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The debut
PlayStation was released in Japan in December 1994 by Sony Entertainment. It was released almost a full year later in America in September 1995. The console was simply called the PlayStation One, or the PS1. -
The next Generation
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) was released in 2000. 159 million units were sold total, which makes it the most sold video game console to date. This device was able to read and play PS1 games still and was able to read DVDs, allowing movies to be watched on it. -
Breaking Records
Thanks to popular titles such as Twisted Medal, Ridge Racer, and Resident Evil the PS1 quickly became a very popular console. In 2005, the PS1 was the first gaming console to ship 100 million units. -
The PS3
In 2006 the PS3 was released. This was the first version that allowed for online play. It also was the first to have an internal hard drive, which allowed games to be downloaded. The PS3 did not enjoy the same success as its predecessors due to increased competition from Xbox and the Nintendo Wii. -
The PlayStation 4
The PS4 was released in 2013 and was designed around providing the best online gaming experience possible. Users are now also able to share gameplay clips with the new share button on the controller. Sony wanted this console to have a similar experience to gaming on a PC -
The newest member
In 2020 the highly anticipated PS5 was released. This is the first generation which offers a digital only version. The major upgrades for this PlayStation are significantly better speed and graphics. The standard edition still supports DVDs and games from prior generations can still be played on this device. -
References
Ray, M. (2023, August 9). PlayStation. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/PlayStation S., A. (2023, August 6). Sony PlayStation Series: Everything you need to know. History. https://history-computer.com/sony-playstation-guide/