Celebrating Five Years of PlayStation 5: A Journey of Innovation and Community
In November 2020, Sony launched the PlayStation 5 (PS5), revolutionizing the gaming world with its unparalleled speed, immersive experiences, and advanced technology. As we mark its fifth anniversary, we reflect on how the PS5 has transformed over the years through software updates, new hardware, and significant community milestones that have continuously reshaped the gaming landscape.
2020: The Dawn of a New Era
The PS5’s debut in November 2020 set new standards for gaming consoles. Equipped with a high-speed SSD, captivating 3D audio, and the groundbreaking DualSense wireless controller, the PS5 introduced a level of immersion that was previously unimaginable.
- Share Screen Feature: One of the standout features at launch was Share Screen, which allows players to view their friends’ gameplay in real time on the PS5 and later on the PlayStation App. Since its introduction, Share Screen has been utilized over 1.6 billion times, accounting for more than 900 million hours. Popular games shared include hits like Fortnite, Roblox, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Grand Theft Auto V.
- Accessibility Features: From the start, accessibility was a key focus for PS5. The console was initially launched with 11 accessibility features, which have since expanded to 20 by 2025. New additions include Accessibility Tags and a Second Controller for Assistance. Impressively, one in four PS5 users has activated at least one of these accessibility options.
- Design Details: Every PS5 console and accessory features microtextured PlayStation shapes. For instance, the DualSense controller boasts 45,674 tiny triangles, circles, crosses, and squares, showcasing Sony’s attention to detail.
2021: Broadening the Horizons
As the PS5’s user base grew, so did its capabilities. The year 2021 was marked by updates that enhanced social connectivity and provided more storage options:
- Cross-generation Share Play: A major system update introduced Cross-generation Share Play, allowing PS5 players with PlayStation Plus memberships to virtually share their controllers with friends on the PS4. This feature has been used over 700 million times.
- M.2 SSD Storage Expansion: Offering players the ability to expand their game library, the M.2 SSD storage expansion feature provided a flexible and cost-effective solution to increase PS5 storage capacity, quickly becoming a popular choice among gamers.
- PlayStation App Enhancements: The ability to share PS5 game captures via the PlayStation App resulted in 5.6 billion uploads. Today, nearly half of PlayStation messages are sent through the app, with over 1 billion voice chat sessions conducted.
- Color Variations: 2021 also saw the introduction of the PS5’s first color variations, Midnight Black and Cosmic Red, allowing gamers to personalize their consoles and accessories in their preferred hues.
2022: Expanding Possibilities
In 2022, the PS5 continued to evolve, offering a richer, more personalized gaming experience.
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): This feature significantly improved visual performance by reducing visual artifacts, resulting in smoother gameplay. Of those with VRR-compatible monitors, 96% utilize this feature regularly.
- PlayStation Plus Revamp: PlayStation Plus introduced a new three-tier service, offering hundreds of games in the Game Catalog for Extra and Deluxe/Premium members, along with access to a Classic Game catalog for Premium members. Since its launch, the number of unique catalog players has doubled, with total gameplay hours reaching 14 billion.
- New Color Options: PS5 personalization continued with new galaxy-inspired color variations, including Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple.
2023: Innovation and Integration
The year 2023 brought new hardware breakthroughs and innovative features to the PS5 ecosystem.
- PlayStation VR2: The launch of PlayStation VR2 ushered in a new level of immersion, featuring eye tracking, headset feedback, and haptic feedback and adaptive triggers through the PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller.
- Discord Voice Chat: Integrating Discord voice chat into the PS5 connected players across platforms. Since its introduction, more than 1 billion Discord voice chat sessions have occurred on the PS5, with an average session lasting 105 minutes.
- PlayStation Portal Remote Player: This feature redefined remote play by accounting for over 50% of all PS5 Remote Play sessions, surpassing other platforms like mobile, PC, and other consoles.
- New Controllers: Sony introduced the DualSense Edge wireless controller, which offers high performance and customization options, as well as the Access Controller, designed to make gaming more accessible.
- Cloud Streaming: The addition of Cloud Streaming access for PS5 games provided PlayStation Plus Premium members with new ways to stream supported digital games from the Game Catalog, Game Trials, and purchases from the PS Store on their PS5 console.
- Audio Innovations: Sony released a new line of audio products featuring planar magnetic drivers and the innovative PlayStation Link technology, offering lightning-fast, lossless audio connection with the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds and the Pulse Elite wireless headset, set to release in early 2024.
2024: Community and Personalization
In 2024, Sony focused on deepening community connections and enhancing personalization options for PS5 users.
- Community Game Help: This feature enabled players to share gameplay hint videos generated by opt-in contributors. It is now available across hundreds of PS5 titles, with thousands of community-contributed hints.
- Welcome Hub: A personalized PS5 home screen space was introduced with customizable widgets and backgrounds. Customization has been on the rise since its launch, with the battery widget becoming the most popular, and personal gameplay screenshots being the top choice for backgrounds.
- PS5 Pro Launch: This year also saw the launch of the PS5 Pro, Sony’s most visually impressive and innovative console to date. The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection was also introduced to celebrate three decades of gaming excellence.
2025: A Milestone in Gaming
As the PS5 celebrates its fifth anniversary, the impressive numbers highlight its impact:
- Sales Milestone: PS5 has sold over 84 million units worldwide. If placed end-to-end, these consoles would stretch over 28,600 kilometers, enough to span from Tokyo to San Francisco to London and back.
- Game Library: Over 7,500 PS5 games have been published by more than 4,000 creators globally. The top three most-played multiplayer games are Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare II, while the top single-player games include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, God of War Ragnarök, and Hogwarts Legacy.
- Trophy Achievements: PS5 players have collectively earned 40 billion Trophies, including 110 million Platinum Trophies.
- Gameplay Hours: Over five years, PS5 users have logged a cumulative 100 billion hours of gameplay.
The PS5 platform continues to evolve, connecting more players than ever before. From its launch day to today, the PS5 has redefined the meaning of play for creators and the community alike. Here’s to five incredible years of gaming and to the millions of players who have made them unforgettable!
*Note: All figures are based on internal data collected as of September 2025.
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