In a few days, PlayStation will officially celebrate its 30th anniversary. It is indeed the December 3, 1994 that the Japanese firm launched its very first console in Japan. To celebrate this event, Sony has just put together a nostalgia-filled timeline on its website. And good news, unlike the collection « 30th Anniversary » of the PS5, this timeline is accessible to everyone.
(Re)experience 30 years of PlayStation
It is therefore the December 3, 1994 that the story begins with the release of la PlayStation. A legendary console which will launch the phenomenon which will not stop, even 30 years later. The first PlayStation will offer cult games, numerous accessories, several controllers with the launch of the first DualShock, and above all, a legendary intro that everyone knows. In total, there are no less than 102 million PS1s which will be sold around the world.
The 4 mars 2000It is la PlayStation 2 who arrives. And its output will be even more impactful than that of the PlayStation. With the PS2, Sony reached the roof of the world. Historic launch, out of stock, cult games, the PS2 has it all. It offers a very attractive price and becomes the cheapest DVD player on the market. The console will sell 160 million copies worldwide, thus becoming the best-selling video game console in history.
The 11 December 2004Sony decides to make the PlayStation brand nomadic. With la PSPyou can play your favorite games wherever you go. A daring bet for the Japanese firm which dares to attack Nintendo which remains the great leader in the portable console market dominated by the Game Boy. However, the PSP will manage to sell more than 80 million copies and will be a great success.
From the November 11, 2006It is la PlayStation 3 which will aim to write a new page in PlayStation history. Like the PS2, this new machine offers great innovation with the Blu-Ray player. Alas, the high price of €600 will be a hindrance for many consumers and the success of the console will not be as significant as that of the PS2. Especially since at this time, Microsoft and its Xbox 360 managed to attract many players. You will have to wait middle of the generation with the release of PS3 Slim and big games with in particular the new licenses to reverse the trend allowing the sale more than 87 million consoles.
The December 17, 2011the PSP will have the right to its new version with PS VITA. A great console and a technical feat on paper. With a dual touch screen, a sublime OLED screen, great power, the possibility of winning trophies, connecting to the PlayStation Network, going on the Internet, the PS VITA had it allespecially at a fairly affordable price. Alas, Sony will not support console which will have a fairly weak catalog in Europe and America. The console will not be a success and will mark PlayStation's first real failure with estimated sales between 10 and 15 million units to date.
The November 15, 2013, the PS4 tumbles. After the chaotic launch of the PS3, Sony and PlayStation change strategy with a new team led by Andrew House and Shawn Layden. An important generation that will mark the video game industry and the history of the PlayStation brand. It is with the PS4 that Sony will approach its slogan « 4 The Players ». Reasonable price, incredible catalog, quality of services, historic conferences, Sony achieves almost flawless and these are 117 million consoles that will be sold across the world. An important victory in a generation where gamers have started to build their digital game backlog. A very important detail for the future.
It is with the PS4 that Sony will celebrate the 20 years of the brand with a collector's console, and with this generation that the first “Pro” console model will be launched with the PS4 Pro Who cost the price of a normal PS4 at the time.
The October 13, 2016Sony decides to follow the trend and offers its first virtual reality experience with le PlayStation VR. Here again, it is a success. In a few months, PSVR becomes the first VR headset on the marketin particular thanks to its price well below other competing headsets. A convincing first experience allows you to discover some pretty incredible games and experiences on PS4.
The November 12, 2020it is the launch of la PlayStation 5the latest console from PlayStation which is based on the same bases as the PS4. In just four years, with two years of pandemic and out of stock, the PS5 is already peaking at more than 65 million copies sold. Although Sony's strategy is no longer as designed for gamers as on PS4, the ship seems to be holding up. Recently, it is the PS5 Pro which has arrived, the most powerful console in the world, but also the most expensive in the world with a price of €799 in digital version. Despite this, the first numbers seem positive and above those of the PS4 Pro at the time.
With the PS5 (and the PS5 Pro), Sony celebrates its 30th anniversary with a 30th Anniversary collection of great beauty which, unfortunately, did not really benefit fans from the very beginning.
Finally, the February 22, 2023Sony released le PlayStation VR2the latest VR headset, with pretty impressive features and performance. Alas, sold again at a high price. And, as with the PS VITA ten years earlier, it seems that Sony doesn't really believe in the project with an already abandoned headset that suffers from a terrible lack of communication with a very weak catalog.
Despite a few difficult years, especially in recent months, PlayStation's results are very positiveboth for Sony and the video game industry. In 30 years, very big names, big studios and incredible cult licenses have seen the light of day at PlayStation.
Recently, we learned of the departure of Shuhei Yoshida, the founder of Sony Computer Entertainment (now Sony Interactive Entertainment). A founding member of PlayStation who was part of the project from its beginnings, well before the launch of the console. A new page is turning, but others are preparing to be written.
Head over to the official PlayStation website now to discover even more with this retrospective.
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