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Sony recently shared that its iconic PlayStation 2 console has surpassed an incredible 160 million units sold worldwide, a record-breaking figure initially brought to light by former CEO Jim Ryan. Despite being discontinued, the PS2’s legendary status as the best-selling console ever endures, with the Nintendo Switch trailing close behind at 146 million units.
Let’s dive into this milestone: On November 26, Sony announced that the PlayStation 2, which first hit the shelves in 2000, had sold more than 160 million units globally. This remarkable achievement comes even though the console has been discontinued for over a decade. The PS2’s reign as the top-selling console is still unchallenged, although the Nintendo Switch is quickly catching up.
Released in 2000, the PS2 followed the original PlayStation and found success from the onset. Gamers were excited by the dramatic graphical advancements it offered over the PS1. Additionally, its backward compatibility with PlayStation 1 games, controllers, and memory cards was a massive draw. The console’s heart, the Emotion Engine CPU, was a joint brainchild of Sony and Toshiba. At launch, the PS2 was also a budget-friendly option for DVD playback, which was a new format at that time, with an initial price of $299. Four years down the line, it was reissued as the more compact PS2 Slim.
Fast-forward two decades, and Sony has recently updated the world on the PS2’s outstanding sales figures via their PlayStation history blog. The total number of units sold has now hit over 160 million, a slight bump up from the prior count of 158.3 million, encompassing all models including the Slim variant. This leap in sales was acknowledged by Jim Ryan, former Sony President and CEO, during his retirement in March 2024. Jim was pivotal in the PS2’s launch and played a significant role in various other Sony products. Despite halting PS2 production in 2013, the console boasts over 4,000 game titles, with franchises like God of War and Ratchet and Clank still delivering new releases.
Sony has heartily celebrated this achievement, emphasizing the PS2’s pride of place in gaming history. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch, with more than 146 million units sold since its March 2017 debut, looms as a formidable contender to the PS2’s record. This tally incorporates sales from the Switch Lite and OLED versions. With whispers of a potential successor from Nintendo, the Switch seems poised to outpace the PS2 soon.
Though no longer on the market, the PS2’s influence persists, with beloved titles like Silent Hill 2 being reimagined for newer systems like the PS5 and its Pro version. The PlayStation 2’s legacy remains vibrant and cherished among gamers worldwide, proving that some classics never fade away.
