PlayStation 2 has been discontinued in Japan

[Blacksite]

According to Famitsu (tried cleaning up Google's translation):

On December 28, 2012, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE here) announced shipments of the PlayStation 2 in Japan having been completed. Thus, the remaining stock is all that's left.

The PlayStation 2, released on March 4, 2000, was the successor to the PlayStation. Following the release of a newer model to decrease size and conserve power, the PlayStation 2 was supported by gamers over a long period of time. In addition, its built-in DVD player also helped boost worldwide sales of more than 150 million units.

Wikipedia has the number at 155.1 million units (as of March 2012).

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Incredible staying power. The PS2 is still getting games even now. I bet you PS3 will last WAY longer than PS2 did into next gen.

[radgamer420]

Incredible staying power. The PS2 is still getting games even now. I bet you PS3 will last WAY longer than PS2 did into next gen.

WAY longer? I doubt it. PS2 was a monster and was vastly more successful than the PS3.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

WAY longer? I doubt it. PS2 was a monster and was vastly more successful than the PS3.

If a cheap SD console with no real online capability can last 7 years into this gen, I don't see why an HD console with free online and a shit load of heavily discounted games won't last longer. There won't be as large a gap between this gen and next compared to the transition from SD to HD so I think the PS3 will still be an attractive and cheaper alternative...and I think that the PS3 is going to offer a more attractive entry point Aside from the PS3's badass value proposition (especially if they keep up IGC forPS3 during next gen), games like DUST 514 and FF14 are also going to keep gamers on the PS3. If Diablo 3 and Guild Wars 2 make it there then that will further the life span.

I have always felt that Sony is going to keep the PS3 relevant alot longer than people expect, it is clearly on the way to offering newcomers to the industry the most gaming for the least amount of money, like the PS2 did before it.

[Foraeli]

Incredible staying power. The PS2 is still getting games even now. I bet you PS3 will last WAY longer than PS2 did into next gen.

I don't really think so. The PS2 had way more awesome games and had a way better lead over the competition than the PS3. I don't even think Nintendo can recreate the same success the PS2 had.

[DarkVincent07]

This is kind of a big deal since its been selling so much for so long.

Best console evva!

[Blacksite]

Saw this on NeoGAF, posted in November:

This is not official! (yet)

Apparently, the source of this news comes from the Twitter account of a game shop in Japan, but the tweet no longer exists.

Some sites saved the tweet. Translated into English, it reads: "It appears that the PS2 hardware has finally been discontinued. People who want one should purchase it before stock runs out."

If someone has any other source, please chime in.

SCE has not said anything about discontinuations of the PS2 yet, although it's entirely possible that they will announce it soon.

[Blacksite]

I disagree. The PS2 had a large library of quality JRPGs, some of my personal favorites being Dark Cloud 2, Persona 4 and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King. You can't say the same for the PS3. We're still waiting on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, The Last Guardian and Agent, for Christ's sake.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I disagree. The PS2 had a large library of JRPGs, some of my personal favorites being Dark Cloud 2, Persona 4 and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King. You can't say the same for the PS3. We're still waiting on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, The Last Guardian and Agent, for Christ's sake.

Who are you disagreeing with?

[Blacksite]

Who are you disagreeing with?

I meant to quote your initial post but I was tired.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I meant to quote your initial post but I was tired.

A ha.Well, I don't mean just in Japan but in general. JRPGs may be big over there, but they would have very little effect on longevity in the rest of the world.

[AaronSOLDIER]

A ha.Well, I don't mean just in Japan but in general. JRPGs may be big over there, but they would have very little effect on longevity in the rest of the world.

Completely different story last gen, JRPGs were the biggest sellers around the world second only to sandbox games, mainly GTA.

[Arimax]

I disagree. The PS2 had a large library of quality JRPGs, some of my personal favorites being Dark Cloud 2, Persona 4 and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King. You can't say the same for the PS3. We're still waiting on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, The Last Guardian and Agent, for Christ's sake.

This^^ and not only that the quality of titles that at memorable are few and far between.

There are great titles, but memorable some are not.

You think about all the titles even included JRPG's that came out for PS2.

NBA Street, NFL Street, Tony Hawk Pro Skaters 3 and 4 plus Underground, SSX series, Tekken series that came out on the console at that time, Gran Turismo 3 and 4, Midnight Club series, GTA Series, God of War series, Metal Gear Solid series, and as you see this list goes on and on.


Now looking back at PS3 I'll give you Red Dead Redemption, Uncharted 2, Mass Effect, and even some other games, but for JRPG's it's been a bumpy road had to look high and low, and still haven't found a lot of them. Valkyria Chronicles is one I owned and was great, but other that I don't know of another JRPG I owned and liked.


Look back up at the list of PS2 games I forgot about Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank.

[Kuro]

To last that long.. Kudos Ps2. I still hsve my slim still laying around might pop in a game.

[claud3]

This sucks, but it means it's in a elite group of vintage collections

And will be remembered for the quality of games it provided for are entertainment

Will miss the good old days

Well I still have mine and will be playing it in memory

[DeviousOne]

Its a sad day but great accomplishment by the PS2!

[Silver_Knight]

This is sad. It was , in my opinion, the greatest system ever.

[Nitey]

Best console ever made. Software library was beyong insane, it truely had a monopoly when it came to 2nd and 3rd party devs. Sad day (assuming this is true). Still sells a 1k-2k/week in Japan

[DeviousOne]

Well now xbox360 sales can surpass the PS2 with this news lol

The PS2 was epic thanks Nintendo for screwing sony over in the early 90's we can thank the snes for all sony consoles lol

[Nitey]

Nah the PS1 was epic thanks to Nintendo. The PS2 was just a juggernaut in it's own right, from the pre-release hype to the launch, to the huge catalogue of diverse games, ah good times

Stolen from GAF:

Here are some of the rarest PS2's

European Automobile Color Collection

In October, a special PlayStation 2 'European Automobile Collection' was launched to celebrate the shipment of 20 million units worldwide. 5 different colours – white, red, yellow, blue, and silver, all with a metallic finish – were produced in quantities of 2,000 each.

Europe, Japan and the US received 666 each; where the two spare consoles from each batch went is a mystery....

FFXII Japan



Sakura LE


Ocean Blue LE


Ceramic White


Zen Black LE (Japan)

[Lasombra]

I think the lasting power of the PS3 is underrated. The longer the system lasts the cheaper it will get which will mean it'll be cheaper for games to be made on it. Like Ghost said, the online is free on the PS3, and the way things seem to be going Sony wants to connect all it's systems through one unified online service aka PSN. The Vita is hooked into it, and even with the PS4 coming whenever, Sony wouldn't just unhook the plug on the PS3 since the service can handle both systems.

The one question we need to ask ourselves is how much more advanced will a PS4/XBOX720 be? I doubt it'll be that much better that support for the PS3 will just suddenly die, especially considering the PS2 is still kicking. With the trophy system implemented it actually gives publishers/developers to continue making games as there will always be a market thanks to trophy hunters. Seriously, I bet that half of the sales of Hannah Montana were because of people wanting the easy platinum.

[Cybertox]

PS2 was a very great console for me. Remember playing NFS HP2 and gran turismo on it, good times man good times.

[KillingSpree0]

The Live in your world, Play in ours slogan was one of my favs. Wonder why it didn't carry over

[Blacksite]

I'm surprised PSU hasn't reported on this yet. A couple other sites have articles on it.

[claud3]

i noticed in the images posted of the PS2, that different models were made in japan and we never had a chance to get them here