History of PlayStation in Timeline

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PlayStation

PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Its primary product is a line of home video game consoles. The brand also encompasses handheld devices, online services, magazines, and various other media formats.

1988: Joint project between Nintendo and Sony

In 1988, Nintendo and Sony began a joint project to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom.

March 1991: Nintendo Denies Sony Deal

In March 1991, Nintendo denied the existence of a deal with Sony to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom.

June 1991: Sony Reveals "Play Station" at CES

At the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1991, Sony revealed a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM drive called "Play Station" (also known as SNES-CD).

May 1992: Nintendo offers Sony a "non-gaming role"

In May 1992, Nintendo offered Sony a "non-gaming role" regarding their new partnership with Philips, but the proposal was swiftly rejected by Kutaragi.

June 1992: Meeting to decide fate of PlayStation project

In June 1992, a meeting was held, consisting of Sony President Ohga, PlayStation Head Kutaragi and several senior members of Sony's board, to decide the fate of the PlayStation project. Sony President Ohga ultimately decided to retain the project.

November 16, 1993: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) formed

On November 16, 1993, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) was formed by Kutaragi, Shigeo Maruyama, and Akira Sato.

1993: PlayStation Project Greenlit

In 1993, the PlayStation project was finally given the green light by Sony executives after several years of development. Phil Harrison was also recruited to attract developers and publishers to the PlayStation platform.

March 1994: Rumor of Sony PS-X Release

In March 1994, Computer Gaming World reported a rumor that the "Sony PS-X" would be released in Japan before the end of the year and would retail for less than $400.

December 3, 1994: Original PlayStation Released in Japan

On December 3, 1994, the original PlayStation was released in Japan, marking the beginning of the PlayStation console series.

December 1994: PlayStation Hits Japanese Stores

In December 1994, the PlayStation was released in Japanese stores and gained massive sales due to its lower price point than its competitor, the Sega Saturn.

Sega Saturn System - Video Game Console (Renewed)
Sega Saturn System - Video Game Console (Renewed)

1994: Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) Founded

In 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) was founded, with New York-based Sony Interactive Entertainment as its parent company.

1994: PlayStation Control Pad Release

In 1994, the PlayStation control pad was released as the first controller for the original PlayStation, featuring a basic design with a D-pad and four main select buttons.

1994: First PlayStation home console released in Japan

In 1994, the first PlayStation home console was released in Japan, marking the beginning of the PlayStation brand.

1996: PlayStation Analog Joystick Release

In 1996, Sony released the PlayStation Analog Joystick for use with flight simulation games.

1997: Dual Analog Controller Release

In 1997, the original digital PlayStation controller was replaced by the Dual Analog, which added two analog sticks.

1997: PlayStation Underground Magazine Launch

In Spring 1997, Sony Computer Entertainment America began publishing PlayStation Underground, a quarterly magazine subscription including PlayStation CDs with demos, interviews, and game content.

1998: DualShock Controller Release

In 1998, the DualShock controller for the PlayStation was released. It succeeded the Dual Analog and became the longest-running series of controllers for the PlayStation brand.

January 23, 1999: PocketStation Release

On January 23, 1999, the PocketStation, a Memory Card peripheral for the original PlayStation, was released exclusively in Japan.

July 7, 2000: PS One Released Concurrently with PlayStation 2

On July 7, 2000, the PS One was released concurrently with its successor, the PlayStation 2. The PS one went on to outsell all other consoles, including its successor, throughout the remainder of the year.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2000: Optional LCD Screen Release for PSone

In 2000, an optional 5-inch LCD screen (SCPH-131) was released for the PSone (a redesigned version of the original PlayStation).

2000: PlayStation 2 Released

Released in 2000, the PlayStation 2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles and is backwards-compatible with most original PlayStation games.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2001: PlayStation Underground Magazine Phased Out

By 2001, Sony decided to phase out the PlayStation Underground magazine to focus on JamPacks with the release of the PlayStation 2.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2002: Linux Kit for PlayStation 2

In 2002, Sony released the Linux Kit for the PlayStation 2, which turned the console into a computer system running Linux, complete with a hard drive and software tools.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2002: LCD Screen Included in "Combo Pack"

In 2002, the optional 5-inch LCD screen for the PSone was included as a pack-in bundle called the "Combo Pack".

December 2003: PlayStation and PS one Combined Shipments Reach 102.49 Million Units

By December 2003, the PlayStation and PS one had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units.

December 2004: PlayStation Portable Original Model Release

In December 2004, the original model of the PlayStation Portable (PSP-1000) was released in Japan. It was Sony's first handheld console to compete with Nintendo's DS.

2004: PlayStation 2 Slimline Released

In 2004, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was released, marking the first major redesign of the PlayStation 2.

March 2005: PlayStation Portable Original Model Release

In March 2005, the original model of the PlayStation Portable (PSP-1000) was released globally. It was Sony's first handheld console to compete with Nintendo's DS.

