The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console created and sold by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It replaced the PlayStation 2 and is part of the PlayStation series of consoles. The PS3 was first sold in Japan on November 11, 2006, then in North America on November 17, 2006, and in Europe and Australasia on March 23, 2007. It competed mainly with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii during the seventh generation of video game consoles.

The PS3 used a special processor called the Cell Broadband Engine, developed by Sony, IBM, and Toshiba. SCE’s president, Ken Kutaragi, described the console as a powerful computer for home use, able to handle complex tasks like playing high-quality videos. It was the first console to use Blu-ray discs for storing games and media, the first to include an HDMI port, and the first to support 1080p (Full HD) resolution for games. It also launched with the PlayStation Network online service and allowed players to connect with handheld devices like the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita. In 2009, Sony released a smaller version called the PlayStation 3 Slim, which no longer supported PlayStation 2 games but used less energy. A newer version, the Super Slim, was released in 2012 with improved design.

At first, the PS3 had a high price—$599 for the 60 GB model and $499 for the 20 GB model—which was much more expensive in today’s money. It also had a complicated system and few games available at launch. The hardware was expensive to make, and Sony sold the console for a loss for many years. However, the PS3 was praised for its advanced technology and support for Blu-ray, which helped make Blu-ray the standard for high-definition discs. Over time, more games became available, and newer versions of the console reduced costs. These changes helped the PS3 sell successfully. In total, about 87.4 million PS3 units were sold worldwide, slightly more than the Xbox 360, making it the eighth best-selling console ever. By early 2019, about 1 billion PlayStation 3 games had been sold worldwide.

The PlayStation 4 was released in November 2013 as the PS3’s replacement. Sony gradually stopped selling the PS3 in most regions by 2016, with final production continuing in Japan until May 29, 2017.

History

The development of the PlayStation 3 started on March 9, 2001, when Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced a partnership with Toshiba and IBM to create the Cell microprocessor. At the same time, Shuhei Yoshida led a team working on ideas for next-generation game development. By early 2005, Sony focused on preparing games for the PS3's launch.

In September 2004, Sony confirmed that the PlayStation 3 would use Blu-ray as its main media format, with support for DVDs and CDs. In December 2004, Nvidia was chosen as the partner for the console's graphics processing unit. The PS3 was officially introduced on May 16, 2005, at E3, along with a prototype of the Sixaxis controller, which had a boomerang-shaped design. No working hardware was shown at E3 or the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, though games like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots were demonstrated using software development kits and similar PC hardware. Sony also showed concept footage based on expected system performance, including a Final Fantasy VII technology demo.

The 2005 prototype included two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports, and six USB ports. By E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI, one Ethernet, and four USB ports to lower costs. Sony announced two launch models: a 60 GB version priced at US$599.99, ¥60,000, or €599.99, and a 20 GB version priced at US$499.99, ¥49,980, or €499.99. To save money, the 60 GB model would be the only one with HDMI output, Wi-Fi, flash card readers, and chrome trim. It was scheduled to launch on November 11, 2006, in Japan and November 17, 2006, in North America and Europe.

On September 6, 2006, Sony delayed the PAL region launch to March 2007 because of a shortage of Blu-ray drive parts. Sony also decided not to sell the 20 GB model in the PAL region. Later that month, at the Tokyo Game Show, Sony confirmed that the 20 GB model would include HDMI output. The Japanese price for the 20 GB model was reduced by more than 20%, while the 60 GB model would be sold with flexible pricing. Sony displayed 27 playable games running on final PS3 hardware at the event.

Despite cost-cutting efforts, the PS3 was sold at a loss because of high costs for parts like the GPU (estimated at US$129) and Blu-ray drive (estimated at US$125). The 20 GB model cost about US$805.85 to make, which was US$307 more than its retail price. The 60 GB model cost about US$840.35, or US$241 more than its retail price. These losses contributed to Sony Computer Entertainment reporting an operating loss of ¥232 billion (about US$1.91 billion) in the year after the PS3 launched. Sony later reported total losses of about US$3.3 billion on PS3 hardware through mid-2008.

The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006, selling over 81,000 units in the first 24 hours. It launched in North America on November 17, where demand was very high and some stores reported incidents of violence. The console was also released the same day in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The console launched in Europe, Australia, and other PAL regions on March 23, 2007. It sold 600,000 units across Europe in its first two days, with 165,000 sold in the UK, making it the fastest-selling home console in the region at the time. Sales dropped later, with some stores citing high prices and early cancellations.

