Even before its launch in 2000, Sony's PlayStation 2 took the world by storm. It was so eagerly awaited that many blame the lowly sales of Sega's Dreamcast console, released a year prior, on anticipation for the PS2. On Dec. 28, Sony announced that it would be halting the shipment of new PS2s in Japan. On Monday it confirmed it has also stopped shipping the system to retailers worldwide.
Having sold more than 150 million units, the PlayStation 2 is easily the world's most successful home console of all time. There was new software still being released for it as recently as 2011, and the system itself continued to outsell other contemporary gaming devices for years after the PlayStation 3 succeeded it. Just during the holiday season of 2011, the PS2 sold as much in Japan as the newly launched PlayStation Vita.
There were many reasons for the PlayStation 2's success. For one thing, it included a built-in DVD player at a time when buying a standalone device was still expensive. This feature alone made the system a fixture in the living room, ensuring its use by far more people than just gamers. In addition to this and its impressive in-house line-up, the console was the exclusive home to the era's biggest third party franchises - "Metal Gear Solid," "Final Fantasy," and, of course, "Grand Theft Auto." Just as impressive, however, is that outside of blockbusters the system collected a number of excellent cult favorites such as "Katamari Damacy" and "Shadow of the Colossus."
In all, the PS2 amassed a library of over 10,000 games.
Of course, the PlayStation lineage continued with the release of the PS3 in 2006, but the launch was plagued by PR missteps, a high price point, and the slow release of new games. The system has gained momentum since, but will never be ubiquitous with the words "video games" like its predecessor.
Even though PS2 hardware will not be found on store shelves after the current supply runs out, it's possible that a large portion of the system's games will live on digitally. Already on the PS3 there is a selection of PS2 games available for purchase and download, and it's likely that more will be added in the future.
Sony is expected to reveal a new home console, the PlayStation 4, at this June's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
