Sony developed the PlayStation console, first released in Japan in 1994.
The original PlayStation launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, before reaching North America and Europe in 1995. It used CD-ROMs rather than the cartridges common on several competing consoles of the period. The format gave developers more storage for music, video, and large game worlds.
The system grew into one of the most successful video-game platforms ever made. Its successors included the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Sony's game business operates through Sony Interactive Entertainment, a subsidiary within the wider Sony group.
The PlayStation was not created by Nintendo or Sega, although Sony initially explored a technical partnership with Nintendo before pursuing its own console. Microsoft later entered the market with Xbox in 2001. Sony's entertainment, imaging, electronics, and financial businesses also contribute to its corporate identity.