The PS3 launched in other markets in 2007, including Singapore (March 7), India (April 27), Mexico (April), and South Korea (June 16). Sony often held promotional events or offered bundled content in these regions to increase interest.

After months of speculation, Sony officially introduced the "Slim" hardware revision (model CECH-2000) on August 18, 2009, during its Gamescom press conference. It was released in major markets by September 2009. This model was thinner and lighter, used less power, and had a quieter cooling system. These improvements were made possible by using smaller fabrication processes for the CPU and GPU. Manufacturing changes reportedly reduced costs by about 70%. However, because the price was lowered to US$299, Sony was still estimated to lose about US$37 per unit at launch, with losses dropping to about US$18 per unit by early 2010.

Sony announced the "Super Slim" hardware revision (model CECH-4000) in September 2012, which launched in major markets later that year. Compared to the previous "Slim" model, the new design was about 20% smaller and 25% lighter, used less power, and had a top-loading disc drive instead of a slot-loading drive. These changes lowered manufacturing costs. However, some reviewers said the new disc mechanism felt cheap and described it as "a step back." The Super Slim was offered with larger 250 GB and 500 GB hard drives, as well as a low-cost model with 16 GB of eMMC flash storage, allowing users to add a hard drive later.

Games

The PlayStation 3 was released in North America with 14 games. Resistance: Fall of Man became the best-selling game at launch. It received high praise and was named the best PS3 game of 2007 by GameSpot and IGN. Some highly expected games, such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and F.E.A.R., were not available at launch. They were released in early 2007 instead. In Japan, Ridge Racer 7 led sales at launch. The European launch included 24 games, such as MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5. MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man were the most successful games on the platform in 2007. Both games had follow-up versions released later.

At E3 2007, Sony showed upcoming games developed by the company, including Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, and Warhawk. Other planned games included Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet, and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Games made by other companies, such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Grand Theft Auto IV, also helped increase interest in the PlayStation 3.

In 2010, Sony added 3D technology support to the PlayStation 3 through software updates. This technology was first shown at the January 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. Games like Wipeout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue demonstrated how the 3D feature worked. A software update called 3.30 allowed players to play 3D games. A later update, 3.50, added the ability to watch 3D movies.

By early 2019, almost 1 billion PlayStation 3 games had been sold worldwide. The most popular games on the platform included Grand Theft Auto V, Gran Turismo 5, The Last of Us, and the Uncharted series.

Hardware

The PlayStation 3 kept the same basic design throughout its three main hardware updates. It had a black plastic body that curved upward when placed horizontally or curved to the left when stood vertically. The first version used a shiny, piano-black plastic surface and had a logo inspired by the font from the 2002 Spider-Man movie, also made by Sony. According to PlayStation designer Teiyu Goto, this logo was one of the first design choices made by SCEI president Ken Kutaragi and helped define the console’s look.

This logo was replaced when the "Slim" version was introduced. The new design used an updated version of the PS2 logo with smoother curves, a style that continued for the PS4 and PS5 logos.

The PlayStation 3 used the Cell Broadband Engine, a 64-bit CPU developed by Sony, Toshiba, and IBM. It included a 3.2 GHz PowerPC-based Power Processing Element (PPE) and seven Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). To improve production efficiency, the processor was first made with eight SPEs. After testing, any defective SPEs were disabled using laser trimming. This method reduced waste by repurposing chips that would otherwise be thrown away. Even in chips without defects, one SPE was intentionally disabled to ensure all units worked the same way. Of the seven working SPEs, six were used for games and applications, while the seventh was reserved for the console’s operating system. The Cell processor was paired with 256 MB of high-speed XDR DRAM.

Graphics were handled by the Reality Synthesizer (RSX), developed by Nvidia, which had 256 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM video memory. The RSX chip could display resolutions from standard-definition (480i/576i) up to high-definition (1080p). Early on, Sony’s team planned to use the Cell processor for all graphics tasks, but game developers, including Sony’s ICE team, showed that the console’s performance would be too slow without a dedicated GPU, especially compared to the Xbox 360. This led to adding the RSX GPU later in the console’s development.

PlayStation 3 games were sold on Blu-ray discs, and the console had a 2× speed drive that could also read Blu-ray movies, DVDs, and CDs. Early models had 20 GB or 60 GB hard drives, while later versions offered up to 500 GB. All models had hard drives that users could upgrade. Connectivity options included Bluetooth 2.0 (supporting up to seven devices), Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, and HDMI 1.4. All models except one early version had built-in Wi-Fi, and some early units included flash card readers for Memory Stick, SD, and CompactFlash formats.

