Recently, wrestler Rhea Ripley stated that she prefers gaming on her PS1 and PS2. For those thinking about the dusty consoles in the attic: Yes, you can do that too. And it’s not so hard, knows MeinMMO author Sophia Weiß.
The professional wrestler Rhea Ripley recently spoke in an interview with Steph McMahon about her preference for playing old games on her PS1 and PS2. Accordingly, she probably has no reason to invest in a new console like the PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, or a current Xbox.
In fact, it’s quite simple to get older consoles back in shape. All you need is an adapter for the connection cable to the TV, possibly a thorough cleaning, and of course, the corresponding games. We have compiled all potential costs and to-dos that may arise in this article for you.
Dust off the console, get an adapter and go – How to game in 2026 with the PS1 or PS2
We can’t say exactly what kind of consoles Rhea Ripley plays on – whether restored or refurbished. But with some skill and courage, even the old Sony consoles are still good alternatives for gaming today. So, if you have one of these consoles in your basement or attic, don’t sell it or throw it away.
The biggest hurdle to getting an old console running again is the connection to the TV. Those who still have an appropriately old TV at home bypass this problem directly. However, if you own a modern device with HDMI, you need to find a solution here.
The PS1 and PS2 each had a so-called AV-Multi-Out connection. For both, you can use composite (RCA), S-Video, or RGB SCART cables. Corresponding HDMI adapters can be found on Amazon starting from 10 Euros.
However, these may be inexpensive but can lead to lag and compatibility issues.
If you want to be sure and have good performance, you can invest in a proper converter. These are small boxes that you connect between the console and the TV: the console cables go in, an HDMI cable comes out.
A budget version for 85.99 Euros can be found on AliExpress. Since retro consoles are in use almost daily at our home, we have the very good RetroTINK-4k Pro for 899 Euros in our living room. However, there is also a stripped-down version, the RetroTINK-4k CE, for only
599 Euros.
For quick gaming, the budget adapter is enough for now, and if needed, you can upgrade to a budget converter.
If the consoles are generally still working, it’s often worth giving them a thorough cleaning – as I did with my PS4. This could involve a case discolored by light exposure, but especially the hardware inside. For example, there are a lot of video tutorials on YouTube. Alternatively, you can find the corresponding instructions through iFixit. Here are the links for the PS1 (via iFixit) and here for the PS2 (via iFixit).
If your console is actually broken, you might even be able to repair it yourself. I have had very good experiences with the instructions from iFixit. However, you can always turn to Google and YouTube. The latter is especially good if you need the instructions 100% visually. If your PS1, for example, doesn’t read discs anymore, I recommend the guide from Alex Free on Github – this has worked excellently for us.
With a working console, your old games from the basement should also come back to life. If you have a desired game but don’t have it at home, it’s worth checking websites like eBay or classifieds. Flea markets and dedicated retro gaming markets can also be real gold mines for forgotten hit games. Just make sure when buying that you take versions of the games that are compatible with your console.
Are you also currently gaming on old consoles with the hits of your youth? Or are you firmly anchored with the current consoles and respective games? We’re curious and look forward to your comments! By the way, I’ve upgraded and improved several of my hardware acquisitions. For instance, my Nintendo Switch or my Steam Deck: I mod my Steam Deck to make it last a long time and disregard the high prices
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