5 years in the past, in November 2020, PlayStation 5 marked a brand new period of velocity, immersion and creativity. As we have a good time its fifth anniversary, we take a look at how PS5 has developed – yr after yr – via system software program updates, new equipment, and neighborhood milestones that proceed to redefine gaming.
2020: The start of a brand new technology
The launch of the PS5 in November 2020 redefined what a console may do. Powered by an ultra-high-speed SSD, immersive 3D audio, and the modern DualSense wi-fi controller, the PS5 launched a brand new technology of never-before-felt immersion in gaming.
- Share display screen debuted, permitting gamers to look at their pals’ gameplay in actual time by way of PS5 and afterward the PS app. Since its launch, Share Display has been used greater than 1.6 billion occasions, totaling extra 900 million hours. Probably the most shared titles embrace Fortnite, Roblox, Name of Obligation: Trendy Warfare II and Grand Theft Auto V.
- Accessibility has been on the coronary heart of PS5 since day one. The console was launched with 11 accessibility options, which you will have grown to twenty by 2025, together with new additions like accessibility labels and a second attendance controller. One in 4 PS5 customers You’ve enabled not less than one in all these accessibility options.
- Every PS5 console and accent options micro-textured PlayStation shapes; solely on DualSense, there may be 45,674 small triangles, circles, crosses and squares.
2021: Increasing the expertise
Because the PS5 participant base grew, so did the platform’s capabilities. 2021 targeted on updates that expanded social connectivity and storage choices:
- First main PS5 system replace added Share Play between generations, permitting PS5 gamers with PlayStation Plus membership to just about “cross the controller” to pals utilizing PS4. Since its launch, Share Play has been used for 700 million occasions on PS5.
- M.2 SSD Storage Growth gave gamers freedom to develop their libraries. Utilizing an industry-standard M.2 format supplied a versatile and cost-effective method to broaden PS5 storage, and thousands and thousands of avid gamers have since adopted the characteristic.
- We additionally added the power to share PS5 sport captures by way of the PlayStation app, Leading to 5.6 billion screenshots uploaded. At the moment, virtually half of PlayStation messages are despatched from the PS app. over 1 billion voice chat periods which is carried out via the appliance.
- 2021 additionally launched the primary PS5 shade variations: Midnight black and cosmic pink, giving gamers extra methods to customise their console and equipment of their favourite shade.
2022: extra choices, extra methods to play
In 2022, PS5 has additional developed to supply a richer and extra personalised gaming expertise.
- VRR (Variable Refresh Charge) Improved visible efficiency by minimizing visible artifacts for smoother, sharper gameplay. Thousands and thousands of gamers have enabled the characteristic, with 96% of these with VRR-compatible displays who use it often.
- This was additionally the yr Ps Plus inserted a brand new three-tier service, providing a whole lot of video games within the sport catalog for Additional members and Deluxe/Premium members, in addition to entry to a catalog of basic video games for Premium members. Since launch, the variety of gamers for the one catalog has doubled and the overall hours of play for the sport catalog and basic catalog have additionally elevated, cumulatively reaching 14 billion hours.
- PS5 customization has been expanded even additional with new galaxy-inspired shade variations: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue and Galactic Purple.
2023: Pushing the bounds of gaming with new equipment
2023 was a yr of extra modern {hardware} and innovation.
- PlayStation VR2 launched, that includes next-generation immersion with eye monitoring, headset suggestions, and deep immersion with haptic suggestions and adaptive triggers by way of the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller.
- Discord Voice Chat It arrived on PS5, connecting gamers throughout platforms. Since launch, over 1 billion Discord voice chat periods have taken place on PS5, averaging 105 minutes per session.
- PlayStation Portal Distant Participant Distant use redefined, which now represents greater than 50% of all PS5 Distant Play periods, surpassing streams throughout cell, PC, PS4 and PS5 consoles mixed.
- We additionally current DualSense Edge Wi-fi Controller – our first high-performance, ultra-customizable controller – and the Entry controllera controller equipment designed to make gaming extra accessible to everybody.
- Entry to Cloud Streaming for PS5 video games introduced new choices for PlayStation Plus Premium members to stream suitable PS5 digital video games from the sport catalog, sport trials, and PS Retailer purchases on their PS5 console.
- Moreover, we launched a brand new line of audio merchandise with planar magnetic drivers and our modern PlayStation Hyperlink know-how that gives an ultra-fast, lossless audio reference to Pulse Discover Wi-fi Headphones, adopted by Pulse Elite Wi-fi Headphones in early 2024.
2024: Empower gamers and communities
In 2024, PS5 deepened neighborhood connection and customization.
- Neighborhood sport assist debuted, permitting gamers to share gameplay tip movies generated by contributors who signed up. The characteristic is now obtainable on a whole lot of PS5 titles, with 1000’s of useful neighborhood ideas contributed by gamers world wide.
- the brand new welcome heart launched a customized house on the PS5 residence display screen with customizable widgets and backgrounds. Personalization has been growing since its launch, with the battery widget rising as the preferred private gaming screenshots and turning into the highest background alternative amongst avid gamers.
- This was additionally the yr we launched the PS5Pro – our most visually beautiful and modern console so far, together with the PlayStation thirtieth Anniversary Assortmentcelebrating 30 unimaginable years of play and creativity.
2025: 5 years of play
Completely satisfied fifth anniversary, PS5! As we have a good time 5 years of this unimaginable journey, the numbers inform the story:
- PS5 has been offered cumulatively 84 million items globally. For those who lined up all of the PS5s offered, collectively they’d lengthen additional 28,600 kilometers – lengthy sufficient to get from Tokyo to San Francisco to London, after which all the best way again residence.
- Greater than 7,500 PS5 video games have been printed by greater than 4,000 creators world wide. By whole play time, the three most-played PS5 multiplayer video games had been Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, and Name of Obligation Trendy Warfare II and the three most-played PS5 single-player video games had been Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, God of Battle Ragnarök, and Hogwarts Legacy.
- The gamers have obtained a mixture 40 billion trophies on PS5, together with 110 million platinum trophies.
- Over 5 years, PS5 gamers have logged a complete of 100 billion hours of gameplay.
5 years later, the PS5 platform continues to evolve and join extra gamers than ever. From the day it launched to in the present day, PS5 has redefined what gaming can imply to each creators and the neighborhood.
This is to 5 unimaginable years of gaming, and to the thousands and thousands of gamers who made them unforgettable!
*All figures are primarily based on inside knowledge collected as of September 2025.
