PlayStation is a video game brand created and made by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a company that works for the larger Japanese company Sony. Its main products include a line of home video game consoles, handheld devices, online services, magazines, and other media.

The idea for PlayStation came from Sony executive Ken Kutaragi. The first PlayStation home console was released in Japan in 1994 and later sold worldwide the next year. It became the first console of any type to sell over 100 million units, making PlayStation a well-known brand globally. Since then, Sony has released newer consoles, including the most recent PlayStation 5 in 2020. Other products include handheld consoles, a media center, and a smartphone. The main controllers used with PlayStation are called DualShock, which are gamepads that vibrate to give players feedback. SIE also runs online services like PlayStation Network, PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Plus. These services may offer games and other entertainment. As of December 2019, PlayStation Network had over 103 million active users each month.

PlayStation has many games made exclusively for its consoles by PlayStation Studios, a group of studios owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Sony also sells budget versions of games with different names in different regions, such as Greatest Hits, Platinum, Essentials, and The Best. PlayStation is known for its four iconic face buttons (, , , ) and for its marketing campaigns. Recent campaigns include "Greatness Awaits" and "Play Has No Limits."

History

PlayStation was the idea of Ken Kutaragi, a Sony executive who led one of the company's hardware engineering teams and was later called "The Father of the PlayStation."

Before 1991, Sony had little direct involvement in the video game industry. The company provided parts for other consoles, such as the sound chip for Nintendo’s Super Famicom, and operated a video game studio called Sony Imagesoft. In a joint project between Nintendo and Sony that started in 1988, the two companies worked to create a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom. However, Nintendo denied the partnership as late as March 1991. At the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1991, Sony introduced a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM drive using Green Book technology, called "Play Station" (also known as SNES-CD). A day after the announcement, Nintendo ended its partnership with Sony, choosing instead to work with Philips but using the same technology. The partnership ended because Nintendo and Sony could not agree on how to split profits. This decision angered Sony President Norio Ohga, who then assigned Kutaragi the task of creating a PlayStation project to compete with Nintendo.

At the time, negotiations between Nintendo and Sony continued. Nintendo offered Sony a "non-gaming role" in its new partnership with Philips, but Kutaragi rejected the offer. He faced criticism within Sony for his work in the video game industry. Negotiations officially ended in May 1992. In June 1992, a meeting was held with Sony President Ohga, Kutaragi, and Sony’s senior board members. Kutaragi presented a CD-ROM-based system with 3D graphics to the board. Ohga decided to continue the project after Kutaragi reminded him of the embarrassment caused by Nintendo. However, due to strong opposition from most attendees and resistance from older Sony executives, Kutaragi and his team were moved to Sony Music, a separate financial unit owned by Sony, to keep the project alive and maintain ties with Philips for the MMCD development project (which later helped create the DVD).

According to SCE’s producer Ryoji Akagawa and chairman Shigeo Maruyama, there was uncertainty about whether the console should focus on 2D sprite graphics or 3D polygon graphics. After seeing the success of Sega’s Virtua Fighter in Japanese arcades, Sony realized that 3D polygon graphics should be the console’s main focus.

The PlayStation logo was designed by Manabu Sakamoto. He wanted the logo to reflect the console’s 3D support. Instead of simply adding depth to the letters "P" and "S," he created an optical illusion that made the letters appear to extend into space. Sakamoto used four bright colors—red, yellow, green, and blue—and adjusted the green color for better harmony. He also designed a black-and-white version of the logo for use when colors were not available.

At Sony Music Entertainment, Kutaragi worked with Shigeo Maruyama, CEO of Sony Music, and Akira Sato to form Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) on November 16, 1993. The partnership with Sony Music helped SCEI attract creative talent and supported manufacturing, marketing, and disc production, which Sony Music had previously handled with Music Discs. The final two key members of SCEI were Terry Tokunaka, president of SCEI from Sony’s headquarters, and Olaf Olafsson, who was CEO and president of New York-based Sony Interactive Entertainment, the parent company of Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA), founded in 1994.

The PlayStation project, SCEI’s first official project, was approved by Sony executives in 1993 after years of development. In 1993, Phil Harrison, who later became President of SCE Worldwide Studios, joined SCEI to help attract game developers and publishers to create games for the PlayStation platform.

