PlayStation is a video game brand owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It includes home consoles, handheld consoles, online services, controllers, accessories, first-party studios and related entertainment projects.
The original PlayStation launched in Japan on 3 December 1994, then in North America and Europe in September 1995. The brand became one of the defining console platforms of the late 1990s and has continued through later generations including PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Origins
Sony Computer Entertainment was established in 1993 as a joint venture between Sony Corporation and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The first PlayStation launched in Japan in December 1994.
The console used CD-ROMs rather than cartridges, which gave developers more storage and helped shape the look and sound of late 1990s console games. PlayStation's history page states that the original console sold more than 102 million units worldwide between 1994 and 2006.
Home Consoles
The main PlayStation home consoles are:
- PlayStation: the original 32-bit console, launched in Japan in 1994.
- PlayStation 2: launched in 2000 and became Sony's best-selling console.
- PlayStation 3: introduced Blu-ray support and expanded online services.
- PlayStation 4: focused on social sharing, digital services and a large software library.
- PlayStation 5: launched in 2020 with solid-state storage, a new controller and stronger support for high-resolution games.
The consoles differ in hardware, media format, controller design and online features, but they share the same consumer brand.
Handheld and Related Hardware
Sony also released the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita. Both were handheld systems with their own games and multimedia features. The PlayStation Portal, released later, is a remote-play device rather than a standalone handheld console.
Other PlayStation hardware includes PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, DualShock and DualSense controllers, cameras, headsets and other accessories.
Services
PlayStation Network is the online account and network service used for multiplayer, digital purchases, messaging and account features. PlayStation Store is the digital storefront.
PlayStation Plus is Sony's subscription service. It now covers online multiplayer for many paid games and offers game catalogues, discounts and cloud features depending on tier and region. The older PlayStation Now cloud gaming service was folded into the revised PlayStation Plus structure in 2022.
Games and Studios
PlayStation is associated with first-party and third-party games. Sony-owned or Sony-published franchises include Gran Turismo, God of War, Uncharted, The Last of Us, Horizon, Ratchet & Clank and Ghost of Tsushima.
Third-party games have also been central to the brand, including Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, Grand Theft Auto, FIFA, Call of Duty and many independent titles.
Cultural Impact
PlayStation helped move console gaming towards 3D graphics, optical discs, cinematic presentation and adult-oriented marketing. Later generations expanded online multiplayer, digital stores, trophies, streaming, subscriptions and virtual reality.
The brand is also part of wider media through PlayStation Productions and adaptations of PlayStation properties for television and film.
See Also
References
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