The PlayStation 4 has many different theme selections for players to use to customize their console’s dashboard. After much prototyping and testing, users will soon be able to experience a blast from the past by using the PlayStation 2 theme, Legacy, created by Truant Pixel, the digital design & consultant company. The theme will be jam-packed with pure nostalgia, mimicking original sounds, shapes, icons, and animations from the PlayStation 2.
When a user boots up a PS4 with the theme installed, they will be treated with the PS2 boot-up sequence and sounds in the background of their dashboard. Due to licensing issues, the PS2 logo will not display at the end of the boot sequence, and instead, “LEGACY” takes its place. As an added bonus to make up for the missing logo, the boot sequence will instead contain easter eggs that will randomize each time during boot-up.
Once boot-up is complete, the famous “Seven Stars” will appear on the dashboard and will coalesce from random points to recreate the mathematical and dynamic formations to accompany the passage of time.” Similarly, these recreations were also used for the comeback of the PS2’s crystal clock for the theme. The clock also mimics the full functionality of its PS2 counterpart.
The Legacy theme also brings back the color shifting feature. Color shifting is now “controlled via user input, with subtle shifts in particle speed and behavior.” In addition, original audio was taken from the PS2 and remastered for use in the theme. The audio is used for the PS4’s background dashboard ambiance, and additional audio is used for the sound effects of the keynotes.
The theme will be optimized for 1080p, 4k/UHD, and OLED displays and will also run at a solid 60 frames per second.
The Legacy theme will be available for purchase in the U.S. and Europe on December 6th for $2.99.