In March 1994, Computer Gaming World reported a rumor that the "Sony PS-X" would be released in Japan before the end of the year for less than $400. After a demonstration of Sony’s distribution plan and technology samples to game publishers and developers in Tokyo in 1994, many developers began working with PlayStation. Two major partners were Electronic Arts in the West and Namco in Japan. One reason developers chose the platform was its use of a 3D-capable, CD-ROM-based console, which was cheaper and easier to produce than Nintendo’s rival console, which used cartridges. The PlayStation was released in Japan in December 1994 and sold well due to its lower price compared to the Sega Saturn. Its popularity grew after it was released worldwide in North America and Europe.

Home consoles

The original PlayStation was released in Japan on December 3, 1994. It was the first console in the PlayStation series. Later models and upgrades included the Net Yaroze (a special black PlayStation with tools for programming games), the PS one (a smaller version of the original), and the PocketStation (a handheld device that improved PlayStation games and acted as a memory card). It was part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, competing with the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64. By December 2003, the PlayStation and PS one had sold a combined total of 102.49 million units. The PlayStation became the first console to sell 120 million units.

The PS one was released on July 7, 2000, at the same time as the PlayStation 2. It was a smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation. The PS one sold more units than other consoles, including its successor, throughout the year. It had two main changes compared to the original: a new appearance and a redesigned home menu with a graphical user interface (GUI), which was previously used only on PAL consoles.

The PlayStation 2 was released in 2000, 15 months after the Dreamcast and a year before the Xbox and GameCube. It was part of the sixth generation of consoles and could play most original PlayStation games. It had a slimmer design. The PlayStation 2 sold over 155 million units by December 28, 2012. It reached 100 million units sold in 5 years and 9 months, faster than the PlayStation, which took 9 years and 6 months to reach the same number. Production of the PlayStation 2 ended worldwide in 2013. It is considered the best-selling console of all time as of 2015.

The PlayStation 2 Slimline was released in 2004, four years after the original PlayStation 2. It was smaller, thinner, and quieter than the original. It included a built-in Ethernet port in some regions. In 2007, Sony released a lighter version of the Slimline with a lighter power adapter. In 2008, Sony released another version with an internal power supply, making the console even lighter.

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released in Japan on November 11, 2006. It competed with the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. It was the first PlayStation console to use motion-sensing technology with its Sixaxis wireless controller. It also had a Blu-ray Disc player and supported high-definition resolution. The PS3 originally came with a 20 GB or 60 GB hard drive, but later models had larger storage, up to 500 GB. It sold over 80 million units worldwide by November 2013.

The PlayStation 3 was redesigned in 2009 as a "slim" model. It was 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and used 34% to 45% less power than earlier models. It had a new cooling system and a smaller processor. It sold over a million units in its first three weeks. The slim model supported console control via a TV remote and had a quieter design. It no longer had a "main power" switch, like the PlayStation 2 slim. It was released in North America and Europe on September 1, 2009, and in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on September 3, 2009.

In 2012, Sony released a new "Super Slim" PlayStation 3. This model had a redesigned case with a sliding door covering the disc drive, which was moved to the top of the console. It weighed 4.3 pounds, about three pounds less than the previous slim model. It came with 12 GB of flash memory or a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive. Some bundles included a Super Slim PS3 and games.

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) was announced by Sony on February 20, 2013. It used the x86 architecture, a new design for the PlayStation series. Development began as early as 2008. Sony wanted to avoid launching the next-generation console after competitors. It introduced the PlayStation App, allowing smartphones and tablets to act as a second screen for gameplay. It also planned to launch PlayStation Now, a game streaming service. The PS4 was released in North America on November 15, 2013. It competed with the Xbox One and the Nintendo Wii U and Switch in the eighth generation of consoles.

The PlayStation 4 Slim was released on September 7, 2016. It had a smaller, rounded body with a matte finish. The front had two USB ports with more space between them, and the optical audio port was removed. It came with a slightly updated DualShock 4 controller, with a light bar visible through the touchpad and a matte gray color. The PS4 Slim was released on September 15, 2016, with a 500 GB model at the same price as the original PS4. Its model number is CUH-2000.

