As the next generation of video game consoles keeps on turning up everywhere in the world, the best-selling console of all time turns 20 this year. On March 4, 2000, Sony released the PlayStation 2 in Japan, before bringing it to eagerly-waiting gamers around the world. Upon its birth, the PS2 was an instant hit. To take note, it remained popular for a very long time as well.
Even though its successor, the PlayStation 3, arrived two years after, the PlayStation 2 remained in production until 2013 as an affordable entry-level system. According to official figures from Sony, the company sold more than 155 million PS2 units since its launch, making it the most successful video game console by a wide margin.
As the following chart shows1, Sony has been dominating the gaming landscape for the past twenty and a half years, claiming four of the top five spots in the gaming hall of fame.
| Console | Estimated lifetime unit sales2 |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 (PS2) | 155.0m |
| PlayStation 4 (PS4) | 108.9m |
| PlayStation (PS) | 102.5m |
| Wii | 101.6m |
| PlayStation 3 (PS3) | 87.4m |
| XBOX 360 | 85.8m |
| Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) | 61.9m |
| Nintendo Switch | 52.5m |
| Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 49.1m |
| XBOX ONE | 46.5m |
| Nintendo 64 | 32.9m |
| Sega GENESIS | 29.5m |
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Both Sony and Microsoft are currently approaching the end of the PS4 and Xbox One lifecycle. Both companies have confirmed the launch of their next-generation consoles in time for this year’s holiday season; the next PlayStation will simply be called PS5, and the next Xbox will be named Project Scarlett.
Footnotes
- Source: Company reports; VGChartz
- as of December 31, 2019; excluding sales of re-released classic editions
