History of PlayStation in Timeline
June 1991: Sony Reveals "Play Station" at CES
At the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1991, Sony revealed the "Play Station", a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM drive.
June 1992: Sony Board Meeting Decides Fate of PlayStation Project
In June 1992, a meeting was held where Kutaragi unveiled a proprietary CD-ROM-based system with 3D graphics to the Sony board, leading to the decision to retain the PlayStation project.
November 16, 1993: Formation of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)
On November 16, 1993, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) was formed by Kutaragi, Maruyama, and Sato.
1993: PlayStation Project Given Green Light and Phil Harrison Recruited
In 1993, the PlayStation project was approved by Sony executives, and Phil Harrison was recruited to attract developers to the platform.
December 3, 1994: Release of the Original PlayStation in Japan
On December 3, 1994, the original PlayStation was released in Japan, marking the beginning of the PlayStation series.
December 1994: PlayStation Launch in Japan
In December 1994, the PlayStation was launched in Japan and gained massive sales due to its lower price point compared to the Sega Saturn.
1994: Establishment of Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA)
In 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) was founded as a parent company of Sony Interactive Entertainment based in New York.
1994: PlayStation Control Pad Release
In 1994, the PlayStation control pad, the first controller for the original PlayStation, was released. It featured a D-pad, four main select buttons, and start and select buttons.
1994: Release of the First PlayStation
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: Launch of PlayStation Underground magazine
In 1997, Sony Computer Entertainment America began publishing PlayStation Underground, a quarterly magazine with two PlayStation CDs, a booklet, and unique packaging for subscribers. The CDs featured interviews, game demos, cheats, and memory card saves. Issues detailed the game creation process, from design to final product.
1997: Dual Analog Controller Release
In 1997, the original digital controller was replaced by the Dual Analog, which added two analog sticks based on the same potentiometer technology as the Analog Joystick.
1998: DualShock Controller Release
In 1998, the DualShock controller for the PlayStation was released, succeeding the Dual Analog. In addition to the original inputs, the DualShock featured two analog sticks that can be depressed to activate the L3 and R3 buttons.
1999: PlayStation sponsors AJ Auxerre
In 1999, PlayStation was the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre.
July 7, 2000: Release of PS One
On July 7, 2000, the PS One, a smaller and redesigned version of the original PlayStation, was released concurrently with the PlayStation 2.
2000: Optional LCD screen release for PSone
In 2000, an optional 5-inch LCD screen (SCPH-131) was released for the PSone, featuring built-in speakers and a headphone jack, as well as featuring an AV input jack.
2000: Release of the PlayStation 2
In 2000, the PlayStation 2 was released, becoming part of the sixth generation of video game consoles and offering backwards-compatibility with original PlayStation games.
July 2001: PlayStation 2 Online Service Launch (Japan)
In July 2001, online gaming on PlayStation consoles started with the release of PlayStation 2's unnamed online service in Japan.
2001: Discontinuation of PlayStation Underground magazine
In 2001, Sony decided to discontinue the PlayStation Underground magazine to focus on JamPacks with the release of the PlayStation 2. PlayStation Underground CDs became collector's items.
August 2002: PlayStation 2 Online Service Launch (North America)
In August 2002, the PlayStation 2's unnamed online service was released in North America.
2002: Release of Linux Kit for PlayStation 2
In 2002, Sony released the Linux Kit for the PlayStation 2. This kit transformed the console into a fully functional computer system by providing an internal hard drive and software tools. Users could connect to the internet and use peripherals like a USB keyboard and mouse to operate Linux on the PlayStation 2.
2002: Combo Pack released with LCD Screen
In 2002, an optional 5-inch LCD screen (SCPH-131) was released as part of a bundle called the "Combo Pack" with the PSone.
June 2003: PlayStation 2 Online Service Launch (Europe)
In June 2003, the PlayStation 2's unnamed online service was released in Europe.
December 2003: PlayStation and PS one Surpass 102 Million Units Shipped
By December 2003, the PlayStation and PS one had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units.
2003: PlayStation 2 sponsors Royal Rumble
In 2003, the PlayStation 2 sponsored the Royal Rumble event.
2004: Release of PlayStation 2 Slimline
In 2004, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was released, marking the first major redesign of the PlayStation 2.
2004: PlayStation 2 sponsors Armageddon
In 2004, the PlayStation 2 sponsored the Armageddon event.