The PlayStation 4 Pro, or PS4 Pro, was released on September 7, 2016. It had a more powerful GPU with 4.2 teraflops of processing power and a faster CPU. It was designed to support 4K resolution in select games and improve quality for PlayStation VR. All games were compatible between PS4 and PS4 Pro, but optimized games had better graphics on the PS4 Pro. The PS4 Pro could not play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and was the only PS4 model that supported remote play at 10

Handheld systems

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first handheld console to compete with Nintendo's DS console. The original model (PSP-1000) was released in December 2004 and March 2005. It used a new type of storage called Universal Media Disc (UMD) to store games and movies. It had 32 MB of internal memory, which could be expanded using Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Its control layout was similar to the PS3, with buttons labeled "Triangle," "Circle/O," "Cross/X," and "Square" in white.

The PSP-2000 (also called the Slim & Lite in PAL regions) was the first major update to the PSP, released in September 2007. It was 33% lighter and 19% thinner than the original model. Although its battery capacity was reduced by one-third, the battery life remained the same because the device used less power. Older batteries could still be used and increased playtime. The PSP-2000 had a glossy finish and a modified serial port to support a new video-out feature, which made older remote controls incompatible. PSP games on the PSP-2000 could only display on external monitors or TVs in progressive scan mode, while non-game videos could use either progressive or interlaced mode. USB charging was also added. Buttons on the PSP-2000 were more responsive. In 2008, Sony released the PSP-3000, which included a built-in microphone, an upgraded screen, and the ability to output games in interlaced mode.

The PSP Go, released in October 2009, was the biggest redesign of the PSP. It did not use UMDs but instead had 16 GB of internal storage, which could be expanded to 32 GB with a Memory Stick Micro (M2) card. Its battery was not removable. The PSP Go was 43% lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP-1000 and 16% lighter and 35% smaller than the PSP-3000. It had a 3.8-inch LCD screen (smaller than previous models) and a sliding mechanism to reveal controls. The PSP Go was sold alongside the PSP-3000 but did not replace it. All games for the PSP Go had to be downloaded from the PlayStation Store, as it was not compatible with UMDs. It could also connect to PlayStation 3 controllers via Bluetooth.

The PSP Street (PSP-E1000) was a budget model released in 2011. It lacked Wi-Fi and stereo speakers, using a single mono speaker instead. It had a matte "charcoal black" finish like the slim PlayStation 3. It was sold in the PAL region for €99.99.

The PlayStation Vita, previously called the Next Generation Portable (NGP), was released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America on February 22, 2012. It was first shown in January 2011. The original model (PCH-1000) had a 5-inch OLED touchscreen, two analog sticks, a rear touchpad, motion sensors, and a 4-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor.

The PCH-2000 model, released in 2013, was lighter and thinner than the original Vita. It had an LCD screen instead of OLED, 1 GB of internal storage, and a micro USB Type B port. It was available in six colors and released in Japan in 2013 and North America in 2014.

The Vita was discontinued in March 2019. Sony's president, Jim Ryan, said the company no longer focuses on portable consoles.

In early 2023, Sony announced a new portable system called PlayStation Portal, which streams PS5 games from a home console. It was released on November 15, 2023, for $199.99.

Controllers

• An original PlayStation controller
• PlayStation Analog Joystick
• PlayStation Mouse
• Dual Analog controller

Released in 1994, the PlayStation control pad was the first controller made for the original PlayStation. It had a simple design with a D-pad, four main buttons (Green Triangle, Red Circle, Blue Cross, and Pink Square), and Start and Select buttons on the front. The controller also had "shoulder buttons" on the top, labeled L1, L2, R1, and R2 (L = Left, R = Right, and 1 and 2 = top and bottom). In 1996, Sony released the PlayStation Analog Joystick for flight simulation games. The original digital controller was replaced in 1997 by the Dual Analog controller, which added two analog sticks using the same technology as the Analog Joystick. This controller was later replaced by the DualShock controller.

• An original DualShock controller
• DualShock 2 controller
• Sixaxis controller
• DualShock 3 controller
• DualShock 4 controller
• DualSense controller
• DualSense Edge controller

Released in 1998, the DualShock controller for the PlayStation replaced its predecessor, the Dual Analog, and became the longest-lasting controller series for the PlayStation brand. It included all the buttons from the original digital controller (D-pad, Start, Select, L1, L2, R1, R2) and added two analog sticks, which could be pressed to activate L3 and R3 buttons.

