In a world where consoles are increasingly being redefined as hardware that connects to the wider internet, the PlayStation is one of the most famous names in gaming. With high-powered hardware and an excellent library of exclusive titles, it’s no wonder the PS5 has sold over 50 million units to date.
But it wasn’t always so rosy for Sony in the video game sector. Initially, management was wary of getting involved with video gaming because it saw it as a ‘toy’ that could tarnish the company’s reputation as a premium high-end electronics brand. However, tenacious designer Ken Kutaragi was determined to break through into the industry and persuaded management to let him design a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
This was the first PlayStation to use a digital, non-linear format called UMCD that allowed games to be stored on multiple tracks and compressed to save space. It also used an innovative new storage technology known as Blue Ray that allowed for higher resolution and smoother graphics than traditional cartridge-based systems.
Its other selling point was that it offered the power of a PlayStation 2 in the form of a handheld device. Its graphical realism and blisteringly fast racing gameplay were a huge hit with gamers. And when a sequel was released in 2000, it was the first to take advantage of a new disc-based format called HD DVD that provided high definition quality.
In the years that followed, PlayStation continued to evolve and expand its catalogue of games. Its simple interface and comfortable controller were hard to beat, while the addition of social features and a solid online community made it a popular choice among gamers. Its successor, the PlayStation 4, pushed the boundaries of next-gen gaming with its streamlined design and impressive technical capabilities, such as 4K playback and ray tracing.