Key conclusions
- Sony has confirmed that PS2 sales have surpassed 160 million units, as previously reported by former CEO Jim Ryan.
- The PS2 remains the best-selling console, with the Nintendo Switch not far behind at 146 million units.
- Despite being discontinued, the PS2's legacy thrives.
On November 26, Sony announced that its second console, the PlayStation 2has sold more than 160 million units worldwide since its launch in 2000. Despite being off the market for over a decade, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) remains the best-selling video game console of all time, although the Nintendo Switch remains close behind.
Originally released in 2000, the PS2 was the successor to the original PlayStation and was a success from the start. Along with releasing games that featured a large generational leap between the PS2 and the PS1, the PS2 was also backwards compatible with most PS1 games, controllers, and memory cards. The PS2 is equipped with the Emotion Engine processor, which was created jointly by 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 release, the PS2 received a smaller version known as the PS2 Slim.

Relatives
Rumor: A PlayStation event could be happening soon
A reliable source in the video game industry has been posting some interesting comments online regarding the rumored PlayStation event in December.
In the 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 more than 160 million consoles worldwide since its launch in 2000, up from the previous total of 158.3 million. The new total is for all PS2 devices, including the PS2 Slim, sold throughout their lifetime. The PS2's staggering sales figures were confirmed by former Sony president and CEO Jim Ryan in March 2024, around the time of his retirement. Ryan oversaw the launch of the PS2 and other Sony products. Although Sony continued to produce PS2 devices until 2013, the same year the PS4 was released, the PS2 released over 4,000 titles in its lifetime and launched series such as God of war and Ratchet and Clank which are still produced today.
Sony's PS2 sold a record 160 million units
- Sony said that the PlayStation 2 has sold more than 160 million units worldwide since its launch in 2000.
- The new total was previously announced by former CEO Jim Ryan, who stepped down in March 2024.
- The rating of 160 million units is an increase from the previous estimate of 158.3 million.
- While the PS2 holds the top spot, the Nintendo Switch isn't far behind with 146 million units sold.
At the time of writing, the PS2 remains 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 release in March 2017, roughly 14 million units behind the PS2. Switch sales figures included both Switch Lite and OLED variants. With Nintendo working on a yet-to-be-revealed successor to the Switch, its hybrid console continues to push forward to surpass the PS2 soon.
Although the PS2 has since been discontinued, titles such as Silent Hill 2 have been redesigned for the PS5 and PS5 Pro. All in all, the legacy of the PS2 remains strong in the hearts of gamers around the world.

PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 was Sony's direct “sequel” to their original PlayStation and is one of the best-selling and best-loved consoles of all time. With a catalog of amazing games, it stood strong against the GameCube and Xbox in the sixth generation console wars.
- Marco
- Sony
- Original release date
- October 26, 2000
- Original MSRP (US Dollars)
- $299, 299 lbs
- Weight
- 4.85 pounds