The DualShock series includes four controllers: the DualShock, which was the fourth controller for the PlayStation; the DualShock 2, the only standard controller for the PlayStation 2; the DualShock 3, the second and current controller for the PlayStation 3; and the DualShock 4, which had a major redesign and became the default controller for the PlayStation 4. The DualShock 4 was originally compatible with the PS3 only via USB, but later received a software update to support Bluetooth. The Sixaxis was the first official controller for the PlayStation 3 and shared the same design as the DualShock series but did not have vibration motors.

Like the Dual Analog, the DualShock and DualShock 2 had an "Analog" button between the analog sticks to toggle between analog and digital input. On the PlayStation 3 Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers, the analog sticks were always active. Starting with the Sixaxis, a "PlayStation button" (with the PS logo) was added to controllers. This button replaced the "Analog" button on earlier models. Pressing the PS button on the PS3 opened the XMB menu, while holding it on the PS4 brought up the "Quick Menu" (options like quitting a game, changing settings, or turning off the console).

PlayStation Move is a motion-sensing game controller system for the PlayStation 3. It uses a handheld motion controller and the PlayStation Eye webcam to track the controller's position and motion sensors to detect movement. Introduced on June 2, 2009, PlayStation Move launched in late 2010. At launch, it included the main PlayStation Move motion controller and an optional sub-controller. Although it used existing PlayStation 3 hardware, Sony treated it as a new platform with marketing campaigns. Sony offered bundles, such as a starter kit with a PS Eye, a Move controller, and a demo disc, and a full console bundle with a PS3, DualShock 3, PS Eye, and Move controller.

Other hardware

The PocketStation was a Memory Card peripheral made by Sony Computer Entertainment for the original PlayStation. Sony described it as a combination of a Memory Card and a small personal digital assistant. It was released only in Japan on January 23, 1999. The device had a black-and-white LCD screen, a speaker, a real-time clock, and the ability to communicate using infrared. It could also be used as a standard PlayStation memory card by connecting it to a PlayStation memory card slot. It was very popular in Japan. Sony originally planned to release it in the United States, but the plan was canceled due to manufacturing and supply issues.

In 2000, an optional 5-inch LCD screen (SCPH-131) was released for the PSone, which was a redesigned version of the original PlayStation. This screen had built-in speakers, a headphone jack, and an AV input jack. It was later included as part of a bundle called the "Combo Pack" with the PSone in 2002.

In 2003, the Sony PSX was released only in Japan. It was a fully integrated DVR and PlayStation 2 video game console. It was the first Sony product to use the XrossMediaBar (XMB) and could connect to a PlayStation Portable to transfer videos and music via USB. It also included software for editing videos, photos, and audio. The PSX supported online gaming through an internal broadband adapter and was compatible with games that used the PS2 HDD, such as Final Fantasy XI. It was the first Sony product under the PlayStation brand that did not include a controller with the device.

In 2010, the Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 was released. It was a 22-inch (56 cm) 720p television that included a PlayStation 2 console and had 4 HDMI ports.

In late 2011, a 24-inch 1080p PlayStation-branded 3D television, officially called the PlayStation 3D Display, was released. A feature of this television was SimulView, which allowed each player in a multiplayer game to see only their own screen (in full HD) through their 3D glasses, instead of a split screen.

PlayTV is an add-on unit for the PlayStation 3 that allows the PS3 to function as an HDTV or DTV receiver and as a digital video recorder (DVR).

The Xperia Play is an Android-powered smartphone with a slide-up gamepad similar to the PSP Go. It was developed by Sony Ericsson for gamers and is the first smartphone to be PlayStation Certified.

Sony Tablets are PlayStation Certified Android tablets released in 2011, 2012, and 2013. They can connect to PlayStation 3 controllers and integrate with the PlayStation network using a special app. The models released between 2011 and 2013 include the Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Xperia Tablet S, and Xperia Tablet Z.

