Every PlayStation Console’s Release Date And Launch Price

Over roughly three decades, Sony has firmly established the PlayStation brand as a staple of the gaming landscape. Ever since the PS1 was announced and fairly quickly garnered a foothold in the industry, the manufacturer has been producing (mostly) successful consoles that aim to balance accessibility, evolution, and power. As can be seen with the PS5 Pro, Sony revealing a PlayStation console will always inspire discussions, be it positive or negative.

While the discourse currently revolves around Sony’s future, this is also the perfect time to look at the company’s past, specifically concerning the release dates and launch prices. The PS5 Pro is something of an outlier, but Sony is not above throwing the occasional curveball when it comes to console reveals.

Updated on December 28, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Now that the PS5 Pro has been out for a couple of months, this is a good opportunity to expand on the section dedicated to that console.

Only the main PlayStation console models will be included, and no peripherals like PS VR or PlayStation Portable. Also, the focus is on North America, and the prices have not been adjusted for inflation.

PlayStation

September 9, 1995

• Japanese Release Date: December 3, 1994
• Launch Price (NA): $299
• Discontinued (NA): March 23, 2006

Sony’s console debut, the original PlayStation, is still arguably the company’s most iconic system, even if it was not quite as successful as some of its successors. Compared to pretty much every other PlayStation home console, the PS1 had a fairly short run as Sony’s main platform; however, it put PlayStation on the map and instantly established the brand as a direct competitor and alternative to Nintendo and Sega.

PS One

September 19, 2000

• Japanese Release Date: July 7, 2000
• Launch Price (NA): $99
• Discontinued (NA): March 23, 2006

Released very late in the PS1’s lifespan and after the PS2’s debut in Japan, the PS One was a budget option that was also designed around portability, at least to an extent. If they wanted to, players had the option to buy an LCD screen that could be attached to the system. While not among the most decorated or fondly remembered PlayStation consoles, the PS One did foreshadow Slim systems that would eventually become the norm.

PlayStation 2

October 26, 2000

• Japanese Release Date: March 4, 2000
• Launch Price (NA): $299
• Discontinued (NA): January 4, 2013

Building swiftly on the success of the PS1, the PlayStation 2 was unquestionably the leading console of its generation, and an argument could be made that it still represents Sony’s peak in gaming. Along with offering a significant boost in power compared to its predecessor, the PS2 could also double as a DVD player, giving it an edge over the Nintendo GameCube. With a massive library filled with all-time masterpieces, this console was and still is great.

PlayStation 2 Slimeline

November 3, 2004

• European Release Date: October 29, 2004
• Launch Price (NA): $149
• Discontinued (NA): January 4, 2013

Officially starting Sony’s run with mid-generation alternative consoles, the PS2 Slimline was considerably cheaper and even managed to include a few upgrades like an Ethernet port. That said, the Slim version had its share of issues that impacted compatibility with games and just general reliability. While still a decent option at the time, the original PS2 is the superior overall console and the one to pick up if someone is looking to add to their retro collection.

PlayStation 3

November 17, 2006

• Japanese Release Date: November 11, 2006
• Storage Sizes: 20/40/60/80/160 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $499 (20 GB)/$599 (60 GB)
• Discontinued (NA): October 2016 (Specific Date Not Available)

After two generations of (mostly) home runs, Sony arguably had its first major stumble with the reveal of the PS3. Considerably more expensive than the norm and boasting a relatively weak line-up of launch titles, the PlayStation 3 had a rough start that arguably persisted for years, with the console only really picking up steam after 2010. This generation also utilized a unique internal architecture that complicated the process of developing games for it, and all these years later, PS3 titles still have to be streamed rather than downloaded on PS Plus. That said, the PS3 did eventually turn things around.

PlayStation 3 Slim

September 1, 2009

• Japanese Release Date: August 27, 2009
• Storage Sizes: 120/160/250/320 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $299 (120 GB)
• Discontinued: October 2016 (Specific Date Not Available)

Arguably, the PS3’s fortunes began to change with the arrival of the Slim variant, which came with a fair more attractive price, along with a more appealing and lightweight design. While not all the changes were positive (this marked the point when Sony temporarily dropped backward compatibility), the PlayStation 3 Slim was nevertheless a substantial upgrade over its maligned predecessor, and it was among the best overall media options at the time.

