The PlayStation, abbreviated as PS, is a series of gaming consoles produced by Sony. The latest version is the PlayStation 5, which was released on November 12, 2020, to compete with rival systems from Microsoft and Nintendo. It offers better graphics, faster performance and a new design.
The PS series started with 1994’s first PlayStation console, which popularized 3D visuals at a time when 2D games were the norm. It also utilized CD-ROM technology and allowed audio, video and computer data to be accessed simultaneously on the system’s processor. This and aggressive pricing helped it quickly take a large share of the market. The console also benefited from a developer-friendly platform and a wide variety of games. Premier franchises included Final Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot and Tekken, which spawned multiple sequels.
In the years since, the PS series has expanded to include two handheld consoles and several services. Despite a rough start with the PS Network cyberattack that forced Sony to shut down the service, the console has maintained its dominance of the market.
The latest PlayStation, the PS5, is a powerful gaming machine with an ultra high-definition display, more framerates, and advanced graphics techniques like ray tracing. It also has a new controller design with adaptive triggers, a create button instead of a share button and more subtle vibration compared to prior models. The console’s processor is also nine times more powerful with a total of 36 CU GPUs capable of processing floating-point operations, or teraflops, than the PS4. This provides for superior graphics, better performance and faster load times.