PS2 celebrates 10 years in North America
Anniversary of October 26, 2000, US and Canadian launch sees aging console's sales top 146 million.
Old-school gamers will feel a little older today. One week after the NES console celebrated its 25th anniversary in the US market, the PlayStation is marking 10 years since it launched in North America. The system went on sale domestically on October 26, 2000, over seven months after it debuted in Japan on March 4. The system went on sale in Europe on November 24 of that year.
Since its initial launch, the PlayStation 2 has gone on to sell over 146 million units worldwide. At the time of its launch, it was a cutting-edge machine, sporting DVD playback and then high-end graphics for $300. The high price point didn't deter customers in the slightest, though, with retailers selling out of the console in a matter of hours. Hardware manufacturing bottlenecks kept the unit in short supply for months after release, with Sony only selling 1.3 million units in the US by the end of 2000.
The PS2's long tenure saw it get several hardware peripherals, including an online gameplay add-on, the PlayStation Network Adapter, in 2002. The system was also augmented by the release of the EyeToy Camera in 2003. Software franchises that flourished on the system included Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, and Grand Theft Auto, which debuted exclusively on Sony's console from Grand Theft Auto III to San Andreas.
Some 10 years on, the PS2 now costs just $100 and sells so few units each month the NPD Group ceased tracking hardware sales of the console earlier this year. (The NPD Group ceased releasing all hardware figures last month.) However, that's not stopping Sony from continuing to push the device. Last week, it announced it would include a copy of Toy Story 3 with the console starting on October 31.
Wow, i really miss those JRPG on PS1 and PS2 days. There are not enough JRPGS on current consoles (not including portable) ..
The only older-generation console still hooked up next to my Dreamcast and Super Nintendo. Epic win, Sony. Epic win.
Sony got pretty much everything right with the PS2... Good hardware (could compete even a generation later), good price (I believe it was around $350 at launch), and an absurd library of games that could appeal to every type of gamer imaginable. The PS2 will end up every bit the legend that the oldest consoles are.
ah memories
The PS2 is the oldest video game system that is still active. I own one and I believe that the system will last until 2013 or so.
I have my original fat and a slim. Both work perfectly and are still getting lots of play time. For sheer variety of games, nothing else has (or will?) ever come close. What a library. Long live PS2 !
sweet memories on my beloved PS2 . Gave me 6 great years of gaming.
Between PS2 & SNES, I have a difficult time deciding which one is better. Which do you think is?
PS2 was a success, PS3 is an obvious fail.
Ahh, Its making my 'emotion chip' all soppy just thinking of how long PS2 has been in the spotlight ... sob - 'Happy Birthday'
To young gamers smaller than the ps2. The ps2 would be like a big brother to them. :)
There's life in it yet. PS2s are awesome.
Great console, great games, great memories. Waiting for Christmas in 2001 to get my PS2 was the longest and most agonising wait of my life. But well worth it : )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PS2! Have had some of my lifespan exploring & playing some of magnificent PS2 games before. Clearly one of my spent wise gadget!
Happy 10th Birthday PlayStation 2! You're a child of the millenium. Makes me feel old. :P
I love PS1 , PS2 and PS3 they'r the best of all times :)
I hope $ony cares more about games and less about gimmicks for the PS4.
PS2>PS3. Best Console ever. PS1 was awesome too. I hope
Yay for Playstation! :D
When the PS3 it what was a breakout console. I was a Nintendo junkie but, I decided to put the GameCube on hold and go for the PS2. It was the best choice. Even though the launch games were not the best later games would eventually make up for it. Keep going strong PS2 >_
Erm... yeah 'Happy Birthday' you box of silicon... LOL. IMO it was only worth getting a PS2 about 2 to 3years after its release - then the games were better - before then (especially on launch) the games and support was dire... but later games like Shadow of the Colossus, Gradius V, Tekken 5 etc really made the system a viable format - and one of the greatest consoles ever.
I currently own a PS2 and honestly it's a good system and to think it's celebrating 10 years now. It has so many great games. It has something for everyone and you can't say that about a lot of other systems. Happy 10th Anniversary PS2. One of the best systems of all time.
