In the early 1990s, big names like Nintendo and Sega dominated the gaming console market. But when Sony created its PlayStation division and released the first console in 1994, it quickly won over gamers. Its use of CD technology and 3D graphics made it a hit. And the system pushed the video game industry away from cartridges.
The first Playstation sold over 100 million units in less than a decade. Its success helped to launch Sony into the upper ranks of global technology and media companies. And it inspired a series of sequels and other products.
By the time the PlayStation 2 arrived in 2000, Sony had built up a huge user base of game fans around the world. Its popularity was fueled by a broad library of games that included popular franchises like Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Tomb Raider and Metal Gear. The console also benefited from aggressive youth marketing, which targeted adolescent and adult gamers.
The PlayStation 5 debuted in 2020 with a host of new features. Most notably, it supports a more extensive range of remote play options. Players can stream their gameplay to supported devices (including the PlayStation Portable), and control it remotely using a controller or smartphone app. The console also has built-in augmented reality capabilities and offers higher framerates and ray-traced graphics in some games. The PlayStation 5’s controller design is a significant update from previous models, with a larger, rounder shape and a two-tone color scheme.