Since its launch almost 30 years ago, the PlayStation® has captivated gamers all across the world. Many fans have owned every generation of the video game console up to the latest, the PlayStation®5, and it has become a household name even among non-gamers. How did it grow to become such a ubiquitous part of our lives? To mark our collection of T-shirts celebrating everything PlayStation®, we decided to look back on the history of this iconic gaming console.
In 1994, Sony presented the world with the PlayStation®, a video game console representing the company’s vision to “create a new entertainment domain that could rival music and film and expand it on a global scale.” A quarter of a century later in 2019, over 450 million PlayStation® consoles had been sold around the world—a figure that led Guinness World Records to certify it as the “best-selling video game home console brand ever.” How did Sony achieve its ambitious vision?
Let’s go back to a time before the PlayStation® was born. The world was just starting to see the potential of 3D computer graphics—a medium that could simulate, on a flat surface, three-dimensional images moving around in three-dimensional environments—but there were no gaming consoles capable of producing such effects in real time. After all, video games were considered children’s toys, and even a workstation capable of producing 3D computer graphics would set someone back by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What was amazing about the PlayStation® was that it was a computer as powerful as one of these workstations—but it was designed exclusively for play (a “play-station,” if you will). Not only that, this high-spec machine that could produce 3D objects moving around smoothly in 3D environments—an unprecedented feat for a gaming console at the time—retailed for just under US$300. From almost out of nowhere, the PlayStation® took the world by storm—but a sense of wonder wasn’t the only thing it offered its users. It also provided a revolutionary game controller.
Gone was the typically flat, rectangular controller, replaced by a more three-dimensional shape with a grip on each end that made the user instinctively want to grab them. The controller also bucked button-naming conventions, assigning more universally recognizable symbols to each button rather than letters of the alphabet like past gaming consoles. By offering unparalleled performance, design, and entertainment at a remarkable price, Sony had created an original product unlike any that had come before. To many, it appeared as if Sony had already achieved its grand ambition; but the company was just getting started. Beginning with the addition of vibration feedback and a pair of analog sticks to the controller, Sony continued enhancing the PlayStation®.
For the PlayStation®2, launched in 2000, Sony replaced all the controller’s digital buttons (with the exception of the Start and Select buttons) with analog versions, allowing for an even richer range of controls. The console was also compatible with DVDs, which, combined with its low price point, popularized the PlayStation®2 as a CD and DVD player.
The PlayStation®3, launched in 2006, introduced Bluetooth wireless connectivity and Blu-ray compatibility, as well as the ability to download games onto the console. Then in 2013 came the PlayStation®4, which became the first gaming console with a dedicated SHARE button for sending videos and screenshots of one’s gameplay to friends or uploading them on social media. This feature played an important role in expanding the video game livestreaming culture.
Finally, with the PlayStation®5 released in 2020, Sony revamped the controller’s vibration feedback and added adaptive triggers so the user can more intuitively “feel” the actions they are taking on screen, whether it’s pulling an arrow back as far as the bowstring allows or braking in the middle of a high-speed race. The latest console also adds 3D audio for a more immersive experience: teammates sound more distant when talking from far away, and enemies grow louder as they creep up on you.
If it isn’t clear by now, the history of the PlayStation® is defined by a spirit of innovation. The numerous ideas incorporated into the console have both challenged conventions and endlessly fascinated gamers. It’s no wonder the PlayStation® conquered the video game home console market. But it couldn’t have happened without a production team that was determined to clear the high bar that their predecessors had set and deliver a palpable impact to the world. As long as the team continues to challenge themselves with a fearless sense of adventure, the PlayStation® will continue to evolve.
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