November 29, 2005: PS2 Reaches 100 Million Units Shipped

On November 29, 2005, the PS2 became the fastest game console to reach 100 million units shipped, accomplishing the feat within 5 years and 9 months from its launch.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2005: The Age Article Highlights PlayStation's Impact

In 2005, The Age published an article featuring interviews that highlighted the impact of the PlayStation brand on the gaming industry. Jeffrey Brand noted PlayStation re-ignited our imagination with video games, Yoshiki Okamoto called it revolutionary, and Evan Wells said PlayStation made playing games cool.

July 2006: Controversial Advertising Campaign in the Netherlands

In July 2006, an advertising campaign in the Netherlands, comparing the Ceramic White PSP and Piano Black PSP using white and black models, drew criticism for being potentially racist.

November 11, 2006: PlayStation 3 Released in Japan

On November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released in Japan.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

November 2006: Viral Marketing Campaign "All I want for Xmas is a PSP" Exposed

In November 2006, a Sony marketing campaign using a website called "All I want for Xmas is a PSP", designed to promote the PSP virally, was exposed, leading to Sony admitting it was "poorly executed".

September 2007: PSP-2000 (Slim & Lite) Release

In September 2007, the PSP-2000, also known as the Slim & Lite in PAL territories, was released as the first major hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable. This new version featured a lighter and slimmer design compared to the original PSP.

2007: Revision of the Slimline Shipped

In 2007, Sony began shipping a revision of the Slimline which was lighter than the original Slimline together with a lighter AC adapter.

2007: PlayStation sponsorship of AJ Auxerre ends

In 2007, the PlayStation sponsorship of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre ended.

2008: Development on PlayStation 4 Begins

According to lead system architect, Mark Cerny, development on the PlayStation 4 began as early as 2008.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

2008: Another Revision of the Slimline Released

In 2008, Sony released yet another revision of the Slimline which had an overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original PlayStation 2 resulting in a further reduced total weight of the console.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

June 2, 2009: PlayStation Move Revealed

On June 2, 2009, PlayStation Move, a motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3, was first revealed.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

September 1, 2009: PlayStation 3 Slim Released in North America and Europe

The redesigned PlayStation 3 "slim" model was officially released on September 1, 2009, in North America and Europe.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

September 3, 2009: PlayStation 3 Slim Released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand

On September 3, 2009, the redesigned PlayStation 3 "slim" model was officially released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

October 2009: PSP Go Release

Released in October 2009, the PSP Go is a redesign of the PlayStation Portable that features 16 GB of internal flash memory instead of a UMD drive.

2009: PlayStation sponsorship of Olympique Lyonnais begins

In 2009, PlayStation became the main kit sponsor of Olympique Lyonnais.

2009: PlayStation Ranked Among Top Social Brands

In 2009, ViTrue, Inc. ranked the PlayStation brand as number 13 on their "The Vitrue 100: Top Social Brands of 2009", based on social media presence.

2010: PlayStation Stands Apart as a Top Sony Product

In 2010, Gizmodo highlighted that the PlayStation brand was one of the last Sony products to stand out from its competitors as a top product.

2010: PlayStation Move Launched

In 2010, PlayStation Move was launched in Q3/Q4. Hardware available at launch included the main PlayStation Move motion controller and an optional PlayStation Move sub-controller.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

2010: PlayStation 3 Firmware Update Removes Linux Support

In 2010, a firmware update removed the feature to install a second operating system on PlayStation 3.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

2010: PlayStation sponsorship of Olympique Lyonnais ends

In 2010, the PlayStation sponsorship of Olympique Lyonnais ended.

January 27, 2011: PlayStation Vita Unveiled

On January 27, 2011, Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation Vita at the PlayStation Meeting 2011.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

December 17, 2011: PlayStation Vita Release in Japan

On December 17, 2011, the PlayStation Vita was released in Japan. It was previously codenamed Next Generation Portable (NGP).

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

2011: Sony Wanted to Avoid Launching PS4 Behind Competition

In 2011, PlayStation Europe CEO Jim Ryan emphasized that Sony wanted to avoid launching the next-generation console (PlayStation 4) behind the competition.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

February 22, 2012: PlayStation Vita Release in North America

On February 22, 2012, the PlayStation Vita was released in North America. The original model features a 5-inch OLED touchscreen and two analog sticks.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

April 2012: PlayStation Most Followed Brand on Facebook

As of April 2012, PlayStation became the "most followed" brand on , with over 22 million fans and followers.