March 2005: PlayStation Portable Release
In March 2005, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), Sony's first handheld console, was released internationally. The PSP utilizes a new proprietary optical storage medium known as Universal Media Disc (UMD).
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, achieving this milestone in 5 years and 9 months since its launch.
2005: The Age Article on the PlayStation Brand
In 2005, The Age published an article featuring various interviews about the PlayStation brand, where Jeffrey Brand said, "PlayStation re-ignited our imagination with video games", Yoshiki Okamoto called it "revolutionary" and Evan Wells said "PlayStation is responsible for making playing games cool."
2005: PlayStation 2 sponsors Royal Rumble and No Mercy
In 2005, the PlayStation 2 sponsored the Royal Rumble event and No Mercy.
2005: PlayStation Home Development
Since early 2005, PlayStation Home, a community-based social gaming networking service for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network, was in development.
July 2006: Controversial PSP Advertising Campaign in the Netherlands
In July 2006, an advertising campaign in the Netherlands featuring a white model and a black model in Sony's new Ceramic White PSP and Piano Black PSP drew criticism for perceived racism. The ads depicted the models fighting, but Sony denied any racist message.
November 11, 2006: Release of the PlayStation 3 in Japan
On November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released in Japan, introducing motion-sensing technology and a Blu-ray Disc player to the PlayStation series.
November 2006: Viral Marketing Campaign "All I want for Xmas is a PSP" Backlash
In November 2006, Sony's American division launched the "All I want for Xmas is a PSP" website as a viral marketing campaign. The site, featuring a blog and a rap video, was exposed as a marketing ploy. Sony admitted the campaign was "poorly executed".
2006: PlayStation Network Release
In 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment released the PlayStation Network, an online service for multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery, initially for the PlayStation 3.
June 11, 2007: PlayStation Blog Launch
On June 11, 2007, the PlayStation Blog, an online PlayStation-focused gaming blog, was launched as part of the PlayStation Network.
September 2007: PSP-2000 (Slim & Lite) Release
In September 2007, Sony released the PSP-2000 (also known as the Slim & Lite in PAL territories), the first major hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable.
2007: PlayStation sponsors Olympique Lyonnais
In 2007, PlayStation was the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais.
2007: Revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline
In 2007, Sony began shipping a lighter revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline, along with a lighter AC adapter.
December 11, 2008: PlayStation Home Open Beta
On December 11, 2008, PlayStation Home, a community-based social gaming networking service for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network, started an open public beta test.
2008: Development of PlayStation 4 Begins
Development on the PlayStation 4 began as early as 2008, according to lead system architect Mark Cerny.
2008: PSP-3000 Release
In 2008, Sony released a second hardware revision called 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.
2008: Another Revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline
In 2008, Sony released another revision of the PlayStation 2 Slimline, which had an overhauled internal design and incorporated the power supply into the console itself.
May 28, 2009: PlayStation Blog Europe Launch
On May 28, 2009, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe launched PlayStation Blog Europe to replace the "semi-official" site Three Speech.
June 2, 2009: PlayStation Move Revealed
On June 2, 2009, PlayStation Move, a motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3 video game console, was first revealed.
September 1, 2009: Release of PlayStation 3 Slim in North America and Europe
On September 1, 2009, the redesigned "slim" model of the PlayStation 3 was officially released in North America and Europe, featuring reduced size, weight, and power consumption.
September 3, 2009: Release of PlayStation 3 Slim in Japan, Australia and New Zealand
On September 3, 2009, the redesigned "slim" model of the PlayStation 3 was officially released in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
September 24, 2009: PlayStation Store Downloads Milestone
As of September 24, 2009, there had been more than 600 million downloads from the PlayStation Store worldwide.
October 2009: PSP Go Release
In October 2009, the PSP Go, a significant redesign of the PlayStation Portable, was released. Unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go lacks a UMD drive and instead features 16 GB of internal flash memory.
October 2009: Room Beta Test (Japan)
Starting in October 2009, "Room" (R∞M), a similar service to PlayStation Home being developed for the PSP, was beta tested in Japan.
2009: PlayStation sponsors AJ Auxerre
In 2009, PlayStation was the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre.
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 aspects such as Social Networking, Video Sharing, Photo Sharing, and Blogs.
