The PlayStation 2 was released in North America in 2000. Sony launched the console in the United States on October 26, 2000, following its Japanese debut earlier that year.
The PS2 was the second home console in the PlayStation family and succeeded the original PlayStation. Its launch combined conventional gaming hardware with a built-in DVD drive, an important advantage at a time when standalone DVD players were still expensive. The system also supported backward compatibility with many original PlayStation games and accessories, giving buyers access to a large library immediately.
The North American launch was highly anticipated but constrained by manufacturing and supply problems. Sony shipped roughly 500,000 units initially, far fewer than the one million units it had hoped to provide, leading to shortages and cancelled reservations. Europe received the console later, on November 24, 2000. The PS2 ultimately became one of the best-selling video game consoles ever, with a worldwide lifespan that continued until production ended in 2013.