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1995PlayStation console familyConsole family

PlayStation · Console family

PlayStation

Sony’s confident debut helped move games onto discs, into 3D, and toward an older audience.

Documented hardware recordA separately reviewed, source-backed history appears below.

After a broken partnership with Nintendo, Sony entered the market alone. Developer-friendly tools, inexpensive CD production, and a wide-ranging library helped PlayStation redefine the center of the industry.

Released
1995 · Exact day not documented
Platform / family
Fifth generation
Format / type
CD-ROM
Region
North America
Hardware source ↗Suggest a correction ↗

Curated archive history

Why this release matters

Source-backed

Sony launched the original PlayStation in Japan in December 1994, followed by North America and Europe in September 1995. CD-ROM storage and hardware built for real-time 3D helped establish series including Gran Turismo, Tekken, Resident Evil and Final Fantasy on Sony's first console. Sony reports lifetime sales above 100 million units.

Hardware design
Sony Computer Entertainment
Manufacturer
Sony Computer Entertainment
Editorial review
2026-08-05
01

Release context

PlayStation emerged after Sony's earlier work with Nintendo on CD technology ended. The system entered a market led by established game manufacturers but used accessible development tools, aggressive publishing support and low-cost optical media to attract studios.

02

Regional differences

Japan, North America and PAL territories use separate region locks and television standards. Model numbers, rear ports and internal revisions changed repeatedly. North American longboxes, standard jewel cases and European double-height cases create visibly different packages for the same software.

03

Physical packaging

A complete game may require one or more discs, the correct jewel case or longbox, rear inlay, front manual and registration material. Greatest Hits, Platinum, The Best and other budget lines use region-specific labels and artwork.

04

Editions and revisions

The smaller PS one redesign arrived in 2000. Earlier SCPH revisions vary in outputs and internals, while developer, promotional and Net Yaroze hardware are separate specialist variants.

Research sources

  1. Sony Interactive Entertainment — company history ↗
  2. PlayStation — 1994 to PS one history ↗
  3. Wikipedia — PlayStation ↗