The PlayStation 3 was released in three main designs: the original, the Slim, and the Super Slim. These updates included changes like lower power use, smaller size, more storage, and the removal of some features to reduce costs.

The original controller for the PlayStation 3, released in 2006, was the wireless Sixaxis. It had a built-in accelerometer that could sense movement in six directions. However, it did not have vibration. In late 2007, Sony released the DualShock 3, which added vibration while keeping the motion-sensing features.

Other accessories included the Logitech Driving Force GT, the Logitech Cordless Precision Controller, the Blu-ray Disc Remote, and the PlayTV DVB-T tuner and digital video recorder.

In response to the popularity of Nintendo’s motion controls on the Wii, Sony introduced the PlayStation Move in 2010. Its wand-like controllers used internal sensors and a glowing orb tracked by the PlayStation Eye camera for precise motion control.

In September 2009, the BBC program Watchdog reported on hardware failures in the PlayStation 3, calling the issue the "yellow light of death" (YLOD). The report said affected consoles often failed 18–24 months after purchase, outside Sony’s one-year warranty. After this period, users had to pay a fixed fee for a replacement. However, Ars Technica noted the failure rate stayed within normal ranges for consumer electronics. A 2009 study by SquareTrade found a 10% failure rate over two years. Sony claimed only about 0.5% of consoles were returned with YLOD symptoms. Sony disputed the Watchdog report, calling it misleading.

Beyond gaming, the PlayStation 3’s hardware was used for high-performance computing. Sony’s support for third-party operating systems allowed researchers to repurpose the console for tasks like academic research and distributed computing. In 2007, Dr. Frank Mueller of North Carolina State University used eight PS3s with Fedora Linux and open-source tools to create a cost-effective system for parallel computing, despite the console’s 256 MB of RAM. Sony and Stanford University also launched the Folding@home client, letting PS3 owners contribute processing power to study protein folding for disease research.

The U.S. military also recognized the PS3’s computing potential. In 2010, the Air Force Research Laboratory built the Condor Cluster using 1,760 PS3s, achieving 500 trillion floating-point operations per second. At the time, it was the 33rd most powerful supercomputer in the world and was used to analyze satellite imagery. The PS3 was also used in cybersecurity research; in 2008, a group cracked SSL encryption using a 200-console cluster. These uses were limited later when hardware updates removed support for third-party operating systems.

Software

Sony included the ability for the operating system, called System Software, to be updated. Updates can be obtained in several ways:

• If the PlayStation 3 has an active Internet connection, updates may be downloaded directly from the PlayStation Network to the console and then installed. Systems with active Internet connections automatically check online for software updates each time the console is turned on.
• Using a computer, a user can download the update from the official PlayStation website, transfer it to portable storage media, and install it on the system.
• Some game discs include system software updates on the disc. This may be because the game requires an update to work properly. If so, the software can be installed from the disc.

The original PlayStation 3 version allowed users to install an alternative operating system, such as Linux or other Unix-based systems, alongside the main system software. The hardware provided access to six of the seven Synergistic Processing Elements of the Cell microprocessor but not the RSX "Reality Synthesizer" graphics chip.

The "OtherOS" feature was not included in the updated PS Slim models. It was later removed from earlier versions of the PS3 through a firmware update (version 3.21) released on April 1, 2010. Sony stated that security concerns were the reason for the removal. This update was required to access the PlayStation Network. Later, third-party developers created unofficial firmware versions to restore the feature.

The removal of "OtherOS" caused controversy because it took away features advertised in already sold products. This led to several class action lawsuits demanding Sony return the feature or offer compensation. In December 2011, a U.S. District Judge dismissed the final claim of the lawsuit, stating that the plaintiffs had not provided enough evidence to hold Sony responsible. In January 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit partially reversed the dismissal, sending the case back to the district court.

The standard PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (XMB) includes nine categories of options: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, TV/Video Services, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). The TV/Video Services category includes services like Netflix and, if installed, PlayTV or Torne. The first section in this category is "My Channels," which allows users to download streaming services, including Sony's Crackle and PlayStation Vue. The PlayStation Network's "What's New" section appears when the system starts. The PS3 can store multiple user profiles, manage photos with or without music slideshows, play music, copy audio CD tracks to a storage device, play movies and videos from the hard drive, optical disc (Blu-ray or DVD-Video), or optional USB storage. It supports a USB keyboard and mouse and includes a web browser that can download compatible files. If a compatible media server or DLNA server is on the local network, UPnP media will appear in the audio, video, or photo categories. The Friends menu allows sending messages with emoticons and pictures and video chat, which requires an optional PlayStation Eye or EyeToy webcam. The Network menu lets users shop online through the PlayStation Store and connect to the PlayStation Portable via Remote Play.

