Sony confirms incredible sales milestone for PlayStation 2

Key takeaways

  • Sony confirmed that PS2 sales have exceeded 160 million units, as previously reported by former CEO Jim Ryan.
  • The PS2 remains the best-selling console, with the Nintendo Switch close behind at 146 million units.
  • Despite being discontinued, the PS2 legacy lives on.



On November 26, Sony stated that its second console, the PlayStation 2had sold over 160 million units worldwide since its launch in 2000. Although the PlayStation 2 (PS2) has been off the market for over a decade, it remains the best-selling video game console of all time, although the Nintendo Switch remains hot on its heels.

Originally released in 2000, the PS2 succeeded the original PlayStation and was a success from the start. Along with releasing games that marked a huge generational leap between the PS2 and PS1, the PS2 was also backwards compatible with most PS1 games, controllers and memory cards. The PS2 was powered by the Emotion Engine CPU, which was a collaboration between Sony and Toshiba. At its original launch MSRP of $299, the PS2 was also considered an affordable DVD movie player, when the format was relatively new. Four years after its launch, the PS2 received a slimmed-down version known as the PS2 Slim.


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Over two decades since the PS2 took the world by storm, Sony has revealed how many units of its sixth-generation console have been sold. According to Sony's PlayStation History Blog, the PS2 has sold over 160 million consoles worldwide since its launch in 2000, up from the previously established total of 158.3 million. The new total applies to all PS2 units, including the PS2 Slim, sold during its lifetime. The staggering sales figures for the PS2 were confirmed by Sony's former president and CEO Jim Ryan in March 2024, at the time of his retirement. Ryan oversaw the launch of the PS2 and other Sony products. Although Sony continued to produce PS2 units until 2013, the same year the PS4 was launched, the PS2 released over 4,000 titles in its lifetime and launched series such as God of war and Ratchet and Clank which is still being released today.


Sony's PS2 sold a record 160 million units


  • Sony stated that the PlayStation 2 had sold over 160 million units worldwide since its launch in 2000.
  • The new sum was previously claimed by former CEO Jim Ryan, who retired in March 2024.
  • The 160 million unit milestone is an increase from the previous mark of 158.3 million.
  • Although the PS2 holds the current top spot, the Nintendo Switch is not far behind with 146 million units sold.

At the time of writing, the PS2 remained the best-selling video game console of all time, but another contender is not far behind. The Nintendo Switch has sold over 146 million units since its launch in March 2017, putting it roughly 14 million units behind overtaking the PS2. The Switch sales figures included both the Switch Lite and OLED variants. With Nintendo working on a yet-to-be-revealed successor to the Switch, its hybrid console continues on pace to potentially surpass the PS2 soon.

Although the PS2 has since been discontinued, titles such as Silent Hill 2 was remade for PS5 and PS5 Pro. Overall, the legacy of the PS2 remains strong in the hearts of gamers worldwide.


PS2TagPageHeader

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 was Sony's direct “sequel” to their original PlayStation and stands as one of the best-selling and best-loved consoles of all time. With a catalog of great games, it stood strong against the GameCube and Xbox in the sixth generation console wars.

Stamp
Sony

Original release date
October 26, 2000

Original MSRP (USD)
$299, £299

Weight
4.85 lbs

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