Summary
APlayStation 2fan left a thrift store with a great find, bringing back a brand new PlayStation 2 DualShock 2 controller. The purchase cost very little, especially when compared to the ever-increasing price of originalPS2peripherals.
While it has been overshadowed in terms of power and capability, thePlayStation 2 was one of the most successful gaming devices of all time. The console hosted hit game after hit game, many of which ended up spawning franchises that continue to this day. However, now that the system is approaching its quarter-of-a-century anniversary, finding original peripherals sealed in their boxes is becoming more difficult. Thrift finds like this one may make some fans of the classic device a bit jealous.
PlayStation 2 fan Mission_Ad_3305 shared their new find with users on the PlayStation subreddit. Their photos and post reveal aPS2 DualShock 2 controllerin the iconic gray, sealed in a clear plastic box that’s still sealed, albeit damaged. They brought their find home for just 5 Euros, or just under $5.50 USD. Prices for this device in a sealed condition vary these days, but a quick scan of eBay indicates that a controller in this condition could easily be sold for anywhere from $40 to over a hundred dollars. The higher price is actually fairly close to what the DualShock 2 would cost now given inflation rates, as the $39.99 it sold for in 2001 converts to around $71 in 2024.
The DualShock Controllers and Their Increasing Rarity
The DualShock line of controllers turned out to be a massive success for Sony. Initially introduced in 1997, the original DualShock was one of the first controllers to have a rumble vibration feature. This, along with the two analog sticks, were carried forward to the DualShock 2 and its eventual successors. The DualShock 2 also introduced pressure sensitivity, with a then-remarkable 256 unique levels of pressure it could detect. Much of what made the DualShock 2 great has been carried forward and built upon to this day, with the controller gradually evolving to become theDualSense for the PlayStation 5.
Since the PlayStation 2 typically only shipped with one controller outside of select bundles, DualShock 2 devices still sealed in their boxes are becoming scarcer. As the years continue to go by, brand new in-box items like these will only become rarer. Whether gamers want one to actually use it or to just keep it asPlayStation memorabilia, a deal as lucky as this one would be something many PlayStation 2 fans would love to find for themselves.
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 was Sony’s direct “sequel” to their original PlayStation and stands as one of the best-selling and most beloved consoles of all time. With a catalog of amazing games, it stood strong against the GameCube and Xbox in the sixth-generation of the console wars.
