Full History Of PlayStation In Timeline From 1988

1988: Nintendo and Sony Begin Joint Project

In 1988, Nintendo and Sony initiated a joint project to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom, though Nintendo later denied the existence of this deal.

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" (SNES-CD). This was part of a joint project with Nintendo.

May 1992: Nintendo Offers Sony a "Non-Gaming Role"

In May 1992, Nintendo offered Sony a "non-gaming role" in their new partnership with Philips, which Kutaragi swiftly rejected.

June 1992: Fate of PlayStation Project Decided

In June 1992, a meeting was held to decide the fate of the PlayStation project. Sony President Ohga decided to retain the project after being reminded by Kutaragi of the humiliation he suffered from Nintendo.

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 Given Green Light

In 1993, Sony executives gave the PlayStation project the green light after a few years of development. Phil Harrison was also recruited into SCEI to attract developers and publishers to produce games for the platform.

March 1994: Rumors 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 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 series of console and hand-held game devices.

December 1994: PlayStation Hits Japanese Stores

In December 1994, the PlayStation was released in Japanese stores, gaining massive sales due to its lower price point than its competitor, the Sega Saturn. Its popularity later spread worldwide.

1994: Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) Founded

In 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) was founded as a parent company to Sony Interactive Entertainment, based in New York.

1994: PlayStation Control Pad Release

In 1994, Sony released the PlayStation control pad, which was the first controller made for the original PlayStation.

1994: First PlayStation released in Japan

In 1994, the first PlayStation home console was released in Japan, marking the beginning of the PlayStation brand. This console later became the first of any type to ship over 100 million units, establishing PlayStation as a globally recognized brand.

1996: PlayStation Analog Joystick Release

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

1997: PlayStation Underground Launched

In 1997, Sony Computer Entertainment America launched PlayStation Underground, a quarterly magazine with PlayStation CDs containing interviews, demos, and more, aimed at marketing and engaging PlayStation users.

1997: Dual Analog Controller Release

In 1997, Sony replaced the original digital controller with the Dual Analog, which added two analog sticks.

1998: DualShock Controller Release

In 1998, the DualShock controller for the PlayStation was released, succeeding the Dual Analog. The DualShock controller became the longest running series of controllers for the PlayStation brand.

January 23, 1999: PocketStation Release

On January 23, 1999, Sony Computer Entertainment released the PocketStation, a Memory Card peripheral, exclusively in Japan.

1999: PlayStation Sponsors AJ Auxerre

In 1999, PlayStation became the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre.

July 7, 2000: PS One Released

On July 7, 2000, the PS One, a smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation, was released concurrently with the PlayStation 2.

2000: Optional LCD Screen for PSone Released

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

2000: PlayStation 2 Released

In 2000, the PlayStation 2 was released, becoming part of the sixth generation of video game consoles and is backwards-compatible with most original PlayStation games.

2000: Incorrect Date

The date 2000 appears in this entry, but there are no events that occurred at that time.

2001: PlayStation Underground Phased Out

In 2001, Sony phased out PlayStation Underground to focus on JamPacks with the release of the PlayStation 2, shifting its marketing strategy.

2002: Linux for PlayStation 2

In 2002, Sony released the first useful and fully functioning operating system for a video game console with Linux for PlayStation 2.

2002: PSone Combo Pack Release

In 2002, the optional 5-inch LCD screen (SCPH-131) was later included as a pack-in bundle with the PSone called the "Combo Pack".

December 2003: PlayStation and PS One Ship 102.49 Million Units

By December 2003, the PlayStation and PS one had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units, eventually becoming the first video game console to sell 120 million units.

2003: Sony PSX Release in Japan

In 2003, Sony released the Sony PSX in Japan. It was a fully integrated DVR and PlayStation 2 video game console.

December 2004: PlayStation Portable (PSP) Original Model Release

In December 2004, Sony released the original PlayStation Portable (PSP-1000) in Japan, marking Sony's entry into the handheld console market to compete with Nintendo's DS.

2004: PlayStation 2 Slimline Released

In 2004, four years after the launch of the original PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was released as the first major redesign of the console.

2004: PS2 Slimline

In 2004, the PS2 Slimline was available.

March 2005: PlayStation Portable (PSP) Original Model Release

In March 2005, Sony released the original PlayStation Portable (PSP-1000).

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.

2005: PlayStation Praised in The Age Article

In 2005, The Age newspaper published an article featuring interviews with industry figures who praised the PlayStation brand for its revolutionary impact on gaming.

July 2006: PSP Advertising Campaign Controversy

In July 2006, Sony faced criticism for a PSP advertising campaign in the Netherlands that featured a white model and a black model in what some perceived as a racist manner.

November 11, 2006: PlayStation 3 Released in Japan

On November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released in Japan, marking Sony's entry into the seventh generation of game consoles.

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

In November 2006, a Sony marketing campaign titled "All I want for Xmas is a PSP" backfired when the public discovered its inauthenticity, leading Sony to admit the idea was "poorly executed".