PlayStation TV, known in Asia as PlayStation Vita TV, is a microconsole and a non-portable version of the PlayStation Vita handheld. It was announced on September 9, 2013, during a Sony Computer Entertainment Japan presentation. Instead of having a built-in screen, the console connects to a television via HDMI. Users can play games using a Sixaxis or DualShock 3 controller. However, some games are not compatible with PS TV because they rely on features like the touch screen, rear touchpad, microphone, or camera. The device is compatible with over 100 Vita games, as well as digital PlayStation Portable, PlayStation, and PC Engine titles. It supports Remote Play with the PlayStation 4, allowing players to stream games from the PS4 to a separate TV connected to PS TV. It also allows users to stream content from services like Hulu and Niconico and access the PlayStation Store. The system was released in Japan on November 14, 2013, in North America on October 14, 2014, and in Europe and Australasia on November 14, 2014.

PlayStation VR is a virtual reality device made by Sony Computer Entertainment. It has a 5.7-inch 1920×1080 resolution OLED display and operates at 120 Hz, which helps eliminate blur and create smooth images. It has a low latency of less than 18ms. The device also produces two sets of images—one visible on a TV and one for the headset—and includes 3D audio technology to allow players to hear sounds from all directions. PlayStation VR was released in October 2016.

The PlayStation Classic is a small version of the original 1994 Model SCPH-1001 PlayStation console. It comes with 20 preloaded games and two original-style controllers. It was launched on the 24th anniversary of the original console on December 3, 2018.

• PocketStation
• LCD screen for PSone
• PSX
• BRAVIA KDL22PX300
• The official PS2 DVD remote control
• The official PlayStation 3 Bluetooth remote control
• PlayTV
• PlayStation Eye
• Xperia Play (open position)
• Sony Tablet
• PlayStation TV
• PlayStation Camera
• PlayStation VR
• PlayStation VR2
• PlayStation Classic

Games

Each console has many different games. The PlayStation 2, PSX, and PlayStation 3 can play most games from the original PlayStation. Some of these games can also be played on the PlayStation Portable, but they must be bought and downloaded from a list called "PS one Classics" in the PlayStation Store. Games made for the PlayStation 2 can only be played on the original PlayStation, PSX, and early versions of the PlayStation 3 that support older games. The PlayStation 3 has two types of games: those on Blu-ray Discs and downloadable games from the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Portable has games on physical media like Universal Media Discs and digital downloads from the PlayStation Store. Some games are only available on the Universal Media Disc, while others are only available in the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Vita has games on physical media like the PlayStation Vita card and digital downloads from the PlayStation Store.

• PlayStation games in Japanese store
• PlayStation store in Taiwan
• PlayStation store in China

PlayStation Studios is a group of game developers owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It creates games only for PlayStation consoles. The series has produced popular games like the Gran Turismo racing series and critically praised games like the Uncharted series. Other well-known games include God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Twisted Metal, LittleBigPlanet, Infamous, The Last of Us, and Spider-Man.

Greatest Hits (North America), Platinum Range (PAL territories), and The Best (Japan and Asia) are games for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable consoles that Sony sells again at a lower price. Each region has different rules for which games qualify for re-release. During the PlayStation era, a game had to sell at least 150,000 copies (later 250,000) and be on the market for at least one year to be in the Greatest Hits range. During the PlayStation 2 era, the requirements increased to 400,000 copies sold and at least nine months on the market. For the PlayStation Portable, games needed to be on the market for nine months with at least 250,000 copies sold. Currently, a PlayStation 3 game must be on the market for 10 months and sell at least 500,000 copies to qualify for Greatest Hits. PS one Classics are games originally made for the PlayStation that are now available in the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. Classics HD are collections of PlayStation 2 games remade for the PlayStation 3 with improved graphics, extra features like PlayStation Move support, 3D support, and PlayStation Network trophies. PlayStation Mobile (formerly PlayStation Suite) is a system that allows PlayStation games to be played on different devices, including PlayStation Certified Android phones and the PlayStation Vita.

Sony has supported independent game developers since adding a digital store to the PlayStation 3. At first, developers had to complete many steps to get their games approved. Sony made the process easier when moving to the PlayStation 4.

As Sony moved from the PlayStation 4 to the PlayStation 5, they started a new program called PlayStation Indies in July 2020, led by Shuhei Yoshida. The program aims to highlight new and creative indie games for the PlayStation 4 and 5, similar to past games like PaRappa the Rapper, Katamari Damacy, LittleBigPlanet, and Journey. Sony also plans to add more indie games to the PlayStation Now service as part of this program.

