro could have a better value than, say, utilizing a website like Fb Market or eBay, you are assured to get a console that works, and also you additionally get GameStop’s pre-owned assure, which suggests it may be returned in the event you run into any points. Contemplating the PS3 is approaching 20 years outdated, there are probably points that might come up with any given console, so the added peace of thoughts could also be value it to you.

That mentioned, GameStop Retro is not the one choice to get a PS3 in 2025, neither is it essentially the perfect. After I was searching for a PS3 myself, I selected to purchase one from my native retro recreation retailer. The value was truly decrease than at GameStop, and so they provided a 30-day guarantee in case something went incorrect with the console. All of the consoles my native recreation retailer offered had been additionally refurbished, cleaned, and examined in-house, so I knew the PS3 I used to be shopping for would truly work. So not solely was I capable of assist an area enterprise, however I additionally received deal and a guaranty.

In fact, a serious caveat right here is definitely having an area retro recreation retailer close by. I discovered one close to me that I did not even know existed simply by Googling “retro recreation retailer close to me.” Who is aware of, you is perhaps stunned how shut some retro shops are to you. Should you discover one, I like to recommend trying out their insurance policies to find out how they deal with refurbished consoles and whether or not they provide any guarantee. 30-day or 60-day warranties are preferable.

On-line marketplaces are nonetheless a viable possibility

You could find the perfect costs on websites like eBay and Fb Market

Should you’re on the hunt for the bottom value potential and are not overly involved about warranties, shopping for a PS3 from an internet market like eBay or Fb Market might be value contemplating over native shops.

On the time of writing, there are millions of listings for the PS3 on eBay, with costs various extensively relying on the kind of PS3, space for storing, and whether or not any video games or a controller are included. After I additionally checked Fb Market in my metropolis, I noticed a dozen or so listings that had been additionally fairly tempting and cheaper than GameStop Retro.

The largest danger related to shopping for a console from Fb Market, eBay, Craigslist, or every other on-line market is that there isn’t any guarantee, and if one thing goes incorrect with the console, you might be out of luck. Though eBay does have an “eBay Cash Again Assure” course of in case a difficulty arises.

Should you determine to go down a route like Fb Market, it is at all times greatest to ask the vendor beforehand in the event you can check the console rapidly once you decide it as much as see if it boots and masses up a recreation okay.

There are three PS3 fashions

The PS3 Slim is the most typical

Once you’re taking a look at PS3 fashions on-line, you may doubtless additionally discover that the look and design of the console could fluctuate from itemizing to itemizing. It is because Sony launched three major fashions of the PS3 throughout its lifespan. The unique PS3, launched in 2006 (generally known as the “Fats” PS3), the PS3 Slim, launched in 2009, and the Tremendous Slim PS3, launched in 2012.

The PS3 Slim is probably going the mannequin you may see probably the most usually. That is the PS3 I opted for, just because it was on sale for the perfect value and provided probably the most storage, at 320GB. The Tremendous Slim PS3 can also be fairly frequent and probably the most compact of the three PS3 fashions. It is pretty priced from most sellers and has a top-loading disc drive.

The unique “Fats” PS3 is the rarest of the three fashions, and because the identify implies, it’s a bigger model in comparison with the PS3 Slim and Tremendous Slim. Nonetheless, considered one of its benefits is that it is backwards suitable with PS2 video games, whereas the PS3 Slim and PS3 Tremendous Slim aren’t. That mentioned, the unique PS3, launched in 2006, can also be the rarest, and a few items did undergo from overheating points, making it a riskier and probably dearer purchase.

Based mostly on my expertise, I like to recommend the PS3 Slim, as there are such a lot of out there, and you may doubtless get the perfect deal for a PS3 with this mannequin. Whereas it is useful that the unique “Fats” PS3 can play PS2 video games, I do not suppose it is value the additional value and danger related to it. Should you actually need to play PS2 video games, you would at all times decide up an inexpensive PS2 or check out emulation.

To sum all of it up, in the event you’re aiming to purchase a PS3 in 2025, GameStop Retro and native retro recreation shops are in all probability the most secure and most handy choices for most individuals. On-line marketplaces like eBay and Fb Market can provide the perfect offers, however they arrive with dangers equivalent to receiving a console which may not work or missing guarantee. When selecting the kind of PS3, the PS3 Slim and Tremendous Slim are sometimes the simplest to search out and sometimes probably the most inexpensive.