25 years have passed since PlayStation has accompanied gamers all over the world. During that time, Sony has released tons of PlayStation. From a console, handheld, accessories, and tons of games. But for 25 years, not many know about the past product of PlayStation or the current product. To answer that, the writer has summarized the history of PlayStation below.

1. PlayStation - 1994

Sony first dives into the console market on 3 December 1994 with PlayStation. The console is the first-gen console from Sony. Initially, the console is introduced first at Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 1991 under the name Play Station or Super Disc. the name is chosen because the console uses a CD and not a cartridge. At that time Sony works with Nintendo in developing its console, but unfortunately, the partnership fails.

Sony then released its own console. PlayStation is released in Japan after Sega released Sega Saturn. As a result, the PlayStation’s success is marked with long queue lines at stores. Sony sells 100.000 units on the first day, and two million units after six months. In 1996, it’s recorded that more than 400 game titles have been developed for PlayStation.

2. PlayStation One - 2000

Six years later, Sony released the next generation PlayStation named PlayStation One (PS One). PS One has the same specs as the previous generation. What separates PS One and PlayStation is the size and color. If PlayStation is grey, then PS One is white. This is also what separates it with PlayStation 2 that was released in the same year.

PS One was last sold in 2006, where the console recorded a sale record at 102 million units. Along with the end of PlayStation and PS One, Sony also announced PlayStation 3.

3. PlayStation 2 - 2000

After Sega released Sega Dreamcast, Sony announced the second generation PlayStation, PlayStation 2 at Tokyo Game Show 1999. PS2 is released in March 2000 for Japan and the United States and Europe in 2001. PS2 comes in the combination of black and blue that are inspired by earth and space. It’s recorded that more than 3.800 games were released for PS2, with more than 1,5 billion units sold all over the world.

Before Sony officially closes the customer service for PS2 in 2018, the console gets FIFA Soccer 2014/14 that’s also the last game for the console. PlayStation 2 is Sony’s best selling console that many are still playing. The PlayStation 2 sale reaches 155 million units.

4. PlayStation 2 Slim - 2004

In September 2004, Sony released a new version of PlayStation 2, PS2 Slim. at the end of October 2004, this version is slimmer, thinner, and quieter than PS2 Fat. Because of its design, the PS2 Slim doesn’t support hard disk drive internal. This console also doesn’t have an internal power supply, making it quieter than PS2 Fat.

PS2 Slim has the same specs as PS2 Fat. But PS2 Slim only has an Ethernet port and supports multitap features. Because of the slimmer design, PS2 Slim only weighs 600 grams, easy to carry anywhere.

5. PlayStation Portable - 2004

The development of mobile devices is fast. Looking at the success of Nintendo with Nintendo DS, Sony released a handheld named PlayStation Portable (PSP). Although PSP doesn’t record the same sale as a console, its existence proves that Sony can create a high-quality handheld device. Besides, PSP recorded a decent sale with 70 million units.

6. PlayStation 3 Fat - 2006

In 2006, Sony finally released PlayStation3 (PS3) in Japan. The third-gen console brings significant new updates. Besides the better graphics, thanks to its specs, the DualShock3 controller is wireless. PS3 has strong competitors during its release. Even today PlayStation’s competitors are still competing with Sony. The competitors of PS3 at that time were Xbox 360 from Microsoft and Wii from Nintendo. PS3 no longer uses memory cards since PS3 supports internal hard drive with 250 GB of storage.

Although the specs and features are better, the PS3 sale is not as great as PS2. PS3 only record 70 million units being sold. This places PS3 at the fourth, below Nintendo Wii with 99 million units.

7. PlayStation 3 Slim - 2009

PS3 Fat is thick, so many gamers requested SOny to create the SLim version. PS3 Slim is slimmer and has 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, or 320 GB hard drive configuration. PS3 Slim is 32% smaller, 36% lighter, and uses 34% less power than the previous model.

But PS3 Slim doesn’t have backward compatibility to PS2 since Sony think PS3 sales is not a success. PS3 Slim is a favorite for many since its design is better than the Fat and Super Slim model. Even for the durability, PS3 Slim is said to suffer less from a case of YLOD than the Fat version.

