The PlayStation 2 launched in 2000 as a games console that could also play DVDs and original PlayStation discs. Its story spans three regional launch dates, a move into online gaming, slimmer hardware revisions and a long run of dated sales milestones. Here are 20 facts about the console, with Sony’s figures and historical claims kept in their original context.
Launch and early milestones
1. Japan got the PS2 first
Sony Computer Entertainment lists March 4, 2000, as the Japanese launch date. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
2. North America followed in October
The North American launch date was October 26, 2000. (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2003)
3. Europe/PAL followed in November
Sony lists November 24, 2000, as the Europe/PAL launch date. (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2003)
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- The Playstation 2 system lets you play original PS1 games as well as the huge selection of PS2 games
- Includes: Playstation 2 System, 1 Dual Shock 2 Controller, AC Cable, AV Cable
- Color: Black
- PlayStation2 is equipped with a 128-bit Emotion Engine processor that enables lightning-fast gameplay and impressive graphics power
4. DVD playback was part of the pitch
The PS2 could play DVDs as well as games. Sony later described it as the first home computer entertainment system to integrate DVD technology; that is Sony’s own historical characterization. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history; Sony Computer Entertainment, February 14, 2011)
5. It played original PlayStation discs
Sony’s official history says the PS2 supported PlayStation software discs, giving owners a way to keep playing compatible games from the previous console generation. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
6. Its CPU had a memorable name
Sony called the PS2’s CPU the Emotion Engine. The name captured the era’s ambitious marketing language around console hardware. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
Rank #2
- DualShock Controller
- DVD playback
- Digital surround sound
- 2 memory card slots
7. The Emotion Engine was made up of eight units
Sony’s retrospective says the Emotion Engine consisted of eight separate units, each with a specific function. The official history does not, in the cited summary, enumerate those functions. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
Scale and the software library
8. Sony reported 60.03 million shipments by September 2003
As of September 6, 2003, Sony Computer Entertainment reported 60.03 million worldwide shipments. This is a dated shipment figure, not the later 2011 sell-in milestone. (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2003)
9–11. North America led Sony’s regional breakdown
In the same September 6, 2003 report, Sony broke down shipments as follows:
Rank #3
- Power Cords & adapters included
- DualShock Controller
- DVD playback
- Digital surround sound
| Region | Reported shipments as of September 6, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Japan, including Asia | 14.17 million |
| North America | 26.42 million |
| Europe/PAL | 19.44 million |
The categories and date are Sony’s; the regional values add up to the reported worldwide total. (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2003)
12. Sony counted more than 10,828 software titles
In a February 2011 announcement, Sony said the PS2 had more than 10,828 software titles. That is the company’s reported catalog count, not a count of games available in every region. (Sony Computer Entertainment, February 14, 2011)
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match13. Sony’s 2011 hardware milestone was sell-in
Sony reported 150 million cumulative worldwide hardware units as of January 31, 2011, and explicitly identified that number as sell-in. It should not be silently treated as the same measure as the 2003 shipment figure or as a count of units in consumers’ homes. (Sony Computer Entertainment, February 14, 2011)
Rank #4
- PS2 SLIM Console in Black
- Power Adapter
- A/V Composite Cables for connecting to your TV
- 2 New Wireless Aftermarket Controllers
- 2 New Controller Receiver Dongles
14. A software-sales figure carries a date mismatch
The same 2011 release reports more than 1.52 billion PS2 software units sold worldwide, but its footnote says “As of the end of Dec, 2011”—a date later than the announcement itself. Because those dates conflict, the figure is best read with the footnote intact rather than as a clean February 2011 total. (Sony Computer Entertainment, February 14, 2011)
Online play and new ways to play
15. Online gaming arrived through an add-on
Sony dates online gaming on PS2 to 2001, when players could use a Network Adaptor add-on. The system’s online capabilities therefore depended on compatible hardware and games; this history does not mean the original online services are generally available today. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
16. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was a PlayStation online first, according to Sony
Sony calls Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 the first PlayStation game featuring online multiplayer. This is Sony’s platform-history claim. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
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- Original PS2 Console in Black
- Power Cable
- A/V Composite Cables for connecting to your TV
- 2 New Wireless Aftermarket Controllers
- 2 New Controller Receiver Dongles
17. Capcom vs. SNK 2 crossed console lines
Sony identifies Capcom vs. SNK 2 as the first online-enabled title to support cross-console play. The distinction matters: it describes a particular online feature, not online play across all PS2 games. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
18. SOCOM brought voice chat into the mix
Sony says SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs used a USB headset for voice chat, which it describes as a PlayStation first. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
19. EyeToy made the player part of the game
Sony describes the EyeToy USB Camera as enabling live image projection and hand-and-body tracking. The company lists its release year as 2003, while noting that the year differed by region. Sony’s 2010 anniversary post later characterized EyeToy as a new entertainment format built around motion technology. (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2011; PlayStation.Blog, October 26, 2010)
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20. The PS2 kept changing—and one game lasted until 2016
Sony says the slimmer, lighter PS2 arrived in late 2004 with a rear Ethernet port. Its history also notes that a 2007 Super Slim revision shed another 300 grams, though the cited summary does not specify the comparison model. Sony lists white, red, silver, metallic blue and pink among PS2 colour variants, and dates the pink version to 2006. The same official history says the final official PS2 server, for Final Fantasy XI, remained active until 2016. Together, these details show a platform that evolved physically and kept a foothold in online play long after launch. (Sony Interactive Entertainment history)
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The PS2’s appeal rested on several things working together: it could play DVDs, supported original PlayStation discs, accumulated a large software library and later offered online gaming through an add-on. The hardware also lasted through multiple revisions and regional colour variants. Sony’s own sales milestones make the scale visible, provided their dates and measures stay attached: the 2003 report gives shipments, while the 2011 announcement labels its 150 million figure sell-in.
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