June 11, 2007: PlayStation Blog Launch

On June 11, 2007, the PlayStation Blog was launched as an online gaming blog focused on PlayStation.

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

In September 2007, Sony released the PSP-2000, also known as the Slim & Lite in PAL territories. This hardware revision was lighter, slimmer, and featured a modified serial port for video-out, USB charging, and a new gloss finish.

2007: Revised PlayStation 2 Slimline Shipped

In 2007, Sony began shipping a revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline, which was lighter than the original Slimline, along with a lighter AC adapter.

2007: PS2 Slimline

In 2007, the PS2 Slimline was available.

2007: End of PlayStation Sponsorship of AJ Auxerre

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

December 11, 2008: PlayStation Home Open Beta

PlayStation Home started an open public beta test on December 11, 2008.

2008: Development of the PlayStation 4 Begins

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

2008: Another Revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline Released

In 2008, Sony released another revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline, which had an overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the console itself.

2008: PSP-3000 Hardware Revision Release

In 2008, Sony released the PSP-3000, which included several features that were not present in the PSP-2000, such as a built-in microphone and upgraded screen, as well as the ability to output PSP games in interlaced mode.

June 2, 2009: PlayStation Move Unveiling

On June 2, 2009, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) first revealed PlayStation Move, a motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3.

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

On September 1, 2009, the redesigned "slim" PlayStation 3 model was officially released in North America and Europe. It is smaller, lighter, and consumes less power than previous models.

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

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

September 24, 2009: PlayStation Store Downloads Milestone

As of September 24, 2009, there have been more than 600 million downloads from the PlayStation Store worldwide.

October 2009: PSP Go Release

In October 2009, Sony released the PSP Go, a significant redesign of the PlayStation Portable that lacked a UMD drive and instead featured 16 GB of internal flash memory. It was produced and sold concurrently with its predecessor the PSP-3000.

2009: PlayStation Sponsors Olympique Lyonnais

In 2009, PlayStation became the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais.

2009: PlayStation Ranked Among Top Social Brands

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

February 2010: PlayStation Store Video Content Expansion

Starting in February 2010, video content from the PlayStation Store became available on Sony BRAVIA televisions, VAIO laptops, and Sony Blu-ray Disc players.

April 15, 2010: Room Development Halt

Development of "Room" was halted on April 15, 2010, due to negative feedback from the community.

2010: PlayStation Stands Apart as a Top Sony Product

In 2010, Gizmodo highlighted the PlayStation brand as one of Sony's most recognizable and popular products.

2010: Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 Release

In 2010, Sony released the BRAVIA KDL22PX300, a 22-inch 720p television which incorporates a PlayStation 2 console.

2010: Firmware Update Removes Second OS Install Feature

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

2010: End of PlayStation Sponsorship of Olympique Lyonnais

In 2010, the PlayStation sponsorship of French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais ended.

2010: PlayStation Move Launch

In Q3/Q4 2010, Sony launched PlayStation Move, a motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3.

January 11, 2011: PlayStation App Release

The PlayStation App was released on January 11, 2011, in several European countries for iOS and Android.

January 27, 2011: PlayStation Vita (NGP) Officially Unveiled

On January 27, 2011, Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation Vita, previously codenamed Next Generation Portable (NGP), at the PlayStation Meeting 2011.

December 17, 2011: PlayStation Vita Release in Japan

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

2011: Sony Aims to Avoid Late Launch with Next-Gen Console

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

2011: PSP Street (PSP-E1000) Release

In 2011, Sony announced the PSP Street (PSP-E1000) at Gamescom. It was a budget-focused PSP model available across the PAL region that lacked Wi-Fi and stereo speakers.

2011: Sony Tablets Release

In 2011, Sony released PlayStation Certified Android tablets.

2011: PlayStation Mobile Framework

In 2011, the PlayStation Mobile, a software framework was to provide downloadable Playstation content to devices running Android 2.3.

2011: PlayStation 3D Display Release

In late 2011, Sony released a 24-inch 1080p PlayStation branded 3D television, officially called the PlayStation 3D Display.

February 22, 2012: PlayStation Vita Release in North America

On February 22, 2012, the PlayStation Vita was released in North America. The PlayStation Vita was previously codenamed Next Generation Portable (NGP).

April 2012: PlayStation Most Followed Brand on Facebook

As of April 2012, the PlayStation brand became the most followed brand on Facebook, surpassing other entertainment brands.

October 24, 2012: End of Life with PlayStation Project

As of PlayStation 3 system software update version 4.30 on October 24, 2012, the Life With PlayStation project has ended.

December 28, 2012: PlayStation 2 Shipments End in Japan

On December 28, 2012, PlayStation 2 shipments in Japan officially ended.

2012: Sony Tablets Release

In 2012, Sony released PlayStation Certified Android tablets.

