MIMMS MUSEUMDIGITAL ARCHIVE
Home › Catalog › Games & Entertainment
Games & Entertainment

Sony PlayStation

A home console released in Japan on December 3, 1994 and built around 3D polygon graphics.

Sony Computer Entertainment developed the PlayStation. It was released in Japan on December 3, 1994, in North America on September 9, 1995, and in Europe on September 29, 1995.

Sony began the project after a failed venture with Nintendo to build a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo. Ken Kutaragi and Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan led the design, with extra development done in the United Kingdom. The design put 3D polygon graphics first.

Why it matters

As a fifth-generation console, the PlayStation mainly competed with the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn. It won support through its large game library, popular franchises and low retail price.

Key facts

  • Released in Japan on December 3, 1994.
  • Released in North America on September 9, 1995.
  • Designed mainly by Ken Kutaragi and Sony Computer Entertainment.
  • Emphasized 3D polygon graphics.
  • Competed with the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "PlayStation (console)", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_(console), accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. Wikipedia, "Sony Interactive Entertainment", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Interactive_Entertainment, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.