PlayStation 3 Super Slim

September 25, 2012

• Storage Sizes: 12/250/500 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $269 (250 GB)
• Discontinued: October 2016 (Specific Date Not Available)

A move that Sony has yet to repeat, the PS3 received another Slim iteration, with the Super Slim coming out roughly a year before the PS4’s debut. Although the disc loader is generally quite polarizing, the Super Slim was nevertheless a solid expansion of its predecessor’s strengths. The original version came with 250 GB of storage, but a 12 GB iteration was also available for those who just used discs or wanted to add an HDD.

PlayStation 4

November 15, 2013

• Storage Sizes: 500 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $349
• Discontinued (NA): Not Yet

After the turbulent PS3 era, Sony did not take any risks with the PlayStation 4, launching the console at an immediately competitive price while providing a traditional architecture that could allow third-party developers to port projects without too many issues. The PS4 was a smash hit right out of the gate, instantly dominating the generation ahead of the Xbox One. Even more than a decade after its debut, the console is still available and regularly receives new games.

PlayStation 4 Slim

September 15, 2016

• Storage Sizes: 500 GB Or 1 TB
• Launch Price (NA): $299 (500 GB)/$349 (1 TB)
• Discontinued (NA): Not Yet

Very much delivering what its name advertises, the PS4 Slim is, ultimately, just a smaller version of the base console. Beyond that, this model comes with a few updates to coincide with advances in things like USBs and Bluetooth. Honestly, the biggest changes happened in April 2017 when the 1 TB PS4 Slim became the norm, offering a substantial boost in space for a still decent price.

PlayStation 4 Pro

November 10, 2016

• Storage Sizes: 1 TB
• Launch Price (NA): $399
• Discontinued (NA): Not Yet

Somewhat overshadowing the Slim iteration, the PS4 Pro was Sony’s first attempt to provide a notable mid-generation upgrade, something that has now been repeated with the PS5. While not a game-changing leap, the Pro iteration offered an improved CPU and GPU that could support some 4K output, along with just being able to better run PS VR games. Honestly, the latter was probably one of the biggest reasons that the PS4 Pro became a reality.

PlayStation 5

November 12, 2020

• Storage Sizes: 825 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $499.99
• Discontinued (NA): October/November 2023

Entering this generation as the unquestionable leader (as Nintendo exists in a separate ecosystem), Sony launched the PlayStation 5 from a position of strength, which was reflected in the hardware’s launch MSRB. Still, the PS5 was a powerful system for 2020, offering limited 4K and 60fps support. The console also came with the DualSense, arguably Sony’s best controller. Towards the end of 2023, the original PS5 was discontinued in favor of the Slim model.

PlayStation 5 Digital

November 12, 2020

• Storage Sizes: 825 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $399.99
• Discontinued (NA): October/November 2023

In a move that reflected the market’s gradual shift towards digital purchases, Sony opted to provide a PS5 Digital for anyone who had no intention of picking up discs. In 2020, this prospect did not seem that appetizing as PS Now had a fairly negative reputation; however, Sony eventually revamped the subscription service as PS Plus, which is in a good state nowadays. Nevertheless, the original Digital Edition was a commitment as a disc drive could not be bought separately if somebody decided they would rather have that functionality. Similar to the standard PS5, this console was discontinued in 2023 in favor of the Slim Digital Edition.

PlayStation 5 Slim

November 10, 2023

• Storage Sizes: 1 TB
• Launch Price (NA): $499
• Discontinued (NA): Current Main Console

The PS5 Slim very much lives up to its popular name: this is the PS5 but smaller. That might sound like an insignificant change, but the vanilla version is notoriously huge, so the Slim is certainly easier to manage. Beyond that, it has a slightly bigger SSD and more ports.

