Quick Links
Whenever I break out my retro consoles, I know they’ll eventually bite the dust. I’ll need to decide what I should do with them, but today isn’t that day. Perhaps your old consoles are at that point though, in which case, you’ve got a couple of options.
1If It’s Broken, Recycle or Repair It Yourself
Not long ago I came into possession of a couple boxes full of old PC games and an original Xbox. To my surprise, the old thing still works, but it could’ve just as easily been a pretty ornament on my coffee table. If you aren’t as lucky and you have an old console or two that don’t work, you can either recycle or have it repaired.
You don’t necessarily have to do it yourself, but an affordable precision bit set and some YouTube videos can do wonders. I know I had fun just removing the plating off my Xbox, checking for broken capacitors, and giving it a good clean. Otherwise, find a local repair shop that would be happy to give it a makeover.
In the event it’s too far gone, like water damage, then recycling the console is the next best option. When it comes to e-waste, know thatyou can only recycle certain parts of old technology.
2Sell the Old Console For an Upgrade
Personally, my PS1 is mostly used for display. I have a couple of games in my collection for the sake of nostalgia, like the original Spyro trilogy. Together, those would fetch a pretty penny on eBay. Take a look at what you have and ask yourself if it’s worth holding on to.
And if you stretch the definition of “old”, that would include the last gen consoles as well. I know my PS4 is just collecting dust at this point. I’ll just turn that into cash for my next console or finally upgrade my PC.
3Share the Console With Your Kids
Sharing my old consoles with my spawn has been my go-to. Both my wife and I still have a few PS2 and PS1 games from our childhood. And a couple of the games are even multiplayer, like Champions of Norrath.
Many of our favorites still hold up pretty well, so we added the consoles to family game night. I highly recommend doing the same. It’s been a fun way of revisiting some classics, reminiscing, and creating new memories with them.
4Use Your Old Console as a Media Device
Of course, if your old console is one you can stream with, why not set it aside as a media player? You can do this with consoles as far back as the PS3, although the Xbox 360 is unable to download any apps, as of July 2024. The PS3, on the other hand, still connects to PSN and allows apps and games to be downloaded. You still retain the ability to play DVDs, too.
On that note, anything older, like the PS2, could be used as a DVD player as well. That’s what my youngest son does. He just replays Jurassic Park and Godzilla movies and he’s happier than a clam.
5Repurpose the Hardware For a Project
Social media is a gold mine of really smart cookies taking retro hardware and turning them into something new, like a portable Xbox. It’s wild! You’d have to accept the fact that you might break something, but there are plenty ofawesome DIY projects to repurpose video game consolesfor varying skill levels.
Other options include modding your console. The Nintendo Wii, for example, is home to a bunch of homebrew titles. I ripped a few of my PS2 games, put them on a thumb drive, and bought an FMCB memory card to softmod my console. That lets me run digital games straight from a storage device on my PS2 and the console retains its original hardware.
Consider getting your kids involved, too. One of the biggest reasons I have an interest in computers is because my dad let me shadow him. I did the same with my kids and now my youngest wants to learn how to code.
6Donate Your Console
If you aren’t strapped for cash, donating your console is a surefire way of putting a smile on someone’s face. In fact, there are a couple organizations that specifically take in unwanted hardware.
You could donate toGamer’s OutreachandAbleGamers(both of which are based in the US) orGet Well Gamers(which is based in the UK). There’s alsoeBay for Charityif you have a specific charity in mind. It also wouldn’t hurt to give a call to nearby children’s hospitals, shelters, rec centers, churches, children’s clubs, or even foster homes you might be aware of in your area.
However you slice it, your old console has far more purpose than you realize. Aside from a few that I keep for nostalgia, I try not to hold onto old hardware for long. I have an extra PS2 I’ve been meaning to clean and I just know some kid out there would get plenty of use out of it. Just think of the possibilities!