The PlayStation 3 console protects certain data using digital rights management (DRM) to limit how the data can be used. Purchased games and content from the PlayStation Network are controlled by PlayStation's Network Digital Rights Management (NDRM). NDRM allows users to access data on up to two different PlayStation 3 systems linked to the same PlayStation Network ID. The PS3 also limits copying protected videos from its store to other devices. Sony states that protected videos may not work correctly after certain actions, such as downloading a new protected movie.

Photo Gallery is an optional app for viewing, creating, and grouping photos on the PS3. It is installed separately from the system software and takes up 105 MB of space. Introduced in system software version 2.60, it includes tools to sort and display photos. A key feature is organizing photos into groups based on criteria like colors, ages, or facial expressions of people in the photos. Slideshows, music, and playlists can be viewed using the app. It was updated in version 3.40 to allow users to upload and browse photos on Facebook and Picasa.

PlayMemories is an optional app for viewing 3D and standard photos. It is downloaded from the PlayStation Store and takes up 956 MB of space. The app is designed for 3D photos and allows users to zoom into 3D environments and adjust the angle and perspective of panoramas. It requires system software version 3.40 or higher, 3D photos, a 3D HDTV, and an HDMI cable to view 3D images properly.

A new app was added in system software version 3.40, allowing users to edit videos on the PS3 and upload them to the Internet. The app includes basic tools for cutting videos, adding music, and adding captions. Edited videos can be uploaded to sites like Facebook and YouTube.

In addition to Sony's own video services, the PS3 supports various third-party services depending on the region:

• Since June 2009, VidZone has offered a free music video streaming service in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
• In October 2009, Sony and Netflix announced that Netflix streaming would be available on the PS3 in the United States. A paid subscription was required, and the service launched in November 2009. Initially, users needed a free Blu-ray disc to access it, but this requirement was removed in October 2010.
• In April 2010, support for MLB.tv was added, allowing subscribers to watch live games in HD and access interactive features.
• In November 2010, access to MUBI, a video and social networking site, was added for users in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. The service lets users watch and discuss films with others. VUDU, NHL GameCenter Live, and Hulu Plus also launched in the United States.
• In August 2011, Sony and DirecTV added NFL Sunday Ticket. In October 2011, Best Buy launched an app for its CinemaNow service. In April 2012, Amazon.com launched an Amazon Video app for Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S.

A review of the PlayStation and Netflix collaboration noted that the PS3 version of the Netflix app might be better than the Xbox version. The review also praised having Netflix and LoveFilm on the PlayStation as "mind-blowingly good."

In July 2013, YuppTV OTT player launched its app on the PlayStation 3.

Features

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) can connect with the PlayStation 3 (PS3) in several ways, such as during gameplay. For example, the game Formula One Championship Edition, a racing game, was shown at E3 2006 using a PSP as a real-time rear-view mirror. Users can also download original PlayStation format games from the PlayStation Store, transfer them to the PSP, and play them on both the PSP and PS3. The Remote Play feature allows users to play these games and some PlayStation Network games on the PSP from a distance, using a network or internet connection.

Sony demonstrated the PSP playing video content stored on the PS3’s hard disk through a temporary wireless network. This feature, called Remote Play, is found under the browser icon on both the PS3 and PSP. Remote Play has since expanded to allow users to access their PS3 from anywhere in the world using any wireless access point.

PlayStation Network

PlayStation Network is an online service provided by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable devices. It was introduced during a meeting in Tokyo in 2006. The service is always connected, free to use, and supports multiplayer gaming. It also offers online gaming, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home, and other features. The network uses real money and PlayStation Network Cards for purchases, as seen with the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home.

PlayStation Plus, often called PS+ or PSN Plus, is a paid subscription service for PlayStation Network. It was officially announced in 2010 by Jack Tretton, then President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. Earlier rumors about such a service began after Kaz Hirai mentioned a possible paid service for PSN in 2009, though the free PSN service remained available. Launched on June 29, 2010, alongside software updates for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Plus offers extra features beyond the free PSN service. These include automatic downloads of game demos and updates for PlayStation 3. Subscribers also receive early access to betas, game demos, and special downloadable content. North American users get a free subscription to Qore. Users can choose to buy a one-year or three-month subscription.

