When consoles started making their way into American homes around the country, it meant that people no longer had to travel to arcades just to indulge in a quick game of Space Invaders or Donkey Kong. While it was still a far cry from how you can play slots on your phone or enjoy the high-definition console experience of Call of Duty Mobile, it marked a revolution in gaming that changed everything.
Although we started with lesser-known consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey and the TV Tennis Electrotennis and experienced the video game crash of 1983, the industry came back in full force with the release of the Atari, NES, and Sega systems. It wasn’t until 1994 that we witnessed the birth of the first of the three iconic gaming consoles we use today: the PlayStation. It has effectively woven its way through pop culture in ways that extend far beyond gaming.
The PlayStation Debut
Let’s not forget that the PlayStation is a Sony-made console and that before the days of the PlayStation, Sony wasn’t really involved in the video game industry. The company was a major consumer electronics brand, producing radios, TVs, and audio equipment, and was involved in early computer technology. In 1979, Sony introduced the Walkman, a portable cassette player that sparked on-the-go music culture. The Walkman certainly foreshadowed and embodied the company’s trailblazing spirit, which would later define the approach with the PlayStation.
Sony already had ties with Nintendo, as it supplied components for Nintendo consoles, like the sound chip for the Super Famicom. But after Ken Kutaragi (the father of the PlayStation) began toying with the idea of a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM, the conflict between the two companies ensued, all about revenue and competition. After the two companies had fallen out, Sony was determined to launch its new console and establish an inventive and influential position in the video game market.
Released in 1994, the first PlayStation employed the famed CD-ROM drive that allowed developers to offer more robust games. The GPU could render 3D graphics and upped what consoles could previously provide in terms of texture and visual appeal. It also came with the initial blueprint for future innovations in the PlayStation controller.
PlayStation 2: The Most-Selling Console of All-Time
Six years later, Sony released the original PlayStation’s successor—the PlayStation 2. Little did anyone know that this iteration would be statistically considered the best-selling console ever, at over 155 million sold as of 2012. As it was developed in an era when technology was advancing at light speed, just about everything was a huge leap ahead of its predecessor. With improved audio fidelity and the ability to hold more voice clips, games were no longer limited in voice acting.
Games were bigger, better, and more intricate, with USB ports to attach peripherals, like microphones for Rock Band and other quirky accessories. What’s more, some games supported online play, with the first being Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. The PlayStation 2 also pioneered the concept of having the console be more than just a gaming device by incorporating a DVD player.
PlayStation 3: Trials and Tribulations
With all that success, it only seemed fitting that the next PlayStation iteration would exceed those expectations. It was quite a pioneer on paper—the PlayStation 3 was the first to introduce Blu-ray Disc technology, the first to be controllable from a handheld console (PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Portable), and the first to use social gaming services. Sony even released two other console versions, a Slim model (in 2009) and a Super Slim variation (much later in 2012). But, overall, the console flopped. It only sold around 87.4 million during its entire existence, 15 million units fewer than the original PlayStation.
Its major drawback was its price. People were turned off by the $600 price tag, and it didn’t seem like the features justified the switch from the PS2. With promises of hundreds of PS3 games and incredible gameplay trailers to support them, people had their expectations raised—but it was all smoke and mirrors in the end. With no backwards compatibility either, the console felt utterly useless and quickly became obsolete in late 2013.
PlayStation 4: The Return to Greatness
The PlayStation 4 was comeback season for Sony. The company cut its losses with the PS3 and realized it had to return better than ever. They overhauled the PS4’s CPU, GPU, and RAM, providing incredibly smooth and fluid gameplay. Characters and environments were now extremely detailed and realistic, and the overall visual fidelity was outstanding. The brand invested heavily in exclusive franchises and titles, which proved fruitful even today, and the gaming experience as a whole was reinvigorated. And all of that at a competitive price that didn’t scare gamers away like the last launch did. It was seen as an accessible console with the latest and the greatest without breaking the bank.
The PS4 has had remarkable longevity, as it remains a staple console even following the release of the PS5.
PlayStation 5: A Story of Supply and Demand
Perhaps the release was planned to combat the isolation and boredom of quarantine during the pandemic, or maybe they wanted to stay true to their release date—but for whatever reason, Sony went ahead with the release of the PlayStation 5 in November 2020. The timing was challenging, as logistical disruptions plagued the company, putting them in a tug of war with supply and demand. Even if people wanted to upgrade to this new console, chances are they couldn’t get their hands on one. It wasn’t until 2022–2023 that it was widely available to the public. Ray tracing, 4K resolution, the Tempest 3D AudioTech, and the DualSense controller with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback fully immersed people into a rich and vivid experience that set a new standard.
