A History of PlayStation

From the secret alliance with Nintendo that started it all to the global dominance of the PlayStation 5, this book chronicles the complete and captivating story of one of the most iconic brands in entertainment history.

Go behind the scenes and discover the origins of the original PlayStation, a project born from a legendary betrayal that revolutionized the industry and made video games cool. Relive the unparalleled reign of the PlayStation 2, the best-selling console of all time, which conquered living rooms by becoming a Trojan horse for the DVD revolution.

This meticulously researched history details every triumph and every stumble. You'll get the inside story on the console wars: the philosophical clash between the PS1 and the Nintendo 64, the PS2's coronation against the GameCube and the upstart Xbox, the PS3's dramatic comeback from a disastrous launch to outsell its rivals, and the PS4's perfect counter-attack that solidified Sony's return to the throne.

Explore the powerful handhelds, from the multimedia powerhouse PSP to the cult-classic PS Vita. Learn about the masterminds behind the magic—the legendary first-party studios like Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and Santa Monica Studio—and follow their evolution as they created generation-defining classics from Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon to The Last of Us and God of War.

The story doesn't shy away from the missteps, either. Uncover the truth behind the great PSN hack of 2011, the flawed bet on the UMD format, and the misfired nostalgia of the PlayStation Classic. Finally, look to the future with an analysis of the trends like cloud gaming, virtual reality, and subscription services that are shaping the next chapter of PlayStation.

This is more than just a history of hardware; it's a story of creative genius, corporate warfare, and the unforgettable games that have defined generations.