February 2010: PlayStation Store Video Content Expansion
From February 2010, video content like films and TV shows became available from the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PSP and some new Sony BRAVIA televisions, VAIO laptops, and Sony Blu-ray Disc players.
March 17, 2010: PlayStation Blog Share Launch
On March 17, 2010, PlayStation Blog Share was launched as a sub-site of the PlayStation Blog to allow users to submit and vote on ideas related to PlayStation.
April 15, 2010: Room Development Halted
On April 15, 2010, Sony halted development of "Room" (R∞M) for the PSP due to negative feedback from the community. The service was intended to be similar to PlayStation Home.
April 2010: Room Beta Test Ended
In April 2010, the beta test for "Room" (R∞M) in Japan came to an end.
2010: PlayStation Brand Stands Apart, According to Gizmodo
In 2010, Gizmodo stated that the PlayStation brand was one of the last Sony products to completely stand apart from its competitors, adding that "If you ask the average person on the street what their favorite Sony product is, more often than not you'll hear PlayStation".
2010: PlayStation Move Launch
In 2010, PlayStation Move was launched. Hardware available at launch included the main PlayStation Move motion controller and an optional PlayStation Move sub-controller.
2010: PlayStation sponsors AJ Auxerre
In 2010, PlayStation was the main kit sponsor of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre.
2010: Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 Release
In 2010, Sony released the Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300, a 22-inch 720p television with an integrated PlayStation 2 console and 4 HDMI ports.
2010: Removal of Linux support on PlayStation 3
In 2010, a firmware update removed the feature to install a second operating system, such as Linux, on the PlayStation 3. Before this update, the PlayStation 3 allowed users to access six of its seven Synergistic Processing Elements when running Linux.
January 11, 2011: PlayStation App Release
On January 11, 2011, the PlayStation App was released in several European countries for iOS and Android, allowing users to view trophies, see online friends, and read PlayStation news.
January 27, 2011: PlayStation Vita 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 (Japan)
On December 17, 2011, the PlayStation Vita was released in Japan. The handheld device features a 5-inch OLED touchscreen, two analog sticks, and a rear touchpad.
2011: Sony Aims to Avoid Launching Next-Gen Console Behind Competition
In 2011, PlayStation Europe CEO Jim Ryan emphasized that Sony wanted to avoid launching the next-generation console behind the competition.
2011: PlayStation Mobile Framework Announcement
In 2011, Sony announced PlayStation Mobile (formerly PlayStation Suite), a software framework to provide downloadable PlayStation content to devices running Android 2.3 and above and the PlayStation Vita.
2011: Sony Tablets Release
In 2011, Sony released the first of their PlayStation Certified Android tablets, including the Sony Tablet S, which offer connectivity with PlayStation 3 controllers and integration with the PlayStation Network.
2011: PSP Street Announcement
In 2011, the PSP Street (PSP-E1000), a budget-focused PSP model, was announced at Gamescom. Unlike previous PSP models, it lacks Wi-Fi and stereo speakers.
2011: PlayStation 3D Display Release
In late 2011, Sony released the PlayStation 3D Display, a 24-inch 1080p 3D television with SimulView capabilities for multiplayer gaming.
February 22, 2012: PlayStation Vita Release (North America)
On February 22, 2012, the PlayStation Vita was released in North America. The handheld device features a 5-inch OLED touchscreen, two analog sticks, and a rear touchpad.
April 2012: PlayStation is the most followed brand on Facebook
In April 2012, the PlayStation brand was the "most followed" brand on Facebook, with over 22 million fans and followers. A study by Greenlight's Entertainment Retail also showed that the PlayStation brand was the most interactive making 634 posts and tweets on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.
October 24, 2012: Life with PlayStation Project Ended
On October 24, 2012, with PlayStation 3 system software update version 4.30, the Life With PlayStation project, which included the Folding@home application, ended.
December 28, 2012: End of PlayStation 2 Shipments in Japan
PlayStation 2 shipments in Japan ended on December 28, 2012.
2012: New Sony Tablets Release
In 2012, Sony continued their line of PlayStation Certified Android tablets with new releases, including the Sony Tablet P, offering connectivity with PlayStation 3 controllers and integration with the PlayStation Network.
2012: Sony Reveals New "Super Slim" PlayStation 3
In 2012, Sony revealed a new "Super Slim" PlayStation 3 with a redesigned case and a sliding door covering the disc drive.
