Sony Japan is officially pulling the plug on the PlayStation 2 after an epic 18 year run for the console.
IT Media and Kotaku have reported all repairs that come in at the PlayStation Clinic service center in Iwate Prefecture after September 7th will not be serviced.
This marks the official end for the console as Sony ceased production of the PS2 back in 2012. The PlayStation 2 first debuted in 2000 and is still regarded today as one of the best consoles ever made. Here are just some of the fan reactions to this news from Twitter:
You know you're far from the rest of the league when there is still a demand for support after 18 years. Truly remarkable. #GOAT #PS2 #NeverForget https://t.co/u9D4u2S8yI
— Dan Woo (@danwoo91) September 3, 2018
One of my favorite gaming moments ever would have to be the Operation Knightfall mission from the 2005 #StarWarsBattlefrontII game! Playing as a Clone Trooper/Anakin himself during the Jedi Temple raid was so awesome and badass! #StarWars #RevengeOfTheSith #PS2 #GamersUnite pic.twitter.com/7sRwt5Wzj2
— Jacen Solo ๐ฆ๐บ (@C43DU5) September 2, 2018
You shall be remembered as the console that brought me Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, Kill Zone, Onimushas, Final Fantasy 10, Mark of Kri, Metal Gear 2, Siren, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, SSX, Dark Clouds, God of Wars, Devil May Cry, Silent Hill2, GTAs#ps2
— chiquitodaviii (@chiquitodaviii) September 4, 2018
In my case, the PS2 will always be a huge chunk of my childhood. From the old Star Wars: Battlefront games to the criminally underrated Timesplitters series, I always had something fun to play after getting home from school. 18 years for a consoleโs life-span seems unfathomable today with both Microsoft and Sony now releasing a new piece of hardware every three or so years.
As Sony buries the PS2, the company now faces a dilemma in its stance on cross-play. Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida told the Press Association (via The Independent) at Germany’s IFA electronics convention last week why theyโve stayed away from cross-play, more specifically with the battle-royale juggernaut known as Fortnite.
โOn cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, thatโs our belief. But actually, we already opened some games as cross-platform with PC and some others, so we decide based on what is the best user experience. That is our way of thinking for cross-platform.โ
Itโll be interesting to see how gamers react to Yoshidaโs statements over the next few weeks and if PlayStation is willing to budge on their strict stance on cross-play.
What are your thoughts on Sony ending PS2 support? Do you have any fond memories of the classic console? What do you think about Yoshidaโs cross-platform comments? Let us know in the comments and be sure to follow us here at The Nerd Stash for all of your nerdy news and needs!
