PS2 25th Anniversary
Image: Push Square

25 years ago today, on the 4th March 2000 (we're going by Japan's current date here), the legendary PS2 was released. God, we're old.

The successor to the already wildly popular PlayStation, the PS2 would go on to sell a staggering 160 million units over the course of its life cycle. It's still the best-selling video game console of all time, with only the Nintendo Switch close to surpassing its record at the time of writing.

Many would argue that the PS2 has the greatest software library ever assembled — and it really is a thing of beauty. The generation was defined by so many classic PS2 titles, from beloved RPGs and outstanding action games, to top-tier fighters and eye-watering racers.

But it wasn't just the games that made the PS2 a global phenomenon. We need to remember that the system was also a very capable DVD player, and for much of its life, buying a PS2 was actually cheaper than buying a dedicated DVD device — a perfect recipe for success back in the early 2000s.

Following its March 2000 release in Japan, the PS2 would make its way to North America in October, while Europe got it in November. The console lasted almost 13 years before its worldwide discontinuation in 2013 — which, looking back, seems absolutely mad.

What are your fondest memories of the PS2? Dare we ask if you were there, day one? Go ahead and give away your age in the comments section below.

What are your thoughts on the PS2, 25 years later? (887 votes)

  1. It's the greatest console of all time%
  2. It remains one of the best consoles%
  3. It's a solid system%
  4. It's overrated%
  5. It was actually before my time%