January 4, 2013: End of PS2 Production Worldwide
The Guardian reported on January 4, 2013, that PS2 production had ended worldwide, though many people still owned the console.
February 20, 2013: Announcement of PlayStation 4
On February 20, 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the PlayStation 4 (PS4) at a press conference and revealed some of its hardware specifications.
September 9, 2013: PlayStation TV Announcement
On September 9, 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced the PlayStation TV, a microconsole variant of the PlayStation Vita, which connects to a television via HDMI and is compatible with various Vita, PSP, and PC Engine titles.
September 2013: Announcement of the new PCH-2000 series
In September 2013, the new PCH-2000 series system, a lighter redesign of the device, was announced at the SCEJA Press Conference prior to the Tokyo Game Show. This model is 20% thinner and 15% lighter compared to the original model, has an additional hour of battery life, an LCD instead of OLED, includes a micro USB Type B port, 1 GB of internal storage memory.
October 10, 2013: New PCH-2000 series released in Japan
On October 10, 2013, the new PCH-2000 series system was released in Japan. This model is 20% thinner and 15% lighter compared to the original model, has an additional hour of battery life, an LCD instead of OLED, includes a micro USB Type B port, 1 GB of internal storage memory.
November 14, 2013: PlayStation TV Japan Release
On November 14, 2013, the PlayStation TV was released in Japan. It supports Remote Play compatibility with the PlayStation 4 and allows streaming from video services and access to the PlayStation Store.
November 15, 2013: PlayStation 4 Released in North America
On November 15, 2013, the PlayStation 4 was first released in North America, marking its entry into the eighth generation of video game consoles.
November 2013: PlayStation 3 Sales Reach 80 Million Units Worldwide
As of November 2013, the PlayStation 3 had sold over 80 million consoles worldwide.
2013: Further Sony Tablets Release
In 2013, Sony released more PlayStation Certified Android tablets, including the Xperia Tablet S and Xperia Tablet Z, offering connectivity with PlayStation 3 controllers and integration with the PlayStation Network.
January 7, 2014: PlayStation Now Announcement
On January 7, 2014, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), PlayStation Now was announced. The service is a Gaikai-based video game streaming service used to provide PlayStation gaming content.
March 2, 2014: PlayStation App Installations Milestone
As of March 2, 2014, the PlayStation App had been installed more than 3.6 million times.
May 6, 2014: New PCH-2000 series released in North America
On May 6, 2014, the new PCH-2000 series system was released in North America. This model is 20% thinner and 15% lighter compared to the original model, has an additional hour of battery life, an LCD instead of OLED, includes a micro USB Type B port, 1 GB of internal storage memory.
July 2014: 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.
July 31, 2014: PlayStation Now Open Beta Launch (PS4)
On July 31, 2014, PlayStation Now was launched in Open Beta in the United States and Canada on the PlayStation 4.
September 18, 2014: PlayStation Now Open Beta Launch (PS3)
On September 18, 2014, PlayStation Now was launched in Open Beta on the PlayStation 3.
October 14, 2014: PlayStation TV North America Release
On October 14, 2014, the PlayStation TV was released in North America. The device allows streaming from video services, access to the PlayStation Store, and supports Remote Play with the PlayStation 4.
November 14, 2014: PlayStation TV Europe and Australasia Release
On November 14, 2014, the PlayStation TV was released in Europe and Australasia. The system allows streaming from video services, access to the PlayStation Store, and supports Remote Play with the PlayStation 4.
2015: PlayStation 2 Ranked Best Selling Console of All Time
As of 2015, PlayStation 2 has been ranked as the best selling console of all time.
2015: PlayStation is the Best-Selling Home Console Brand Worldwide
As of 2015, PlayStation is the best-selling home console brand worldwide.
2015: PlayStation Gear Launch
In 2015, Sony launched PlayStation Gear, an online merchandise and apparel store.
March 31, 2016: PlayStation 2 Online Service Shutdown
On March 31, 2016, the PlayStation 2's online service was shut down.
September 7, 2016: Unveiling of PlayStation 4 Slim
On September 7, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim was unveiled, featuring a streamlined form factor and a new casing design.
September 15, 2016: Release of PlayStation 4 Slim
On September 15, 2016, the PS4 Slim was released with a 500 GB model at the same price point as the original PS4 model.
