When it comes to gaming, the PlayStation is one of the most iconic and powerful names in the industry. It is the world’s best-selling console, and has created a huge library of games that have gone on to dominate their respective genres. The word playstation is almost synonymous with gaming, and it isn’t going away anytime soon.
Although Sony was better known for their Walkman tape players in the early 90s, they made a huge gamble in 1994 when they launched the PlayStation. The console was a direct rival to Nintendo’s Super Nintendo, but was a CD-ROM-based system rather than relying on cartridges like its competitor. The console helped pave the way for 3D polygon graphics and was so successful that it is now regarded as the first mainstream success story for a Japanese video game developer.
The PlayStation 2 built on the polygonal groundwork of its predecessor, while introducing a Blu-ray disc drive that significantly expanded compatibility. The system was also home to many franchises that would go on to be juggernauts for Sony, including Uncharted and the Kingdom Hearts series. The PS2 also had backwards compatibility with the original PlayStation, allowing gamers to experience the full range of its catalogue of games.
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony’s bold attempt to encroach on Nintendo’s handheld market, and was the world’s first hand-held device capable of playing high-definition DVD films as well as video games. It was the forerunner to the more advanced PlayStation Vita and the current PlayStation 4, which have taken Sony’s portable gaming to new heights.