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8. PSP Go - 2009

When the smartphone era started, Sony releases PSP Go. Unlike PSP, the handheld released in 2009 is slimmer and has a side slide concept for a better gaming experience. Unfortunately, the console fails at the market. To play games, users have to buy the game online at the full price. Not to mention the games are similar to PSP so many choose to buy PSP. PSP Go stopped its production in 2011. In the same year, Sony releases PS3 Slim.

9. PlayStation 3 Super Slim - 2012

At Tokyo Game Show 2012, Sony introduces a new variant of its mainstay console, PlayStation3 (OS3) Super Slim. Sony doesn’t tweak the specs of this variant, only changes the design to be “slimmer.” PlayStation 3 Super Slim is 50% slammer than PlayStation 3 original and 25% smaller thank PS3 Slim.

The launch of the Super Slim variant doesn’t help the sale of PS3. Even when the design is slimmer, the Super Slim variant is weird since it has a sliding panel that makes the console looks cheap.

10. PS Vita - 2011

Last 2011, Sony releases its latest handheld named PS Vita in Japan. Unlike PSP, this handheld has sharper graphics. As an additional feature from PSP, PS Vita has two analog sticks on the left and right side a support PS Vita cards. PS Vita also supports the Remote Play feature that allows PS3 and PS4 users to play games via the handheld device.

11. PlayStation 4 - 2013

In 2013, Sony releases its fourth-gen console, PlayStation 3 (PS4). for a console released in 2013, PS4 is still a capable console for newer games. PS4 also has amazing technology. The processor is AMD Jaguar x86-64 eight-core and there’s a secondary processor for multitasking to allow users to play games while updating or downloading other games.

The graphics are great since PS4 can play at full HD. Even most PS4 games support full HD. PS4 has a futuristic design with a futuristic controller. Sony still retains the wireless controller, but the PS4 controller has a touchpad that is used to move the cursor. The design is slimmer than PS3.

12. PlayStation 4 Slim - 2016

Three years after PS4 Fat, Sony introduced PlayStation 4 (PS4) Slim in 2016. Like its name, the Slim variant is the smallest and thinnest. Sony also made its design to be simple with no glossy panel and the power button is replaced with a physical button so users will not accidentally press the button.

The design is similar to a sandwich and we no longer see the blue light when PlayStation4 slim is turned on. The smaller and lighter design is great if you lack space at your room.

13. PlayStation 4 Pro - 2016

4K and HDR graphics era made Sony release the highest variant PlayStation 4 Pro in 2016. PlayStation 4 Pro is the most expensive model of the three variants. This variant has higher specs that offer higher performance compared to the other variants.

PlayStation 4 Pro is the biggest and heaviest model. The model is similar to PlayStation 4 Slim, with an additional layer that makes it look like a three-layer sandwich. Similar to the slim version, this type uses a physical power button with no glossy panel.

14. PlayStation Classic - 2018

Sony follows the footstep of Nintendo by launching its original console in the mini version, NES and SNES Classic. For the first time, Sony releases mini classic PlayStation (PS1) under the new name PlayStation Classic in 2018. Unlike the original version. PlayStation Classic 2018 is 45% smaller.

The design and color are still the same. But it has an update. Sony offers two classic PS1 controllers that support multiplayer games for every bundling purchase. The console also presents 20 pre-loaded legendary games including Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, and Ridge Racer Type 4.

15. PlayStation 5 - 2020

In 2020, Sony is planned to release its fifth-gen console, PlayStation 5 (PS5). This console will have similar specs with Xbox Series X. PS5 is equipped with AMD’s processor and custom GPU with Zen 2 architecture and RDNA 2. The CPU has eight-cores, and the GPU has 10.28 TFLOPS computation. PS5 has 16GB of RAM and 825GB of SSD with an additional slot for NVMe SSD.

Although Sony has revealed the specs and the DualSense controller, Sony is yet to reveal the design of PlayStation 5. Instead, Sony first prepared the exclusive games for PlayStation 5. The announced games include Godfall, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, Watch Dogs: Legion, Gods and Monsters, Rainbow Six Quarantine, and a new game from the Bluepoint Studios.

That’s the complete history of PlayStation, from PS1 to PS5. which console do you have out of the list above? Keep up with Dunia Games for more information about games.

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