The PlayStation is a video gaming franchise that has released a total of four stationary video game consoles. PlayStation has released a large-scale media center, an online gaming service, a whole line of game controllers, two handheld consoles and a gaming phone, along with a number of entertainment magazines PlayStation is owned by Sony interactive entertainment, a division of Sony.
Sony started back in 1946 just after World War II and was known as “Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo” they became known as “Sony” in 1958. Sony first entered the gaming scene in 1988. At that time, they partnered with Nintendo to create a CD ROM drive for the upcoming Super Famicom that would be known as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System or SNES. They went as far as making prototypes and they even released a few units at an electronics show in 1991. However, the next day, Sony and Nintendo split up and Nintendo took its partnership to Phillips.
Furious at this development, the president of Sony at that time pushed for the creation of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. By 1994, the prototypes for the first console were already attracting a lot of gaming companies like Bandai Namco and EA because of the use of 3D capable hardware and cheap CD ROMs. The first play station console was released at the end of the year in December of 1994. It was a huge success and since then, Sony every PlayStation console has dominated the market.
Today, the PlayStation is one of the biggest names in gaming, alongside its rivals, Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo. Regardless of the competition, PlayStation always finds a way to bring some5new to the table and impress their fans. In this article, I will give you an idea of the History of the PlayStation and its Evolution.
PlayStation
This is the original PlayStation console that was released on December 3, 1994. After its release, it became the first video game to sell more than 100 million units. It was a 5th generation console and was released around the same time with Sega’s Saturn and the Nintendo 64. It was among the first consoles that transitioned the gaming scene from 2D to 3D. The use if CD ROMs on the PlayStation allowed some perks like the use of high-quality in-game videos where Nintendo was struggling with its space-limited cartridges.
The PlayStation featured some of the most iconic games of its time including Resident Evil, Tekken, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, Castlevania and a lot of other games that still stand firm up till now. In 1997, Sony released the first Dualshock controller with thumbsticks and force-feedback technology.
Sony started its now-famous tradition of releasing smaller versions of its consoles with the PS One on July 7, 2000. The PS One featured a smaller design, redesigned disc system, and a better Graphical Interface.
PlayStation 2
The next console that Sony released was the PlayStation 2 on the 4th of March, 2000. It was a 6th generation console that went up against Sega’s Dreamcast, Nintendo’s GameCube and the latest addition to gaming consoles; the Xbox. The PS2 had the rare feature of backward compatibility with PlayStation games; this set it in front of most of its competitors.
The PS2 was a beast in its time and has proceeded to become the bestselling console ever, with more than 155 million units being sold over 12 years. Its library put all its competition to shame; having over 2,000 games. Its most iconic games included more games in the Final Fantasy series, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear, Grand Theft Auto, God of War and a lot of others.
Again, Sony released a smaller version of the PS2 known as the PlayStation 2 Slimline or the PS2 slim in September 2004. It had a better, more streamlined design; making less noise and featuring an inbuilt Ethernet port.
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 shipped out in November 11, 2006, in Japan and was released a week later in North America. A 7th generation console, the PS3 competed with the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. One of the biggest highlights of the PS3 was the introduction of the PlayStation Network. An online gaming service that allowed users to download games and access Video sites like Netflix and YouTube. The PlayStation Network (PSN) allowed users to access betas of games and get discounts with subscriptions.
The PS3 introduced Sony’s Dualshock 3 and was the first wireless controller that Sony released. The Dualshock 3 featured motion sensor technology like Nintendo’s Wii. In 2010, Sony released the PS move motion controller, similar to the Wiimote.
The PS3 was a success, selling over 80 million copies worldwide. Its Notable games were; The Last of Us, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption, God of war 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4.
Sony released two smaller versions of the PS3; the PlayStation 3 slim and the PlayStation 3 superslim. Each model featured a simpler more eloquent design with a few upgrades to the hardware. The PS3 slim released in 2009 and the Superslim was out in 2012.
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 came out on November 15, 2013. As an 8th generation console, it competed with the Xbox One and Nintendo’s Wii U. The PS4 marks the first time that Sony used an x86 CPU, the same architecture that gaming Computers use. The PS4 introduced the ability to upload and share gameplay to the PlayStation Network and with friends. Sony added a share button to the Dualshock 4 along with a full redesign of the controller and new headset and mic ports.
The PlayStation 4 also introduced the PSVR, a virtual reality console that played a select number of PS4 titles. It consists of a headset with a screen that operates at 120Hz and eliminates blur to produce smooth images.
The PS4 was the first console to sell one million units on its first day making it the fastest-selling console in a 24-hour period.
Sony released two smaller versions of the PS4 titled the PlayStation 4 slim and the PlayStation 4 Pro. However, the PS4 Pro was not like the other upgraded versions of PlayStation consoles. Its hardware was notably improved. The PS4 Pro could support 4K gaming facilities. Notable games on the PS4 are; Infamous: second son, Until Dawn, Marvel’s Spiderman, and God of war 4 among others.
PlayStation consoles have come a long way throughout the years. 2020 expects the release of the PS5 the next step for PlayStation and the first official 9th generation console. With this in mind, we look forward to the future of the PlayStation.