December 28, 2012: PlayStation 2 Shipments End in Japan

PlayStation 2 shipments in Japan ended on December 28, 2012.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2012: New "Super Slim" PlayStation 3 revealed

In 2012, Sony revealed a new "Super Slim" PlayStation 3 with a redesigned case and a sliding door covering the disc drive.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

January 4, 2013: PS2 Production Ends Worldwide

On January 4, 2013, The Guardian reported that PS2 production had ended worldwide.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

February 20, 2013: PlayStation 4 Announced

On February 20, 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the PlayStation 4 (PS4) at a press conference.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

September 2013: PCH-2000 Series Announced

In September 2013, the PCH-2000 series, a lighter redesign of the PlayStation Vita, was announced at the SCEJA Press Conference prior to the Tokyo Game Show.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

October 10, 2013: PCH-2000 Series Release in Japan

On October 10, 2013, the new PCH-2000 series, a lighter redesign of the PlayStation Vita, was released in Japan.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

November 15, 2013: PlayStation 4 Released in North America

On November 15, 2013, the PlayStation 4 was first released in North America.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

November 2013: PlayStation 3 Sales Reach 80 Million Units Worldwide

As of November 2013, the PlayStation 3 had sold over 80 million consoles worldwide.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

May 6, 2014: PCH-2000 Series Release in North America

On May 6, 2014, the new PCH-2000 series, a lighter redesign of the PlayStation Vita, was released in North America.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

July 2014: Sony Boasts 100 Million PlayStation Units Sold

In July 2014, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita had sold a combined total of 100 million units.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)
Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

September 1, 2014: PlayStation Dominates Japanese Home Console Market

On September 1, 2014, it was announced at the Tokyo Game Show that PlayStation home game consoles claimed 78% market share of all home consoles in Japan.

2015: PlayStation 2 ranked as best selling console of all time

As of 2015, PlayStation 2 has been ranked as the best-selling console of all time.

PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)
PlayStation 2 Slim Console PS2 (Renewed)

2015: PlayStation is the Strongest Selling Home Console Brand Worldwide

As of 2015, PlayStation is the strongest selling home console brand worldwide.

2015: PlayStation Gear launch

In 2015, Sony launched PlayStation Gear, an online store for merchandise and apparel.

September 7, 2016: PlayStation 4 Slim Unveiled

On September 7, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim, a revised version of the original PS4 with a streamlined form factor, was unveiled. The new console features a smaller casing and a matte finish.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

September 15, 2016: PlayStation 4 Slim Release

On September 15, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim was released with a 500 GB model, priced the same as the original PS4. The model number for this version is CUH-2000.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)
Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

2016: PlayStation Sponsors Fiesta Bowl

In 2016, PlayStation became the sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl.

March 2019: PlayStation Vita Discontinuation

In March 2019, the PlayStation Vita was discontinued. SIE president Jim Ryan stated that the company has moved away from portable consoles.

Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)
Sony Playstation Vita Wi-Fi 2000 Series with Silicone Joystick Covers and AC Adapter Cable (Piano Black) (Renewed)

April 2019: First News of PlayStation 5

In April 2019, Mark Cerny provided the first news regarding the PlayStation 5 in an interview with Wired. Sony planned to ship it worldwide by the end of 2020.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)
PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

October 2019: PlayStation 5 Specifications Released

In October 2019, the specifications for the PlayStation 5 were released, detailing the console's use of an 8-core, 16-thread CPU based on AMD's Zen 2 microarchitecture and a custom AMD Navi family GPU with ray-tracing support.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)
PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

December 2019: PlayStation Network active users

As of December 2019, the PlayStation Network had over 103 million active users monthly.

November 12, 2020: PlayStation 5 Worldwide Release

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) was released worldwide on November 12, 2020, marking its entry into the ninth generation of video game consoles.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)
PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

2020: PlayStation 5 released

In 2020, the PlayStation 5, the most recent console in the PlayStation line, was released.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)
PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

December 2021: Spartacus subscription service reported to be in development

In December 2021, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg News reported that Sony was developing a new subscription service, code-named Spartacus, to compete with Xbox Game Pass.

2022: PlayStation Sponsorship of Fiesta Bowl Ends

In 2022, PlayStation's sponsorship of the Fiesta Bowl ended.

2022: Plans to release Spartacus subscription service

In 2022, Sony had plans to release the Spartacus subscription service, incorporating PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now, and access to older PlayStation games.

August 23, 2023: PlayStation Portal Unveiled

On August 23, 2023, Sony officially unveiled Project Q as PlayStation Portal, a portable system that can stream PS5 games from a home console.

PlayStation Portal Remote Player 5
PlayStation Portal Remote Player 5

October 2023: PlayStation 5 Slim Released

In October 2023, a revised slimmer design for the PS5, similar to past "slim" rereleases, was released. Besides the slimmer design, the slim model features 1 TB of internal storage and replaces one of the USB-A ports with USB-C. The base version also removes the internal optical disc drive, replaced by an external drive.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)
PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

November 15, 2023: PlayStation Portal Released

On November 15, 2023, the PlayStation Portal released for $199.99. It is a portable system that can stream PS5 games from a home console.

PlayStation Portal Remote Player 5
PlayStation Portal Remote Player 5

November 2024: PlayStation 5 Pro Release

The PlayStation 5 Pro was released in November 2024. It features three main upgrades over the base PS5 model: a GPU that was about 45% faster than the base PS5 GPU, the inclusion of an image upscaling technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), and an increase of internal storage to 2 TB.

PlayStation 5 Pro Console
PlayStation 5 Pro Console