I remember when this console still had 6 months to launch and I would check out details of its specs in magazines and wonder how awesome it will be. That was more than 10 years ago? :-/ Damn. They're right, I am getting old.
Wow ,,,time goes by so fast ,,,,We have spent 10 years with this great console ,,,,,,, salutes to SONY for making this great console,, the best gaming console of all time,,,,no RROD sh*t and that stuff,,,,,,,and an amazing lineup of games,,,,, thank you SONY for this great gaming machine.....
Thank you Sony. I have had the most unique gaming experience in my life with your consoles... I spent countless months in my life enjoying Granturismo 3 and Final Fantasy 7. Up to now, i own one original PS (still working beautifully) and two PS2. Maybe I should save up for PS3 to play Granturismo 5 ;)
1/8 of a billion. Can you imagine?
Gotta love the PS2 :)
The PlayStation 2 is the most elegant and useful videogame system in history. The current PS3 incarnation, with much stripped out functionality, pales in comparison. Only the first gen PS3 could compare with PS2. If you agree THUMBS UP.
PS2= 6th Gen AWESOME :)
I'll never forget playing FFX, MGS2, MSG3, God of War, DMC, Onimusha, and all the other classics on my PS2. The games of this generation are good but they still can't compare to all the masterpieces I played on my PS2.
I love the PS2 :D.
@-Intellectual- Lol no it might not be the best console technically but with a library of games that big and A DVD PLAYER WITHOUT ANY STUPID ADDONS! It's definetely the best console ever made! I've owned a gamecube, xbox and of course the ps2 - the ps2 still has the best gaming memories for me... aaaah so Kingdom Hearts
I still use it. It's still a good console.
reminds me best game of all time : God of War 1&2!
ahhh i played the best rpgs of my lifetime on the ps1 an ps2,, thank god for u sony!!!!!!!!
[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
10 years old! and to think the PS2 system could still run WoW max settings.
Best console ever! So many great memories that made gaming special. It's a shame that I don't ever experience anything like it these days :,(
got the slim in 2004 but was disappointed with the horrible graphics, as it was the worst compared to the Nintendo Gamcube of the last generation of consoles. It also had limited horrible online with lag. Its not the best console ever, its the largest selling console ever. It wont be beaten.
Happy birthday PS2 :)
Oh the memories :).
I remember my friend telling me the story of how he was waiting in line for a PS2 outside of a ShopKo (kinda like a Walmart) on release day. They opened the doors, and people were casually walking towards the electronics department... but then one person started walking a little faster... then another... then it became an all-out sprint! Hahaha, he got one though! Man at the time I was still in HS. I might have sold it on e-Bay had I gotten one--those things were fetching like $1,000 before Christmas, which is big money for a 17 year old, and could have bought a new system with tons of games down the line. Good things come to those who wait! Never actually got a PS2 though. Not sure why. Just waited for Xbox and I was content with that, especially since MGS 2 finally game out on it. Anyway, starting to ramble--good memories!
Lol, Fat console-turned little is still going strong! Happy B-day PS2!
@codezer0 this coming from some1 who has quite the list of PS2 games in their "My Games" list.... and i wouldn't call 140+ million for ps1 and ps2 "fail". Not to mention PS3 is steaming along in sales.
one more promise fulfilled thank you SONY...hope this happens with the PS3 as well (but situation and market conditions are tough this time around, best of luck)
Congrats PS2,so many good memories,PS2 ROCKS!
wowwwwww, 10 years ago...... i was still 10 lol. congrats ps2!
I still fire up my PS2 from time to time, playing old classics like TimeSplitters and Bully, that was the best gaming years for me. I still remember the day I got it, I still had to learn how to use analog sticks at that time (my thumbs swelled up after an hour of playing).
HAPPY B DAY PS2!! :D
Old times, good memories...congrats PS2!
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- Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
- Developer(s): Rockstar North
- Genre: Action
- Release: Jun 10, 2005 (EU)
- PEGI: 18+






