Identifying Valuable Editions and Variants - A Comprehensive Journey Through Gaming Evolution
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Collector's Guides: Identifying Valuable Editions and Variants
![A grey Sony Playstation 1 video game console with a controller](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_622d626e4d38355a33356f~mv2_d_2592_3872_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1464,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/nsplsh_622d626e4d38355a33356f~mv2_d_2592_3872_s_4_2.jpg)
Introduction: Sony PlayStation Consoles - A Journey Through Gaming History
Embark on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of gaming brilliance as we delve into the storied history of Sony PlayStation consoles. From the groundbreaking debut of the iconic PS1 to the cutting-edge advancements of the PS5, each entry in the PlayStation lineage has left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape.
This comprehensive guide serves as your passport to traverse time, exploring the remarkable features, design nuances, and technological milestones that define each PlayStation era. Whether you're a nostalgic collector, a dedicated gamer, or a tech enthusiast, join us in unraveling the tale of Sony's remarkable contributions to the gaming world.
PlayStation (PS1):
![Sony PlayStation (PS1)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_85df0a11c18f4613a7559f4a979683b3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_612,h_408,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_85df0a11c18f4613a7559f4a979683b3~mv2.png)
Release Year: 1994
Released on: December 3, 1994, worldwide
Notable Features: Sony's first home console, iconic gray design.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Launch price: $299.99
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 33.86 LSI CoreWare CW33300
GPU: 32-bit Sony
RAM: 2 MB EDO DRAM
Optical Drive: CD-ROM
Video Output: AV Multi, RCA, RFU, S-Video
PlayStation One (PSone):
![Sony PlayStation One (PSone)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_eba6a2f7683649cdab2d923115f28573~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_800,h_463,al_c,q_90,enc_auto/aa7471_eba6a2f7683649cdab2d923115f28573~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2000
Release date: September 2000
Launch price: $299 (US)
Notable Features: Slimmer version of the original PlayStation.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 33.86 MHz 32-bit LSI R3000
GPU: GTE-600nm
Memory: 8MB
RAM: 2MB
Optical Drive: CD
Video Output: 2 x USB, FireWire
PlayStation 2 (PS2):
![Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_cc10b160709a4828a0072d2dc3003abc~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_881,h_400,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/aa7471_cc10b160709a4828a0072d2dc3003abc~mv2.webp)
Release Year: 2000
Released on: March 4, 2000, in Japan, October 26 in North America, and November 24, 2000, in Europe
Launch price: $299.99
Notable Features: Slim design, DVD playback, backward compatibility.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 294.912 MHz R5900
GPU: GS-250nm
Memory: 8MB
RAM: 32 MB of RDRAM
Optical Drive: DVD
Video Output: AV Multi, RCA, RFU, S-Video
PlayStation 2 Slim (PS2):
![PlayStation 2 Slim (PS2)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_f55bb8fb51924d12b485923f33eef6b9~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_443,h_563,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_f55bb8fb51924d12b485923f33eef6b9~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2004
Launch price: $299
Notable Features: Compact version of PS2 with integrated AC adapter.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 294.912 MHz R5900
GPU: GS-250nm
Memory: 1TB HDD
RAM: 32 MB of RDRAM
Optical Drive: CD-ROM / DVD
Video Output: Composite Video, S-Video, VGA, YPbPr
PlayStation 3 (PS3):
![Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_90a57daa985d40c0a153cc2b9e8770ff~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_332,h_500,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_90a57daa985d40c0a153cc2b9e8770ff~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2006
Released on: November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006, in North America and March 23, 2007, in Europe
Launch price: $599.99 / $499 (US)
Notable Features: Blu-ray player, online capabilities, various models.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine
GPU: RSX 65nm
Memory: 20GB, 60GB (Japan & US)
RAM: 256MB XDR DRAM
Optical Drive: Blu-ray / DVD
Video Output: HDMI 1.3
PlayStation 3 Slim (PS3):
![Sony PlayStation 3 Slim (PS3)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_973f00e2a3a4407ca5e42ee511bb2564~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_615,h_406,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_973f00e2a3a4407ca5e42ee511bb2564~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2009
Release date: September 2009