October 2016: PlayStation VR Release
In October 2016, Sony released the PlayStation VR, a virtual reality device featuring a 5.7-inch 1920x1080 resolution OLED display, 120 Hz refresh rate, low latency, 3D audio technology and the capability of producing two sets of images.
2016: PlayStation sponsors Fiesta Bowl
In 2016, PlayStation became a sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl.
December 3, 2018: PlayStation Classic Launch
On December 3, 2018, the 24th anniversary of the original console, Sony launched the PlayStation Classic, a miniature version of the 1994 PlayStation console, preloaded with 20 games and two original-style controllers.
March 2019: Vita Discontinuation
In March 2019, Sony discontinued the Vita. SIE president Jim Ryan explained that the company had moved away from portable consoles.
March 31, 2019: New Generation Hardware in Development
On March 31, 2019, Sony's financial report confirmed the development of new, next-generation hardware, with a release planned no earlier than April 2020.
April 2019: First News of the PS5
In April 2019, Mark Cerny provided the first news about the PlayStation 5 (PS5) in an interview with Wired, indicating Sony's intention to release its next-generation console worldwide by the end of 2020.
October 2019: PlayStation 5 Specifications Released
In October 2019, the specifications for the PlayStation 5 were released. The console features an 8-core, 16-thread CPU based on AMD's Zen 2 microarchitecture, a custom AMD Navi family GPU with ray-tracing support, and a custom SSD storage. The integrated Blu-ray drive supports 100 GB Blu-ray discs and Ultra HD Blu-ray.
December 2019: PlayStation Network User Count
As of December 2019, the PlayStation Network had over 103 million active users monthly.
April 2020: Next Generation Hardware
Sony's financial report indicated that the new generation hardware in development would ship no earlier than April 2020.
June 1, 2020: PlayStation Blog Europe Merged
On June 1, 2020, PlayStation Blog Europe was merged into the main PlayStation Blog.
July 2020: PlayStation Indies Program Introduction
In July 2020, as Sony prepared to transition from the PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, they introduced a new PlayStation Indies program led by Shuhei Yoshida to spotlight new and upcoming indie titles.
November 12, 2020: PlayStation 5 Worldwide Release
On November 12, 2020, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) was released worldwide, marking the beginning of the ninth generation of video game consoles alongside the Xbox Series X and Series S.
2020: Release of PlayStation 5
In 2020, the PlayStation 5 was released as the newest console in the PlayStation line.
June 2022: PlayStation Now Merged into PlayStation Plus
In June 2022, PlayStation Now was merged into PlayStation Plus and is no longer available as a standalone subscription.
2022: PlayStation sponsors Fiesta Bowl
In 2022, PlayStation was a sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl.
2022: Spartacus Subscription Service Planned Release
In 2022, it was reported that Sony was working to release a multi-tiered subscription service, code-named Spartacus, in the second quarter of the year, to compete with the Xbox Game Pass. This service would incorporate PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now, and additional features such as access to PlayStation 1, 2, and 3 games.
August 23, 2023: PlayStation Portal Unveiled
On August 23, 2023, Sony officially unveiled Project Q as the PlayStation Portal, a new portable system that can stream PS5 games from a home console.
October 2023: Slimmer PS5 Design Release
In October 2023, Sony released a revised, slimmer design for the PS5. This new model includes 1 TB of internal storage and replaces one USB-A port with a USB-C port. The base version of the slimmer PS5 also removes the internal optical disc drive, which can be replaced by an external drive.
November 15, 2023: PlayStation Portal Release
On November 15, 2023, the PlayStation Portal was released for $199.99. It's a new portable system that can stream PS5 games from a home console.
November 2024: PlayStation 5 Pro Release
In November 2024, the PlayStation 5 Pro was released. It features a GPU that is about 45% faster than the base PS5 model, the inclusion of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) image upscaling technology, and an increase of internal storage to 2 TB. At launch, about 50 games are ready to take advantage of these improved graphical performances.
October 2025: Next PlayStation Console in Early Development
In October 2025, Cerny announced that the next PlayStation console was in early development and likely to be released in "a few years time". Sony is collaborating with AMD to use its new Radience Cores in the GPU to better support real-time ray tracing and upscaling so as to offload these from other components.
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