{"id":472154,"date":"2026-07-14T03:24:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T03:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=472154"},"modified":"2026-07-14T03:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T03:24:24","slug":"when-did-the-playstation-2-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/","title":{"rendered":"When did the PlayStation 2 end?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#When_did_the_PlayStation_2_end\" title=\"When did the PlayStation 2 end?\">When did the PlayStation 2 end?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#General_Information\" title=\"General Information\">General Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#Discontinuation_and_Support\" title=\"Discontinuation and Support\">Discontinuation and Support<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#Gaming_and_Compatibility\" title=\"Gaming and Compatibility\">Gaming and Compatibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#Collectibility_and_Value\" title=\"Collectibility and Value\">Collectibility and Value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/#Miscellaneous\" title=\"Miscellaneous\">Miscellaneous<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_did_the_PlayStation_2_end\"><\/span>When did the PlayStation 2 end?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>The <strong>PlayStation 2 (PS2)<\/strong> officially ended its production in <strong>2013<\/strong>, with Sony announcing its discontinuation in <strong>Japan<\/strong> on <strong>December 28, 2012<\/strong>, and <strong>worldwide<\/strong> on <strong>January 4, 2013<\/strong>, marking the end of an era for one of the most iconic and <strong>best-selling consoles<\/strong> in gaming history, with over <strong>159 million units<\/strong> sold worldwide since its launch in <strong>March 2000<\/strong>. The <strong>PS2<\/strong>&#8216;s remarkable longevity can be attributed to its vast library of games, including <strong>PS1<\/strong> titles, making it a staple in many gamers&#8217; collections, and its impact is still felt today, with many considering it the <strong>greatest era of gaming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General_Information\"><\/span>General Information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>When was the PS2 first released?<\/strong> The <strong>PlayStation 2<\/strong> was first released in <strong>Japan<\/strong> on <strong>March 4, 2000<\/strong>, and later in <strong>North America<\/strong> on <strong>October 26, 2000<\/strong>, <strong>Europe<\/strong> on <strong>November 24, 2000<\/strong>, and <strong>Australia<\/strong> on <strong>November 30, 2000<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How many PS2 games exist?<\/strong> There are thousands of <strong>PS2 games<\/strong>, with many still being sought after by collectors and gamers alike, and some rare titles becoming highly valuable over time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is the PS2 worth buying in 2023?<\/strong> Yes, the <strong>PS2<\/strong> is still worth buying, with many of its games remaining <strong>compatible<\/strong> with the console and offering hours of entertainment, despite the absence of <strong>online multiplayer<\/strong> support.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discontinuation_and_Support\"><\/span>Discontinuation and Support<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>When did Sony stop making PS2?<\/strong> Sony stopped producing the <strong>PS2<\/strong> in <strong>2013<\/strong>, with the last units being manufactured in <strong>December 2012<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When did support for PS2 end?<\/strong> Customer support for the <strong>PS2<\/strong> ended on <strong>August 31, 2018<\/strong>, with aftercare service ceasing on <strong>September 7, 2018<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When did PS2 online shut down?<\/strong> The last official <strong>PS2 online server<\/strong> was shut down on <strong>March 31, 2016<\/strong>, with some unofficial servers remaining active for certain games.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gaming_and_Compatibility\"><\/span>Gaming and Compatibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong>Do PS2 games still hold up?<\/strong> Many <strong>PS2 games<\/strong> have <strong>stood the test of time<\/strong>, with engaging stories, immersive gameplay, and nostalgic value, making them still enjoyable today.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can PS2 be repaired?<\/strong> Yes, <strong>PS2 consoles<\/strong> can be repaired, with many authorized service centers and third-party repair shops offering <strong>affordable solutions<\/strong> for common issues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How long do PS2 games last?<\/strong> <strong>PS2 games<\/strong> can last for <strong>25+ years<\/strong> if stored properly, handled with care, and kept free from scratches and other forms of damage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Collectibility_and_Value\"><\/span>Collectibility and Value<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li><strong>Will PS2 games be rare?<\/strong> Some <strong>PS2 games<\/strong> are already rare and highly sought after, particularly those with limited print runs or unique features, making them valuable collector&#8217;s items.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Will PS2 become expensive?<\/strong> No, <strong>PS2 consoles<\/strong> are unlikely to become expensive, as they were produced in large quantities and are still widely available, although limited edition or rare consoles may increase in value.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is it worth keeping old PS2 games?<\/strong> Yes, it&#8217;s worth keeping old <strong>PS2 games<\/strong>, as they can increase in value over time and provide a nostalgic gaming experience.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Miscellaneous\"><\/span>Miscellaneous<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li><strong>Does Sony still sell PS2 games?<\/strong> Although <strong>PS2 consoles<\/strong> are no longer manufactured, <strong>Sony<\/strong> may still develop and sell <strong>PS2 games<\/strong>, with some titles being re-released or remastered for newer consoles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How do I dispose of an old PS2?<\/strong> You can dispose of an old <strong>PS2<\/strong> by returning it to the manufacturer, donating it to an organization, or visiting a local electronics recycling facility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is a chipped PS2?<\/strong> A <strong>chipped PS2<\/strong> refers to a console that has been modified with a <strong>modchip<\/strong>, allowing it to bypass regional restrictions or play <strong>backup copies<\/strong> of games, although this practice is generally frowned upon and may void the console&#8217;s warranty.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When did the PlayStation 2 end? The PlayStation 2 (PS2) officially ended its production in 2013, with Sony announcing its discontinuation in Japan on December 28, 2012, and worldwide on January 4, 2013, marking the end of an era for one of the most iconic and best-selling consoles in gaming history, with over 159 million &#8230; <a title=\"When did the PlayStation 2 end?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/when-did-the-playstation-2-end\/\" aria-label=\"More on When did the PlayStation 2 end?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-472154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472154\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}