Launch price: $299 (US)
Notable Features: Slimmer and lighter version of PS3.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: Eight-core X86 AMD Jaguar
GPU: RSX G70
Memory: 1TB HDD
RAM: 8GB GDDR5
Optical Drive: Blu-ray / DVD
Video Output: HDMI 1.3
PlayStation 3 Super Slim (PS3):
![Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim (PS3)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_6791902d58664ebb920855210b5be4b3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_577,h_433,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_6791902d58664ebb920855210b5be4b3~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2012
Release date:
Launch price:
Notable Features: Even slimmer design, top-loading disc tray.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 3.2GHz Cell Broadband Engine
GPU: RSX-28nm
Memory: 120GB, 160GB, 250GB, 320GB
RAM: 256MB GDDR3
Optical Drive: Blu-ray / DVD
Video Output: HDMI 1.3
PlayStation 4 (PS4):
![Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_4c7c6cf205bb4e368bb62e3d9c3cab99~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_964,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/aa7471_4c7c6cf205bb4e368bb62e3d9c3cab99~mv2.jpg)
Release Year: 2013
Released on: November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29 in Europe and February 22, 2014, in Japan
Launch price: $399.99
Notable Features: Share button, social integration, exclusive games.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 1.6GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar
GPU: 1.8 teraflops AMD Radeon
Memory: 500GB
RAM: 8GB GDDR5
Optical Drive: Blu-ray
Video Output: HDMI
PlayStation 4 Slim (PS4):
![Sony PlayStation 4 Slim (PS4)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_7fb45a6718244f72acd39a7fb31f0499~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_980,h_515,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/aa7471_7fb45a6718244f72acd39a7fb31f0499~mv2.webp)
Release Year: 2016
Release date: September 2016
Launch price: $299
Notable Features: Slimmer version of the PS4, HDR support.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 2.1GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar
GPU: 4.2 teraflops AMD Radeon
Memory: 1TB
RAM: 8GB GDDR5
Optical Drive: Blu-ray
Video Output: HDMI 2.0 in/out, 4K support
PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4):
![Sony PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_efb7db4e0b5b4708ac71e18fa7a4b133~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_384,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/aa7471_efb7db4e0b5b4708ac71e18fa7a4b133~mv2.jpg)
Release Year: 2016
Release date: November 2016
Launch price: $399
Notable Features: Enhanced graphics and performance, 4K support.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: x86-64 AMD “Jaguar”, 8 cores
GPU: 10.3 teraflops AMD RDNA 2
Memory: 825 GB custom SSD
RAM: 8GB GDDR5
Optical Drive: BD 6-speed CAV, DVD 8 speed CAV
Video Output: HDMI 2.0 in/out, 4K support
PlayStation 5 (PS5):
![Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_3dba521e36c944c58771baef5701e3fe~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_489,h_511,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/aa7471_3dba521e36c944c58771baef5701e3fe~mv2.png)
Release Year: 2020
Released on: November 12, 2020, in both North American and Japan then on November 19, 2020, throughout Europe
4K Capable with Ultra Blu-ray Drive
Launch price: $499.99
Notable Features: Ultra-fast SSD, ray tracing, DualSense controller.
Countries: Worldwide release.
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 8-core 3.5 GHz AMD Zen 2
GPU: 10.3 teraflop AMD RDNA 2
Memory: 825 GB custom SSD
RAM: 16GB GDDR6
Optical Drive: Blu-ray
Video Output: HDMI 2.0 in/out, 4K support
Playstation 5 Digital Edition (PS5):
![Sony Playstation 5 Digital Edition (PS5)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aa7471_1dbb175e48834744ab6efb3d6658c050~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_555,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/aa7471_1dbb175e48834744ab6efb3d6658c050~mv2.jpg)
Release: 2020
Released on: November 12, 2020, in both North American and Japan then on November 19, 2020, throughout Europe
4K Capable, Digital Media
Launch price: $399.99
Technical Specifications:
CPU: 8-core 3.5 GHz AMD Zen 2
GPU: 10.3 teraflop AMD RDNA 2
Memory: 825 GB custom SSD
RAM: 16GB GDDR6
Optical Drive: N/A
Video Output: HDMI 2.0 in/out, 4K support
As we conclude this journey through PlayStation history, there's more to explore in our comprehensive collector's guides. Dive deeper into limited and exclusive editions, uncover valuable tips for reselling, collecting, and investing on our blog.
For the second part of this article, we'll unravel the intrigue surrounding all limited and exclusive editions of Sony PlayStation consoles. Stay connected for insights that go beyond the ordinary.
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