For those fortunate (or old enough) to have been around when thePlayStation 2launched way back in 2000, we were treated to amazing cinematic experiences, compelling RPGs, and all sorts of games back then. For a lot of gamers, it was the best console of all-time, and now, the PS2 can lay claim as the most successful console in history in terms of units sold.
Sony has updated the PlayStationwebsiteto mention that the PS2 is now at a staggering 160 million units sold worldwide since its launch 24 years ago.
Before Sony’s PS2 took the top spot, the reigning king was the Nintendo Switch, which has shipped over 146 million units worldwide. However, if you count portable devices (since they are still consoles), then the first runner-up would be the Nintendo DS which is now at 154.02 million units sold per Niko Partners' Director of Research and Insight,Daniel Ahmad.
13 Best PS2 Horror Games, Ranked
PS2 is known for its wide collection of horror games, but these are some of the best and most well-known classics to arrive on the platform.
The PS2 was first released in Japan on July 06, 2025, with the US release following soon after on October 26. It touted a built-in DVD player, which was ridiculously expensive at the time, and including it out of the box was a masterstroke by Sony, as its high price point of $299 back then was justified by tech experts as a “bargain” given you’re not only getting a game console, but a standalone DVD player as well. Back then, the average price of a DVD player was roughly $600, which made the $299 price seem cheap in comparison.
In terms of games, the PS2 had a diverse launch lineup consisting of 29 titles ranging from sports games, fighting games, shooters, and more. Curious about what games were available when the unit launched?You can check out the list below courtesy of our sister site, Game Rant, which also hasa feature on the PS2’s launch gameswe recommend giving a read.
10 Best PS2 Games That Never Left Japan
These fantastic PlayStation 2 games that never made it out of Japan shouldn’t be forgotten.
Of course, with the Switch still selling briskly to this day, there is a chance Nintendo can once again snag the crown from Sony in the near future since the console will still be sold even if its successor is released.
In comparison, the PS5had sold65.5 million units as of November 2024, which puts it in line with its last-gen brethren, which had sold 67.7 million consoles at the same point in theirlifecycle.
As someone who owned a PS2 at launch and enjoyed the variety of games it had on offer, I consider it probably the best console of all time. Either that or it’s the SNES, though I’m sure other gamers have different picks.
Congrats, Sony! Here’s to hitting more console milestones in the future!
10 Best PS2 Fighting Games Of All Time, Ranked
The PlayStation 2 brought some incredible fighting games during its lifetime. This list breaks down the 10 best to grace the PS2 system.
