Typically, we at Retro Game Network don’t tend to focus on systems that are considered “current”. (After all, that’s what makes us retro!) But you have to remember, that the Sony PlayStation 2 was at one point sold alongside systems such as Sega’s Dreamcast and Nintendo’s N64. It’s certainly a lot of years! So we felt that since the PlayStation 2 was actually a part of what we know as the “6th generation” of video game consoles, that we would share with you all this somber news. Sony announced that they have officially discontinued the PS2 platform. Just about a week and a half ago, Sony had made the announcement that they would stop making new PlayStation 2 consoles in Japan, but there was no word on when the discontinuation would make it over to other countries. However, we all knew that it was only a matter of time.

The PlayStation 2 was of course, the successor to Sony’s previous console, the PlayStation. It was first made available in Japan on March 4, 2000, and then brought to the United States on October 26th that same year. Little did everyone know, that the system would define an entire decade and beyond. What made the machine practically an instant success, was Sony’s decision to include the ability to play the (then) brand new DVD video format. At the time, DVD players were quite pricey, so being able to get a new game console that could play the new optical discs was an added bonus from the start. It was also the console that at one time, was the only system available that could play what would become modern classics, such as the Grand Theft Auto series and the Final Fantasy series. This strategy worked very well in Sony’s favor, and made the system what it is today. Even it’s own successor, the PlayStation 3 couldn’t kill it right away. When the PS3 was first released in 2006, many software developers made versions of their new game titles available for both the PS3 as well as the PS2, primarily due to demand.

This of course made sales of the new console slip for the first few years, since new games were made available for both consoles anyway. What this gave us is a console that enjoyed a lifespan of just over 12 years. Many outlets online are stating that the PlayStation 2 was the longest running system in production since the beginning of the video game format, but we at Retro Game Network certainly know better! (It is however the most successful as far as sales is concerned.) While 12 years is a long and very successful run, it did not last as long in production as the Atari 2600 system, which was first introduced in October of 1977, and discontinued in January of 1992, for a total of 15 years. (3 years longer than the PS2.) Since the PlayStation 2 debuted, a total of 10,828 individual game programs have been made for the system, with over 150 million units sold worldwide, and over one and a half billion game discs sold.