Sony shuts down the PlayStation 2 in Japan

Sony shuts down the PlayStation 2 in Japan

Fri 28 Dec 2012 11:12pm GMT / 6:12pm EST / 3:12pm PST
Hardware

One of the best-selling consoles of all-time stops Japanese shipments

Sony

Sony has ceased shipments of the PlayStation 2 console in Japan, according to Famitsu (translated via Kotaku). The console was released in Japan way back in March of 2000 and has sold 21 million units in region as of December 23. Globally, the system has sold 153.6 million units since launch until the beginning of 2012.

Users in Japan can still purchase new PlayStation 2 systems, but once the stock is gone, it's gone.

There's been no additional word of the PlayStation 2 reaching end-of-life in other regions.

5 Comments

Greg Wilcox
Creator, Destroy All Fanboys!

It's actually nice that the PS2 lasted so long in Japan. I'm gathering 12 years will be the longest cycle for any home console this century, so I guess it's good to see Sony at least letting the system sell out completely to a base of new users who aren't obsessed with having the latest wonder, someone who wants something inexpensive for the kids or people replacing a dead system...

Posted:4 months ago

#1

Jamie Read
3D Artist

'Globally, the system has sold 153.6 million units since the beginning of 2012'
I think that sentence is worded wrong :)
PS2 is one of those consoles that will go down in history as one of the greats. Fantastic selection of games and an incredible lifespan on the market to boot.

Posted:4 months ago

#2

Rick Lopez
illustrator, designer, DJ

I for one am looking to purchase another one. I have an enormouse collection of games and would like a working console to run them on for the foreseeable future. This console has always kept me happy.

Posted:4 months ago

#3

Doug Paras

I'm gonna have to pick up a new PS2 cause I'm not willing to have to wait to buy all the PS1/2 games I still have on PS3 cause its not Backwords compatible.

Posted:4 months ago

#4

Greg Wilcox
Creator, Destroy All Fanboys!

I recently streamlined my PS2 collection down to about 250 or so games (not including demos) and still have a few working consoles here, but I think I need to locate a debug unit, as I don't have access to one anymore and I like to go back and poke around old game code here for the occasional article or purely nostalgic purposes...

Posted:4 months ago

#5

Login or register to post

Take part in the GamesIndustry community

Register now