2012: Sony Reveals New "Super Slim" PlayStation 3

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

January 4, 2013: PS2 Production Ends Worldwide

The Guardian reported on January 4, 2013, that PS2 production had ended worldwide, though many people still own one.

February 20, 2013: PlayStation 4 (PS4) Announced by Sony

On February 20, 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the PlayStation 4 (PS4) at a press conference. They also revealed some hardware specifications of the new console.

September 9, 2013: PlayStation TV Announcement

On September 9, 2013, the PlayStation TV, a microconsole and non-portable version of the PlayStation Vita, was announced at a Sony Computer Entertainment Japan presentation.

September 2013: PlayStation Vita PCH-2000 Series Announcement

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

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

On October 10, 2013, the redesigned PlayStation Vita PCH-2000 series was released in Japan. The model featured LCD instead of OLED, Micro USB, and 1GB internal storage.

November 15, 2013: PlayStation 4 Released in North America

On November 15, 2013, the PlayStation 4 was first released in North America, competing with Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U and Switch.

November 2013: PlayStation 3 Sells Over 80 Million Consoles Worldwide

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

2013: Sony Tablets Release

In 2013, Sony released PlayStation Certified Android tablets.

January 7, 2014: PlayStation Now Announcement

PlayStation Now was announced on January 7, 2014, at the 2014 Consumer Electronic Show.

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

On May 6, 2014, the redesigned PlayStation Vita PCH-2000 series was released in North America.

July 2014: 100 Million PlayStation Units Sold

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

September 1, 2014: PlayStation Dominates Japanese Home Console Market

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

2015: PlayStation is the Strongest Selling Console Brand Worldwide

As of 2015, PlayStation holds the position of the strongest selling console brand worldwide.

2015: PlayStation 2 Ranked Best Selling Console of All Time

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

March 31, 2016: PlayStation 2 Online Service Shutdown

The PlayStation 2's online service was shut down on March 31, 2016.

September 7, 2016: PlayStation 4 Slim Unveiled

On September 7, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim was unveiled, featuring a streamlined form factor.

September 15, 2016: PlayStation 4 Slim Released

On September 15, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim was released with a 500 GB model at the same price point as the original PS4 model.

October 2016: PlayStation VR Release

PlayStation VR was released in October 2016. The virtual reality device features a 5.7-inch 1920x1080 resolution OLED display and 3D audio technology.

2016: PlayStation Sponsors the Fiesta Bowl

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

December 3, 2018: PlayStation Classic Launch

On December 3, 2018, the PlayStation Classic, a miniature version of the original 1994 PlayStation console, was launched on the 24th anniversary of the original console.

March 2019: PlayStation Vita Discontinuation

In March 2019, the PlayStation Vita was discontinued. Sony cited a shift away from portable consoles as the reason.

March 31, 2019: Sony's Financial Report Affirms Next-Gen Hardware Development

Sony's financial report for the quarter ending March 31, 2019, confirmed the development of new next-generation hardware, but indicated it would not ship before April 2020.

April 2019: First News of the PlayStation 5

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

October 2019: PlayStation 5 Specifications Released

In October 2019, the specifications for the PlayStation 5 were released, detailing its AMD Zen 2-based CPU, custom AMD Navi GPU with ray-tracing, and custom SSD storage for faster loading times and 8K support. Further details of the new hardware were also revealed.

December 2019: PlayStation Network Reaches 103 Million Active Users

As of December 2019, the PlayStation Network had over 103 million active users monthly. The PlayStation Network is an online service operated by SIE.

December 2019: PlayStation Network Active Users Milestone

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

April 2020: Next-Generation Hardware Delayed

In early 2019, Sony's financial report stated that the new next-generation hardware was in development but would ship no earlier than April 2020.

July 2020: PlayStation Indies Program Introduction

In July 2020, as Sony prepared to transition to the PlayStation 5, they introduced the PlayStation Indies program, led by Shuhei Yoshida, to spotlight new and innovative indie titles.

November 12, 2020: PlayStation 5 Worldwide Release

On November 12, 2020, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) was released worldwide, marking its entry into the ninth generation of video game consoles alongside the Xbox Series X and Series S.

2020: PlayStation 5 Logo Unveiled at CES

At CES 2020, Sony unveiled the official logo for the PlayStation 5. It was also revealed that the console would be backwards-compatible with most PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR games.

2020: PlayStation 5 Released

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

December 2021: "Spartacus" Subscription Service Report

In December 2021, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg News reported that Sony was working to create a new subscription service, code-named Spartacus, intended as a competitor to Xbox Game Pass.

2022: PlayStation Sponsorship of the Fiesta Bowl Ends

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

August 23, 2023: PlayStation Portal Unveiling

On August 23, 2023, Sony officially unveiled Project Q as PlayStation Portal, a new portable system capable of streaming PS5 games from a home console.

November 15, 2023: PlayStation Portal Release

On November 15, 2023, the PlayStation Portal was released for $199.99.

History of PlayStation in Timeline