The PlayStation Store is an online marketplace for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable users through PlayStation Network. It offers downloadable content for purchase or free, including full games, add-ons, playable demos, themes, and trailers. The Store is accessed via an icon on the XMB menu on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. The PlayStation 3 Store can also be accessed on PlayStation Portable through a Remote Play connection. The PlayStation Portable Store is available via the Media Go application on a computer. As of September 24, 2009, over 600 million downloads had been made from the PlayStation Store worldwide.

The PlayStation Store updates with new content every Tuesday in North America and every Wednesday in PAL regions. In May 2010, the update schedule changed to allow PlayStation Portable games to be released digitally closer to their physical release dates on UMD.

On March 29, 2021, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 version of the Store would close on July 2, though previously purchased content would remain available. However, after receiving feedback from users, Sony decided to keep the PlayStation 3 Store open.

What's New was introduced at Gamescom 2009 and released with PlayStation 3 system software 3.0 on September 1, 2009. It replaced the [Information Board], which displayed news from the PlayStation website based on the user's region. What's New became a major PlayStation Network feature that interacts with the [Status Indicator] to show a ticker of content, excluding recently played items (available in North America and Japan).

The What's New screen appears by default when starting the PlayStation 3, instead of the [Games] menu or [Video] menu if a movie is inserted. It has four sections: "Our Pick," "Recently Played," the latest information, and new content from the PlayStation Store. The screen displays and links to four types of content: "Recently Played" shows the user's recently played games and online services, while other sections include website links, video links, and PlayStation Store sections.

PlayStation Store icons in the [Game] and [Video] sections function like the What's New screen but only link to games and videos in the PlayStation Store.

PlayStation Home was a 3D virtual social networking service for PlayStation Network. It allowed users to create and customize avatars, decorate personal spaces, and interact with friends in a virtual world. Users could shop for items, win prizes from games, or participate in Home activities. Home also served as a meeting place for multiplayer gaming.

A closed beta began in Europe in May 2007 and expanded to other regions later. Home was delayed and updated multiple times before its initial release. The Open Beta started on December 11, 2008, and remained in beta until its closure on March 31, 2015. Home was accessed through the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar and required a free PlayStation Network account.

Home featured areas for socializing, dedicated game spaces, developer spaces, company spaces, and events. It was updated weekly and had over 41 million users by the time it closed in 2015.

Life with PlayStation was launched on September 18, 2008, to replace Folding@home. It was discontinued on November 6, 2012. The application used virtual globe data to display news and information by city. It included four channels: the Live Channel for news and weather, the World Heritage Channel for historical site information, the United Village Channel for community and cultural information, and the U.S. exclusive PlayStation Network Game Trailers Channel for streaming game trailers. An update added the ability to view videos and photos within the application.

On April 20, 2011, Sony shut down PlayStation Network and Qriocity for an extended period. On April 23, Sony explained that the shutdown was due to a security breach affecting its systems. It was reported that personal information of 77 million users might have been stolen, including names, addresses, email addresses, birthdates, and login details. There was no evidence that credit card data was taken, though Sony advised users that it could not rule out the possibility. Sony later offered a "Welcome Back" program, including 30 days of free PlayStation Plus membership, two free downloadable games, and a one-year identity theft protection service for affected users.

Sales and production costs

The PlayStation 3 faced challenges early in its release, even though earlier PlayStation models had been very successful for Sony. At first, Sony's leader, Sir Howard Stringer, struggled to convince investors that the PS3 would improve its performance. The PS3 did not have the unique gameplay features of the more affordable Wii, which sold the most units during that generation. It also had to compete with the Xbox 360, which had already gained a strong market presence. Unlike the PS2, the PS3 did not have exclusive games like Grand Theft Auto or Final Fantasy at first. While Xbox 360 versions of games were often seen as better in 2006, by 2008, PS3 versions had reached similar quality. It took longer than expected for the PS3 to achieve strong sales and catch up to the Xbox 360. Sony continued losing money on each PS3 sold until 2010, though the redesigned "slim" PS3 helped reduce these losses.