Online services

Online gaming on PlayStation consoles began in July 2001 with the release of PlayStation 2's unnamed online service in Japan. This service was later released in North America in August 2002 and in Europe in June 2003. The service was discontinued on March 31, 2016.

The PlayStation Network, launched in 2006, is an online service that focuses on multiplayer gaming and delivering digital media. It is managed by Sony Computer Entertainment and works with PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 consoles. As of December 2019, the service had over 103 million active users each month. The Sony Entertainment Network also offers features such as PlayStation Home, PlayStation Store, and Trophies.

The PlayStation Store is an online marketplace where users can purchase or download games, add-on content, demos, themes, and movie trailers. It is available to users of PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation Portable consoles through the PlayStation Network. The store accepts both cash and PlayStation Network Cards. New content is added every Tuesday. The PlayStation Store can be accessed via an icon on the XMB menu on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable devices. The PlayStation 3 store is also available on PlayStation Portable through a Remote Play connection. Additionally, the PlayStation Store can be accessed on computers using the Media Go application. As of September 24, 2009, the PlayStation Store had more than 600 million downloads worldwide.

The PlayStation Store also provides access to films and television shows. These were available on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable devices and later on some Sony BRAVIA televisions, VAIO laptops, and Blu-ray Disc players starting in February 2010.

Life with PlayStation was a Folding@home application for PlayStation 3 that connected to Stanford University's Folding@home network. This allowed users to donate their console's unused processing power to research projects. The Folding@home client was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment and Stanford University. Life with PlayStation also included a 3D view of the Earth with weather and news updates, a World Heritage channel with information about historical sites, and the United Village channel, which shared information about global communities. The Life with PlayStation project ended with the PlayStation 3 system software update version 4.30 on October 24, 2012.

PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service on the PlayStation Network that enhances standard PSN features. It allows users to automatically download game updates and system software. Subscribers receive early access to game demos, beta tests, and premium downloadable content, such as full game trials of titles like Infamous and LittleBigPlanet. Other benefits include discounts on PlayStation Store items, free games, PS one Classics, PlayStation Minis, themes, and avatars. A 14-day free trial is available.

The PlayStation Blog is an online gaming blog focused on PlayStation topics, part of the PlayStation Network. It was launched on June 11, 2007, and has featured interviews with companies like Square Enix. It includes posts from Sony Interactive Entertainment executives. A sub-site called PlayStation Blog Share, launched on March 17, 2010, allowed readers to submit and vote on ideas related to PlayStation. A European version, PlayStation Blog Europe, was launched on May 28, 2009, to replace the "semi-official" site Three Speech. This version was merged into the main blog on June 1, 2020.

The PlayStation App was released on January 11, 2011, for iOS and Android devices. It allows users to view their trophies, see which PlayStation Network friends are online, and read updates about PlayStation. It does not support gaming features. As of March 2, 2014, the app had been downloaded more than 3.6 million times.

PlayStation Mobile (formerly PlayStation Suite) is a software framework designed to deliver downloadable PlayStation content to Android 2.3 and higher devices and the PlayStation Vita. It works across different platforms and devices, a feature Sony calls "hardware-neutral." It was planned for release by the end of 2011. Android devices certified to play PlayStation Suite content smoothly would receive the PlayStation Certified certification.

PlayStation Now (PS Now) was a streaming service based on Gaikai technology that provided PlayStation gaming content to PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV, and BRAVIA televisions. Users could access a selection of PlayStation 3 titles either by paying per game or through a subscription. PlayStation Now was announced on January 7, 2014, at the Consumer Electronics Show. At the event, Sony demonstrated games like The Last of Us, God of War: Ascension, Puppeteer, and Beyond: Two Souls playable through PS Now on BRAVIA TVs and PlayStation Vitas. The service launched in open beta in the United States and Canada on July 31, 2014, for PlayStation 4; on September 18, 2014, for PlayStation 3; and on October 14, 2014, for PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV. Support for select BRAVIA TVs followed later that year. PlayStation Now was merged into PlayStation Plus in May and June 2022 and is no longer available as a standalone subscription.