PlayStation 5 Slim Digital

November 10, 2023

• Storage Sizes: 1 TB
• Launch Price (NA): $449.99
• Discontinued (NA): Current Main Console

Similar to the standard iteration, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition is mostly the same as its predecessor, albeit with a smaller overall size. That said, a disc drive can be attached to this version, meaning players are not married to digital gaming if they opt to go with this edition.

PlayStation 5 Pro

November 7, 2024

• Storage Sizes: 2 TB
• Launch Price (NA): $699
• Discontinued (NA): Current Console

With the PlayStation 4 setting the precedent for mid-generation Pro upgrades, the PlayStation 5 following in the same footsteps seemed to be a given. Technically, that did happen, with Sony announcing a PS5 Pro in September 2024, along with a release date for a few months later. So far, so normal; however, this system ended up being quite a departure from the PS4 Pro, in more ways than one. Firstly, the console’s price tag is considerably higher, making it very much a niche piece rather than a must-own upgrade that most PS5 owners will want to at least consider. A disc drive is not included either. Also, the Pro’s release did not coincide with a price decrease for the “standard” PS5 (or the Slim), something that happened during the PS4 era.

In terms of spec improvements, the PS5 Pro is the most powerful console on the market, which makes sense considering it is far more expensive than the competition. Going through the console’s tech, the two biggest changes are the GPU and the SSD, both of which received fairly substantial upgrades. The former ties directly into the PS5 Pro’s Ray-Tracing capabilities, along with the introduction of PSSR (an AI upscaling software that is pretty impressive). Quite a few games take advantage of the PS5 PRO’s heightened power to present their definitive versions on consoles. The PS5 Pro might not be a must-own system by any means, but it is an impressive piece of tech in its own right.

PlayStation Portable

March 24, 2005

• Japanese Release Date: December 11, 2004
• Launch Price (NA): $249.99
• Discontinued (NA): 2014

The PlayStation Portable marked Sony’s first foray into handheld gaming, and the console was generally a massive success that initially seemed capable of challenging Nintendo’s dominance in the field. While that did not ultimately happen, the console’s 3D capabilities, expansive library, and popularity in Japan ensured a respectable legacy.

The PSP received three models: PSP-1000, PSP-2000, and PSP-3000.

PSP GO

October 1, 2009

• Storage Sizes: 16 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $249.99
• Discontinued (2011): April 20, 2011

In many ways, the PSP GO was ahead of its time. A digital-only console was rather surprising in 2009, even if the PS Store had been around for a while by that point. The system came with 16 GB of memory at launch, which was mostly OK for PSP games. Unfortunately, this iteration did not perform that well and had a short shelf life.

PSP Street

October 26, 2011

• Launch Price (EU): €99
• Discontinued (EU): 2014

Perhaps the most obscure PlayStation console, the PSP Street did not receive a North American release. Very much intended to be the most budget option imaginable, this model could not support Wi-Fi and was seemingly designed to be the direct opposite of the PSP Go.

PlayStation Vita

February 15, 2012

• Japanese Release Date: December 17, 2011
• Launch Price (NA): $249.99
• Discontinued (NA): March 1, 2019

Considering the success of the PSP, the PlayStation Vita seemed poised to be a hit, especially since it was far and away the most powerful handheld system on the market. The inclusion of two joysticks was also a big improvement over the PSP, and the console was generally all-around great. Unfortunately, the PS Vita never quite maximized its potential and seemed to become an afterthought fairly quickly, eventually to the point of barely receiving any exclusives.

Similar to the original PSP, the Vita received a revised model a few years into its lifespan, with the PCH-2000 iteration being more lightweight and even containing 1 GB of storage.

PlayStation TV

October 14, 2014

• Japanese Release Date: November 14, 2013
• Storage Sizes: 1 GB
• Launch Price (NA): $99
• Discontinued (NA): 2015

Although not making a huge splash, the PS TV was a fairly impressive piece of tech that, unfortunately, struggled to find an audience outside of Japan. The system was designed to play a select range of PS Vita games on a TV, which was a pretty great idea. Ultimately, there did not seem to be that much demand for this type of release, although an argument could be made that the PS Vita and PS TV somewhat foreshadowed the Nintendo Switch’s hybrid concept.