Key Takeaways
- PS2 achieves record with 160M units sold, surpassing Nintendo consoles.
- Innovative DVD player inclusion justified $299 price, making it a bargain.
- Diverse launch lineup of 29 titles included sports, fighting, shooters, and more.
As someone who was fortunate enough to have been a part of the gaming revolution that the PlayStation 2 brought about nearly three decades ago, I can confidently say that it stands as the undisputed king of consoles for me. The experiences I had with that magical black box were nothing short of extraordinary, and its impact on the gaming industry is still felt today.
Back in 2000, when the PlayStation 2 made its debut, many of us were lucky enough to witness an extraordinary era of gaming. We were spoiled with immersive cinematic experiences, captivating role-playing games, and a plethora of other titles. For countless gamers, it was the pinnacle of console gaming, and today, the PS2 can proudly boast as the most popular console in history when it comes to units sold.
The PlayStation website from Sony has been revised to note that an astounding 160 million units of the PlayStation 2 have been sold globally since it was first released, which was 24 years back.
The PS2’s Sales Achievement Puts It Ahead of Two Nintendo Consoles
Previously, the Nintendo Switch held the number one position among gaming consoles, having shipped over 146 million units worldwide. But when considering portable devices as well (since they function like consoles), then the second highest seller would be the Nintendo DS, with approximately 154.02 million units sold, according to Niko Partners’ Director of Research and Insight, Daniel Ahmad.
Initially launched in Japan on March 4, 2000, and subsequently in the US on October 26, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) boasted an integrated DVD player as a key feature. This addition, though costly at the time, was ingeniously included by Sony, as tech experts considered its $299 price tag a “bargain” considering it offered both a gaming console and a separate DVD player in one package. In contrast, the typical DVD player cost around $600, making the PS2’s price appear affordable.
When it came to games, the PlayStation 2 boasted an eclectic collection at its debut, with 29 titles spanning genres such as sports, fighting, shooting, and more. Keen to discover which games were on offer when the console first hit shelves? Take a look at the list provided by our sister site, Game Rant. They also feature a piece on the PS2’s launch games that you might find interesting to read.
- Armored Core 2
- DOA2: Hardcore
- Dynasty Warriors 2
- ESPN International Track and Field
- ESPN X-Games Snowboarding
- Eternal Ring
- Evergrace
- FantaVision
- Gun Griffon Blaze
- Kessen
- Madden NFL 2001
- Midnight Club
- Moto GP
- NHL 2001
- Orphen
- Q-Ball Billiards Master
- Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
- Ridge Racer V
- Silent Scope
- Smuggler’s Run
- SSX
- Street Fighter EX3
- Summoner
- Swing Away
- Tekken Tag Tournament
- TimeSplitters
- Unreal Tournament
- Wild Wild Racing
- X-Squad
Indeed, given that the Nintendo Switch continues to be popular and sell well at present, it’s possible that Nintendo could potentially regain the top spot from Sony in the marketplace in the coming years. This is because the Switch might continue to be available for sale, even after a newer model is introduced.
By contrast, by November 2024, the PS5 had achieved sales of approximately 65.5 million units, aligning it with its predecessors from the last generation, which had sold around 67.7 million consoles during the same phase of their life cycle.
Speaking as one who owned a PlayStation 2 from its debut, I find myself strongly inclined to believe it’s one of the greatest gaming consoles ever made, if not the absolute best. Some might argue for the SNES instead, and undeniably, there are many opinions on this matter among gamers.
Congrats, Sony! Here’s to hitting more console milestones in the future!
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2024-11-27 16:43