18 years ago, Sony launched what would become one of the biggest icons in the gaming industry, the PlayStation 2. The level of popularity of the console is still unmatched to this day, and it remains at the top spot as the best-selling gaming platform of all time.
Perhaps because of that tremendous popularity, Sony kept the PlayStation 2 around for a long time. It was only in 2013 - not long before the PlayStation 4 made its way to the market - that the company decided to stop manufacturing it. Now, it"s time for the final nail in the coffin. After a whopping 18 years of providing support and repair services, Sony Japan will no longer service consoles that arrive at the PlayStation Clinic after September 7. Back in June, the company had warned customers that they would have to make any support requests before August 31, and it seems that this is the last week for consoles to be serviced.
The PlayStation 2 was launched for an entirely different generation of consumers back in 2000. Today, it"s hard to imagine that a console would offer a "networking bundle" option to its customers, and it"s almost crazy to think that such a device would still be supported in 2018.
The death of the PlayStation 2 is truly the end of an era. The passing of a console that most likely impacted the lives of every gaming fan in the world and which spawned classic titles such as Shadow of the Colossus, and many more. Some of those games can still be played on the PlayStation 4 today, and some others have been recreated for current hardware. Nonetheless, it"s hard not to mourn the end of its life.
What are your favorite memories of the PlayStation 2? Share your stories in the comments below!