The initial production cost of the PS3 was estimated to be about $806 for the 20 GB model and $840 for the 60 GB model. However, the consoles were sold for $499 and $599, respectively. If these cost estimates were correct, Sony may have sold each unit at a loss of about $306 or $241. This likely contributed to Sony’s games division reporting a business loss of ¥232.3 billion (about $1.97 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2007. In April 2007, Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced plans to retire. Some news outlets reported this was due to poor sales, while Sony stated Kutaragi had already planned his retirement for six months.

In January 2008, Kaz Hirai, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, suggested the PS3 might start making a profit by early 2009. He said, "If we can achieve this in the next fiscal year, that would be a great thing," but added that profitability was not guaranteed. Market analysts predicted the PS3 could be profitable by August 2008. In 2008, Hirai set a goal of selling 150 million PS3 units by its ninth year, surpassing the PlayStation 2’s sales of 140 million units in nine years. In January 2009, Sony announced its gaming division had become profitable in the third quarter of 2008.

After the PS3’s launch, production costs dropped significantly due to changes in hardware and manufacturing. The cost of making Cell microprocessors decreased as production shifted to a 65 nm process, and Blu-ray Disc components became cheaper to make. By August 2009, Sony had reduced manufacturing costs by 70%, bringing the cost per unit to about $240. The exact manufacturing cost at launch was never officially shared. In a 2019 interview, Phil Harrison of Sony said, "It was a worry because $600 was actually too cheap, because the machine was so expensive to make," though he could not reveal the exact figure, stating it would "make your eyebrows shoot clear off the top of your head."

Critical reception

Early reviews of the PlayStation 3 after its launch were not happy with its high price and few good games. Game developers found it hard to create games for the PS3. However, the PS3 was praised for its hardware, including its ability to play Blu-ray movies and its strong graphics.

Over time, people’s opinions of the PS3 improved. This happened after the price dropped, Blu-ray became more popular than HD DVD, and more good games were released. A review by Ars Technica gave the PS3 a 6/10 at first, but later in 2008, it received a 9/10. In 2009, IGN ranked the PS3 as the 15th-best gaming console ever, behind the Wii and Xbox 360. However, the PS3 won IGN’s "Console Showdown" in three of four years (2008, 2009, and 2011), with Xbox winning in 2010. IGN also said the PS3 had the best games of 2008 compared to the Wii and Xbox 360. In 2012, PC Magazine said the PS3 was better than the Xbox 360. Pocket-Lint called the PS3 "a brilliant games console" and said it was the best media device for its price.

The PS3 was listed as number eight on PC World’s list of "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006" because it was criticized for being late, expensive, and hard to use. GamesRadar ranked the PS3 as the top item in a list of game-related PR disasters, saying Sony turned a highly anticipated system into something people disliked. However, the article also said the PS3 had untapped potential. Business Week said people were more impressed by what the PS3 could do than by what it was doing at the time.

Developers found the PS3 hard to program for. In 2007, Gabe Newell of Valve said the PS3 was a "total disaster" and suggested Sony should cancel it. Later, Valve said it wanted to make games for the PS3 but needed more programmers. At E3 2010, Newell said Sony had made the system easier for developers and announced Valve would make Portal 2 for the PS3.

Activision Blizzard’s CEO, Bobby Kotick, said the PS3 was expensive for developers to use and had lower sales than the Wii and Xbox 360. He said these problems might make developers stop making games for the PS3. Kotick received criticism for these comments, especially from BioWare, which called his remarks "silly."

Despite early criticism, some websites gave the PS3 good reviews for its hardware. CNET UK said the PS3 was a versatile and impressive device worth its high price. It gave the PS3 an 8.8/10 score and called it a "must-have" gadget. Home Theater Magazine and Ultimate AV praised the PS3’s Blu-ray playback quality.

Kazuo Hirai, chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment, defended the PS3’s complex design. Hexus Gaming said the PS3 would become a top choice for gaming as developers improved their support for it. At GDC 2007, Dave Perry of Shiny Entertainment said the PS3 was the best gaming hardware available.

The PS3 Slim received positive reviews and sold well. It became the top-selling item on Amazon for 15 days after its release. PC World gave it a 90/100 score, praising its lower price, quieter operation, and reduced power use. CNET gave it four out of five stars, praising its Blu-ray features and price but noting it could not play PlayStation 2 games. TechRadar gave it 4.5 stars, calling it a "phenomenal piece of kit" but criticizing its design. Eurogamer said the PS3 Slim was a "massive win" for Sony.

The Super Slim model of the PS3 also received praise. Spong said it was quieter than the Slim and had a smaller, lighter design. However, the new disc loader required users to close the cover manually, which some found inconvenient.