PlayStation Home is a social gaming networking service for PlayStation 3 users on the PlayStation Network. It is accessible through the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar and requires a PlayStation Network account. Development began in early 2005, and a public beta test started on December 11, 2008. Users can create custom avatars and decorate their personal spaces with items they purchase or earn. They can explore the Home world, which is updated regularly by Sony and partners. Public areas are used for fun, displays, or meeting others. The service includes mini-games for single or multiplayer use. Users can shop for items to customize their avatars or spaces. Video screens in public areas show advertisements, and the main entertainment area is a theatre. Special events, such as prize-giving or entertainment events, are hosted regularly. Users can connect with friends and customize content. Xi, a notable feature of Home, was the first console-based alternate reality game created by nDreams and played in secret areas of Home.

"Room" (officially spelled as R∞M with capital letters)

Software

The XrossMediaBar, first used on the PSX, is a menu system for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, as well as other Sony devices. The system displays icons arranged horizontally across the screen. Users move the icons instead of using a cursor. These icons act as categories to organize the options available to the user. When an icon is selected on the horizontal bar, additional icons appear vertically above and below it (controlled by the up and down buttons on a directional pad). The XMB can also be accessed during games, but only on the PlayStation 3. This feature allows players to reach certain parts of the XMB menu while playing a game. However, the ability to play users' own music in games depends on game developers, who must include or update this feature in their games.

LiveArea is a menu system designed for the PlayStation Vita. It is intended to include social networking features through the PlayStation Network and is specifically created for touchscreen interaction.

In 2002, Sony released the first fully working operating system for a video game console, following the Net Yaroze experiment for the original PlayStation. This kit included an internal hard disk drive and software tools, allowing the PlayStation 2 to function as a computer running Linux. Users could connect the PlayStation 2 to the internet with a network adapter, to computer monitors with a monitor cable adaptor, and use a USB keyboard and mouse to control Linux on the console.

The PlayStation 3 (excluding the PlayStation 3 Slim) can run Linux without additional hardware on firmware versions before 3.21. Yellow Dog Linux offers an official version that can be downloaded, and other versions like Fedora, Gentoo, and Ubuntu have also been successfully used on the console. Linux on the PlayStation 3 allowed users to access six of the seven Synergistic Processing Elements, but Sony added a hypervisor to block access to the RSX. The ability to install a second operating system on the PlayStation 3 was removed in a firmware update released in 2010.

Media

The PlayStation brand has many magazines from different parts of the world that share articles and stories about PlayStation. Many of these magazines work with Sony and often include demo discs for PlayStation games. Today, three magazines are still being published: PlayStation: The Official Magazine, PlayStation Official Magazine, and Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia). Over time, many other PlayStation magazines were created, but some are no longer in use. These include Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, and Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine.

PlayStation Underground was a special type of magazine made by Sony Computer Entertainment America from Spring 1997 to Spring 2001. Each quarter, subscribers received two PlayStation CDs, a booklet, and colorful packaging. The CDs included interviews, game tips, programmer notes, game demos, and unique Memory Card saves. Some issues showed how games were designed and developed from start to finish. Because the CDs could only be used on a PlayStation, they helped promote the brand. This led to the creation of PlayStation Underground JamPacks Demo CDs, which included highlights from the magazine and many game demos. Unlike PlayStation Underground, JamPacks were sold in stores for $4.95 and released twice a year in Summer and Winter. They focused on newly released or upcoming games. By 2001, Sony stopped producing PlayStation Underground and instead focused on JamPacks with the launch of the PlayStation 2. Today, PlayStation Underground CDs are mostly owned by collectors.

Marketing

Advertising slogans used for each PlayStation console version:

• "e NoS Lives" (The first letter 'E' was printed in red to show the word, ready. Enos was short for Ready, Ninth of September) (US Commercials)
• "U R Not e " (The letter 'E' was printed in red to show the word, ready, as in You Are Not Ready)
• "Do Not Underestimate The Power of PlayStation." (From the S.A.P.S. – Society Against PlayStation — series of adverts)

• "Wherever, Whenever, Forever."
• "The Beginning."
• "Live In Y ur W rld, Pl y In urs." (The PlayStation face button icons were used to show certain letters: Live In Your World, Play In Ours)
• "(Welcome to the) Third Place."
• "Fun, Anyone?"
• "The ultimate just got better – PlayStation 9 – teleport yours today."

