Fact 1- PlayStation's Origin Story
The PlayStation story begins with a broken partnership. Initially, it was a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Sony to create a PlayStation with a CD-Rom player. However, the collaboration fell apart because Nintendo pulled out at the last minute, and Sony decided to continue with the project independently, thus giving birth to PlayStation.
Fact 2- The First Edition was a Massive Hit
The PlayStation console sold over 100,000 units on its first-day release in Japan on December 3, 1994. After a year, it was launched in the rest of the world and was still a massive hit.
Fact 3- PlayStation 2 - The Best-Selling Console
Adding to Sony's success in the gaming industry is the PlayStation 2, which remains the best-selling console worldwide, with a whopping 155 million units sold, according to data from Sony.
Fact 4- The Iconic Controller Design
The PlayStation controller's iconic design has been the same since the original console, modeled after a boomerang. The only major changes over the years have been the introduction of color and the addition of two more shoulder buttons.
Fact 5- The PS2’s Secret Function
Many gamers might not know that the PlayStation 2 had a secret function; it could play DVDs! Back in the day, DVD players were expensive and the PS2 offered a highly affordable alternative.
Fact 6- The Original PlayStation's Secret
The original PlayStation had a secret feature too. It was capable of playing audio CDs, a feature which was very innovative then since other gaming consoles at that time didn't offer this feature.
Fact 7- The PSP's Internet Capabilities
The Playstation Portable (PSP) was one of the first handheld gaming devices to include internet browsing capabilities, providing gamers on-the-go with unmatched convenience.
Fact 8- Record-Breaking PS4 Sales
The PlayStation 4 also holds a sales record. It sold 1 million units in the first 24 hours of its release in the United States, making it the fastest-selling console in the country at that time.
Fact 9 - PS3’s Blu-Ray Feature
Just like the PS2 was a convenient DVD player, the PlayStation 3 had a hidden advantage too. It was a relatively affordable way to get a Blu-Ray player in your home.
Fact 10 - PlayStation’s Museums
Sony has established PlayStation dedicated museums in Tokyo and San Mateo, California. Here, you can see various PlayStation hardware, software, and memorabilia from the console's long history.
Fact 11- PlayStation VR’s Success
PlayStation VR has been quite successful, with over 5 million units of the virtual reality headset sold since its launch in October 2016.
Fact 12- The DualShock's Innovative Feature
Sony's DualShock controller was one of the first gaming peripherals to incorporate a vibration feature, adding a layer of immersion to games that wouldn't be commonplace until years later.
Fact 13 - A Console for Charity
In 2005, Sony came up with a limited edition 'PlayStation 2' for charity. It was a pink PS2, where £10 from its sale went to Breast Cancer Research.
Fact 14- PlayStation’s Influence on the Anime Industry
'Neon Genesis Evangelion', an incredibly influential anime, shares ties with PlayStation. Its creator, Hideaki Anno, designed the third PlayStation's startup sound.
Fact 15- Limited Edition PS4 for Anniversary
To celebrate the PlayStation's 20th anniversary, Sony released a limited edition PS4 in the original PlayStation's gray color. Only 12,300 units were made, making it a collector's item.
Fact 16- The PS3's cost at launch
In an infamous part of PlayStation history, the PlayStation 3 launched with a hefty price tag of $599, which is the highest price for a console to date.
Fact 17- PlayStation’s Hidden Symbols
The square, triangle, circle, and cross on the PlayStation controller are not random. Each one represents a different aspect of gaming: 'O' for 'yes', 'X' for 'no', square for a sheet of paper to represent menus, and the triangle for viewpoint.
Fact 18- PS2’s Backward Compatibility
This is a lesser-known fact - the PlayStation 2 could play almost all PlayStation 1 games, making it the first backward-compatible console!
Fact 19 – The Three Beeps!
Ever wonder why your PlayStation 3 or 4 console emits three beeps as it shuts down? This is your console checking that there are no discs left in the drive upon shutdown as a protection mechanism.
Fact 20- Launch Titles
At release, the original PlayStation launched with eight games, the PS2 had 29 games, the PS3 had 14 titles, and the PS4 had 18 games available. Interestingly, the PlayStation 5 had the most, with 28 titles available at launch.