27 years behind bars would likely feel like a lifetime to most people. Technology changes, people change, and laws change, and people may be shocked and impressed as they reintegrate into modern society. A joyful new video has surfaced of a man who was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit playing a PlayStation 5 for the first time after spending all those years incarcerated.
In a reposted video to X by TheGameVerse, Bryan Hooper, Sr.’s initial reaction to playing a PlayStation 5 was captured. The video is captioned, “Life after 27 years in federal prison,” and was originally captured by Hooper‘s nephew.
In the video, Hooper is full of laughs and smiles as he talks about his experience booting up a PlayStation 5 for the first time, expressing a pleasant surprise that modern controllers have vibration functions. “I thought something was wrong with it,” says Hooper in the video.
Video games have changed a lot since the last time Hooper played a game, with a bigger emphasis on cutscenes and storytelling, so the Guardians of the Galaxy game cutscenes took him by surprise. “This thing is like a movie, it’s taking too long to get started,” said Hooper with a smile.
Hooper also comments on how game graphics have changed and how the characters in the Guardians of the Galaxy video game look a little different than the actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Again, ending his comments with a lot of laughter.
Hooper also states that he wants to try Grand Theft Auto 5, Madden NFL, and several more games.
Hooper was also surprised that the PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller has a speaker on the inside of it. “It’s gonna take me a minute to learn this. I’m used to a joystick with one button,” said Hooper, once again, full of laughter and happiness.
According to the Great North Innocence Project, Hooper was released from federal prison on September 4, 2025, after spending almost 27 years behind bars. “Years of passionate advocacy by his family, repeated denials in state and federal courts, and countless missed memories and milestones, eventually gave way to freedom when the true perpetrator recanted and confessed, revealing Bryan’s innocence at last,” reads the statement on the website.
Hooper was wrongfully charged with the murder of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak back in 1998. Prazniak’s apartment unit was allegedly used for the distribution of drugs and acts of prostitution after her death. Hooper was reported by neighbors, along with Chalaka Young, to have entered the apartment several times. Both Young and Hooper‘s fingerprints were found in the house.
Hooper openly admitted to entering the apartment but denied any knowledge about the murder. Young eventually changed her story to put the blame on Hooper, which led to his arrest. Gradually, over two decades, more key witnesses came forward and rescinded their comments that put Hooper as the criminal, which eventually led to Young admitting to the murder on July 19, 2025.
“I am not okay any longer with an innocent man sitting in prison for a crime he did not commit,” said Young.
Now, Hooper has a new lease on life and a lot of family time and video games to catch up on.