• "PSP Hellz Yeah" (PSP-1000 Series)
• "Dude, Get Your Own…" (PSP-2000 Series)
• "Everywhere Just Got Better" (PSP-3000 Series and PSPgo)
• "It's GO Time" (PSPgo)
• "Your Whole World In Your Hands" (UK & Europe Territories)
• "Step Your Game Up" (US Territory, PSP-3000 Series and PSPgo)

• "The Wait Is Over"
• "Welcome Chang 3 " (the number three is used to show an 'e' and was printed in red)
• "This is Living."
• "Play B 3 yond" (the number three is used to show an 'e' and was printed in red)
• "It Only Does Everything" (US Commercials) (PS3 Slim)
• "The Game Is Just The Start. Start PS3." (EU countries)
• "Long Live Play" (PS3 Slim)
• "Never Stop Playing" (PS3 Slim)
• "Greatness Awaits" (PS3 SuperSlim)

• "This Changes Everything"
• "Move Into The Action"

• "Download, Play, Connect."

• "Never Stop Playing."
• "The World is in Play." (EU only)

• "See the Future"
• "Push the boundaries of Play"
• "Greatness Awaits"
• "This is 4 the Players"
• "Where the Greatest Play"

• "Play Has No Limits"
• "It Happens on PlayStation 5"

The most notable recent PlayStation commercials are the "It Only Does Everything" series, which features a fictional character named Kevin Butler, who is a vice president at PlayStation. These commercials advertise the PlayStation 3 and its games by showing comedic answers to "Dear PlayStation" questions. These commercials were popular among gamers, but the first one was criticized by the Nigerian government because it referenced 419 scams from Nigeria. Sony apologized and changed the ad to fix the issue.

A version of this campaign was created for the PlayStation Portable, called the "Step Your Game Up" campaign. It features a fictional teenage character named Marcus Rivers, who answers "Dear PlayStation" questions about the PSP in a way similar to Kevin Butler.

In July 2006, an advertising campaign in the Netherlands used a white model dressed in white and a black model dressed in black to compare Sony's new Ceramic White PSP and the original Piano Black PSP. The ads showed the models fighting, and some people said the ad was racist. Sony said the ad did not have racist messages.

In November 2006, a marketing company hired by Sony's American division created a website called "All I want for Xmas is a PSP" to promote the PSP. The site had a blog written by a character named "Charlie," who tried to convince his friend's parents to buy him a PSP. The site also had a "music video" of Charlie or his friend rapping about the PSP. Visitors to the site quickly realized it was a marketing campaign, and Sony admitted it was poorly planned.

Between 1999 and 2007, and again from 2009 to 2010, PlayStation was the main sponsor of French Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre and Olympique Lyonnais.

PlayStation was an official sponsor of WWE pay-per-view events, including In Your House: Buried Alive, WrestleMania 13, Badd Blood: In Your House, and InVasion. The PlayStation 2 sponsored three consecutive Royal Rumble events (2003–2005), Armageddon 2004, and No Mercy 2005.

Between 2016 and 2022, PlayStation was the sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl.

Reception

In 2005, the Australian newspaper The Age published an article about the PlayStation brand. The article included interviews with several industry experts. Jeffrey Brand, an associate professor in communication and media at Bond University, said, "PlayStation sparked our imagination with video games." Yoshiki Okamoto, a game designer, called the brand "revolutionary — PlayStation changed how people play games, sell games, and more." Evan Wells from Naughty Dog said, "PlayStation made playing games popular and exciting."

In 2009, ViTrue, Inc. listed PlayStation as number 13 on their list titled "The Vitrue 100: Top Social Brands of 2009." The ranking was based on how popular the brand was on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and blogs.

In 2010, Gizmodo reported that PlayStation was one of the last Sony products to stand out from its competitors. The article said, "If you ask most people on the street what their favorite Sony product is, many will say PlayStation." By April 2012, PlayStation was the most followed brand on Facebook, with over 22 million fans and followers. This number was higher than any other brand in the entertainment industry. A study by Greenlight's Entertainment Retail showed that PlayStation was the most active brand on social media, making 634 posts and tweets on Facebook and Twitter.

In July 2014, Sony announced in a company video that PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita sold a total of 100 million units combined. At the Tokyo Game Show on September 1, 2014, it was reported that PlayStation home consoles held 78% of the market share for all home consoles in Japan.

As of 2015, PlayStation was the best-selling home console brand worldwide.