Tag: Jim Ryan

Sony moves the goalposts again: PlayStation 2 has sold 5 million more than we knew, once again

Sony is in high spirits. PlayStation is turning 30 years old very soon. Specifically, on the upcoming December 3rd. That’s why they have decided to release themed models of their console and peripherals, among other things. But they are not just making us spend money. They also wanted to do something that everyone can enjoy. Sony has updated the PlayStation website, recounting the 30 years of the brand. Additionally, they provided an interesting fact regarding PlayStation 2 sales. Sony claims the history of PlayStation, confirming that it’s impossible to beat them […]

Sony is celebrating. PlayStation turns 30 years old very soon. Specifically, on December 3rd. That’s why they have decided to release themed models of their console and peripherals, among other things. But they are not just making us spend money. They also wanted to do something that everyone can enjoy. And Sony has updated the PlayStation website recounting the 30 years of the brand. In addition to providing an interesting fact regarding PlayStation 2 sales.

Sony claims the history of PlayStation by confirming that it is impossible to beat them

As far as we knew, PlayStation 2 had sold 155 million units worldwide. This is stated on the Business Data & Sales page of Sony Interactive Entertainment. But a few weeks ago, Jim Ryan said it wasn’t true: it was actually 5 million more. None of this had been officially confirmed by Sony. Until now. In the timeline of the console’s history, it is confirmed that PlayStation 2 has sold 160 million consoles since its launch in 2000.

Why is this important? Because it means that Nintendo Switch, which has sold 146.04 million units so far, is officially far from being able to take the record from Sony. This makes it likely that Nintendo will still not be able to take the throne of having the best-selling console in history, where the Nintendo DS already fell slightly short, with 154.02 million units.

Of course, these numbers are somewhat biased. Where they come from is questionable and the timing of their appearance, when Nintendo might surpass them, makes them even less reliable. But these are the numbers that independent estimates have always handled. Making it likely that they are true, even though it is quite ridiculous to bring them up to prevent losing the title of best-selling console. Potentially.

Arguments over numbers aside, 30 years of Play is a journey through the entire history of PlayStation in the form of a well-crafted infographic that is worth delving into. Very carefully made and with a lot of work behind it, it shows true affection for the brand. In addition to having a very distinct identity. Something we miss in Sony today. And we like to see that, even in their celebration and to stand above Nintendo, they remember they have.

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PlayStation 2 has sold 5 million units more than we thought, according to Jim Ryan

PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console in history, but according to Jim Ryan, we don’t even know to what extent, as he has stated in a podcast.

Something we didn’t expect in the year 2024 is that PlayStation 2 would be news. With over a decade since it stopped being manufactured and sold, it is a console that, in commercial terms, is already completely dead and buried. But it seems that there are particular interests in not exactly letting this be the case. Because it turns out that there were still things we didn’t know about it.

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Jim Ryan, who officially left his position on March 31, appeared on the official PlayStation podcast to talk about his career and his time at Sony. In those circumstances, he revealed a previously unknown fact. He stated that the PlayStation 2 had sold 160 million units worldwide to date. This contradicts the figures that had been reported, even by Sony.

The latest official figures we have date back more than a decade, to a slightly lower reference. On March 31, 2012, Sony declared that 155 million units of the PlayStation 2 had been sold, making it the best-selling console in history.

What reason is there for Jim Ryan to now come out and say that the figure is not accurate? Because the PlayStation 2 is very close to ceasing to be the best-selling console in history. Nintendo Switch has sold 139.36 million units worldwide as of December 31, 2023, and without a successor in sight yet, it has a good chance of dethroning PlayStation 2 as the best-selling console of all time. At least, it was when its total sales were 155 million.

Although it may seem made up, we actually have reasons to believe that it is a real figure. After all, the PlayStation 2 would not stop being manufactured until early 2013, with the remaining stock being sold in emerging countries, so those additional five million since March 2012 are not unreasonable. They have been brought up due to the proximity of the Nintendo Switch, there is no doubt about that, but that does not mean that there are no reasons to continue thinking that the PlayStation 2 will likely continue to reign as the best-selling console in history in the near future.

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PlayStation has decided to celebrate the career of their former CEO in the most absurd way possible

The CEO of PlayStation has retired this month, after thirty years working in the company, so they have decided to give him a farewell tribute… with a twist.

The video game industry is old enough for some of its important figures to be dying. Also for the second generation of these to be retiring. It’s a natural cycle, and some handle it with more grace than others. Something that doesn’t seem to matter too much to Sony, given the circumstances.

Jim Ryan has retired this March 2024 after thirty years at PlayStation. Reaching the position of CEO of the company, he was one of the most important figures in the video game industry, for better or for worse. That’s why at Sony they have decided to celebrate his thirty years working in the company in the most grotesque way possible: by giving away a digital collectible in the form of a bobblehead doll of Jim Ryan.

If you want to achieve it, you will have to do something that would make Jim Ryan happy. You will have to play one of the games that he promoted within the company, such as Gran Turismo 7, Marvel’s Spider-man 2, God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Destiny 2. As you can see, these are exclusively games from Sony’s recent years, as a man who claimed not to understand why anyone would want to play old Sony games when asked why their consoles were not backward compatible.

While it is a somewhat ridiculous way to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary, in addition to giving an expensive importance to the players that is doubtful to have, it is a sweet gesture in its own way. Grotesque, but sweet. Because at least, and seeing the industry trends, they haven’t made it an NFT.

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