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The PlayStation 3 launched in stages between November 2006 and March 2007. Its history is the story of Sony betting on two ambitious technologies—Cell processing and Blu-ray—then gradually building a broader games and online platform around them. It also includes a major 2009 hardware redesign and the 2011 PlayStation Network outage.
What was Sony trying to build?
When Sony announced the PS3 in May 2005, it framed the console as the successor to the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2, with backward compatibility, a new Cell processor, and support for Blu-ray discs. These were announced plans, not guarantees that every retail model would play every PS1 or PS2 game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed) | $184.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 320 GB Charcoal Black Console (Renewed) | $216.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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PlayStation 3 Slim Console 120GB (Old Model) (Renewed) | $160.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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PlayStation 3 500 GB Super Slim System (Renewed) | $228.22 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Sony PlayStation 3 - 80GB System (Renewed) | $217.22 | Buy on Amazon |
The hardware joined Cell and RSX processors with a hard drive, network connectivity, high-definition display support, and a Blu-ray drive. Sony pitched Blu-ray as part of a living-room entertainment system: its March 2006 announcement cited dual-layer discs with 50 GB capacity, and the company promoted the format for both games and films. That meant the PS3 could serve as an HD movie player as well as a game console.
When did the PS3 launch, and what did it cost?
Sony initially planned an early-November 2006 launch in Japan, North America, and Europe. In May 2006 it set November 17 as the North American date and announced US launch prices of $499 for the 20 GB model and $599 for the 60 GB model. Those were US launch prices, not worldwide prices or a guide to today’s secondhand market.
#1 Best Overall
- Internet Ready With Built-in Wi-Fi with a Cell Broadband Engine Advanced Microprocessor
- When starting up the system for the first time, hold the power button until a "screen display" message shows up on screen. Select the desired output, and the system will startup normally.
- 160GB system
- Blu-ray player to give you pristine picture quality
- The best high-definition viewing experience available
The actual rollout was staggered. Sony’s 2007 annual report says a delay involving a key component affected production and records the following release dates:
| Market | PS3 release date |
|---|---|
| Japan | November 11, 2006 |
| North America | November 17, 2006 |
| Europe | March 23, 2007 |
Sony reported 5.5 million units shipped worldwide during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. That is a company-reported shipment figure, not a count of consoles sold directly to players.
Rank #2
- New slimmer, lighter PS3 system, Wireless controller
- 320GB HDD for storing games, music, videos, and photos
- Streams thousands of movies and TV shows instantly from Netflix
- Built-in Blu-ray player with 3D capabilities. HDMI output for 1080p resolution.
How did the game library and media role develop?
The PS3’s early value proposition depended on more than its technical specifications: it needed games that made the system worthwhile. Sony’s 2008 retrospective highlighted Resistance: Fall of Man, Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots, and LittleBigPlanet among the titles that helped define the platform. The growing catalog gave the console an identity as a games system, while Blu-ray playback kept its movie role in view.
In its 2009 Slim announcement, Sony said the PS3 had more than 1,000 packaged titles and 1,400 downloadable games. Those are Sony’s dated catalog figures, not a current count or an independent measurement.
Rank #3
- HDMI + Bravia Sync functionality that provides both 1080p output resolution.
- A new 33% slimmer, 36% lighter PlayStation 3 entertainment system that is also more energy efficient.
- Includes a Dualshock 3 wireless controller and a built-in 120GB HDD for storing games, music, videos, and photos.
- Built-in Wi-Fi for connectivity anywhere and multiple media format compatibility.
- Free membership and access to all the events, as well as game, movie, TV and other media content available on the PlayStation Network (PSN).
How did PlayStation Network change the console?
Sony says PlayStation Network (PSN) launched alongside the PS3 in November 2006. Its early services included online play and downloadable content; Sony’s 2007 annual report also described messaging, video chat, online gaming, additional game titles, and downloads of earlier PlayStation games. The PlayStation Store became a route to digital games and other content, and Sony introduced the subscription service PlayStation Plus in June 2010.
In April 2011, Sony took PSN offline after an intrusion. Its subsequent announcements described security changes and a phased restoration rather than one worldwide restart. Sony announced full service restoration in many regions for June 2, 2011, while its Japan announcement set July 6. The company also offered a “Welcome Back” package. These statements document Sony’s response and service-restoration timeline; they are not a complete independent account of the incident.
Rank #4
- Your Favorite Franchises Live Here: Dig into a huge catalog of exclusive games, including generation defining titles like The Last of Us and entries in popular franchises like LittleBigPlanet, God of War, Gran Turismo, and UNCHARTED.
- High-Definition Blu-ray player for the best movie experience. Plays DVDs and CDs
- 500GB HDD for storing games, music, videos, and photos
- Internet ready with built-in Wi-Fi
- Blu-ray player
What changed with the 2009 PS3 Slim?
In August 2009, Sony announced the CECH-2000A Slim, a substantially smaller and lighter revision. Compared with the 80 GB configuration Sony cited as the previous model, it included a 120 GB hard drive. Sony announced launch prices of $299 in North America and €299 in Europe. The Slim retained the core features Sony emphasized, including Blu-ray games and films and network services.
The redesign reset the console’s physical form and price positioning without abandoning its dual identity as a games machine and living-room media device.
Best Value
- Built-in Wi-Fi access for easy connection to gaming services and the Internet
- Built-in Blu-ray player to give you the best high-definition viewing experience and pristine picture quality
- 80 GB of hard disk storage for all your games, music, videos, and photos
- This product is NOT backwards compatible
How long did the PS3 remain active?
Sony’s later milestones show a long commercial and software life. Sony said the PS3 had reached 70 million cumulative worldwide units as of November 4, 2012, explicitly describing the figure as sell-in. In 2013, Sony announced 80 million worldwide units and reported 4,332 PS3 software titles. It highlighted releases including The Last of Us and Journey. These are dated company figures, not a current catalog total or independently audited sales estimates.
In a May 30, 2017 report, TIME said production had ended in Japan and described the last officially reckoned worldwide total as “just under 84 million.” That is secondary reporting, not a definitive Sony declaration of final lifetime sales.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
