Sony’s first PlayStation console was simply called PlayStation and launched in Japan in 1994.
Sony released the console on December 3, 1994. It used CD-ROMs rather than cartridges, giving developers more storage for music, video, and larger game worlds. The system emerged after Sony’s earlier collaboration with Nintendo on a CD-based accessory ended without a commercial Nintendo product.
The PlayStation became a major success in Japan, North America, and Europe. Its software included Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, and Crash Bandicoot. The original console is sometimes called the PS1 retrospectively, especially after the later PlayStation 2 appeared, but Sony’s official launch name was PlayStation.