PlayStation, or PS for short, is a video game console from Sony that allows users to play a variety of video games. It can also be used to watch movies and listen to music, but its primary use is for playing games. It is connected to a TV through an HDMI cable, and a user uses the included controllers to navigate the system’s interface and select media for viewing or playing.
The first PlayStation was released in Japan in 1994 and North America and Europe in 1995, and it ushered in a new generation of 32-bit gaming consoles that used CDs rather than cartridges. The console quickly rose to prominence for its extensive library of popular franchises, aggressive youth marketing, and high-quality games. Premier franchises like Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Tekken, and Final Fantasy sold well, spawning numerous sequels.
PlayStation’s subsequent releases (see PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4) have improved upon the original design, using faster processors and high-definition Blu-ray drive technology to boost performance. The latest model, the PlayStation 5 Pro, boasts a higher-resolution screen and offers better graphical performance with support for technologies such as ray tracing.
The sleek PlayStation Portal is the newest member of the PS family and features a new touchpad that looks more like a dinner tray than a traditional controller, but it’s a great fit for your hands and feels ergonomically superb. It’s a bit larger than previous models but not unwieldy, and it comes with a large vertical stand that keeps it upright when positioned under a TV.