It’s widely known that the PlayStation 2 is the best-selling gaming console of all time. It was first released in 2000 and enjoyed a lengthy lifespan that saw it remain in production up until 2012, surpassing any other console ever made. It spawned countless top-tier franchises that still exist today, and it topped the charts the world over for years, dominating the gaming industry. Recently, outgoing PlayStation executive, Jim Ryan, revealed how many units the PlayStation 2 sold during its decade-long lifecycle.
It was previously estimated that the PS2 had sold 155 million units between 2000 and 2012. That estimate wasn’t far off the final number, it seems. During an interview with the Official PlayStation Podcast, Jim Ryan – who has now left the company after thirty years – revealed that 160 million PS2 consoles were sold in total.
Legendary Legacy
As late as 2009, Sony was releasing the PlayStation 2 console in new regions. With thousands of games – some of which are considered the greatest games ever made – the PlayStation 2 enjoyed an audience made up of tens of millions of users around the world. There was something for everyone on the PlayStation 2, it didn’t matter if you were a fan of Silent Hill, Gran Turismo, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, or something much more niche – there was a home for you on the PlayStation 2.
It’s unlikely any console will reach the bar set by the PlayStation 2. There were recent claims made that Sony’s current flagship console, the PlayStation 5, will be the most successful model that the company has ever created, but there’s a long distance yet to go. The most recent numbers suggest that 50 million units of the PlayStation 5 have been sold since 2020, which puts it ahead of the game where the PS2 is concerned, but it’s almost guaranteed that the PlayStation 5 won’t be around for as long.
Even today, retro gaming fans insist that the PlayStation 2 is the greatest console of all time. I count myself among that crowd, as I’ve still got my trusty PlayStation 2 plugged in and raring to go. I insist to my wife that it’ll be the first console my son comes to appreciate, but let’s be honest – it’ll probably be whatever comes next for Nintendo. He’ll appreciate my gaming origins one day, but he’s already eyeing up the bright colours and cutesy visuals of Animal Crossing or Luigi’s Mansion, so that story is already written.
Do you have any fond memories of the PlayStation 2?
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