Five years ago in November 2020, PlayStation 5 ushered in a modern era of speed, immersion and creativity. As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we look back at how PS5 has evolved – year after year – with system software updates, modern accessories, and community milestones that continue to redefine the gaming experience.
2020: The beginning of a modern generation
The launch of PS5 in November 2020 redefined the console’s capabilities. With ultra-fast SSD storage, immersive 3D audio and the novel DualSense wireless controller, the PS5 console introduced a modern generation of gaming immersion never before experienced.
- Share screen debuted, allowing players to watch their friends’ gameplay in real time via PS5 and later in the PS app. Since its launch, the Share Screen feature has been used over 1.6 billion times, that’s all 900 million hours. The most popular titles shared are Fortnite, Roblox, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Grand Theft Auto V.
- Availability has been the heart of the PS5 since day one. Console launched from 11 accessibility features it has increased to 20 by 2025 – including modern additions such as accessibility tags and a second support checker. One in four PS5 users you have turned on one or more of these accessibility features.
- Every PS5 console and accessory has PlayStation micro-textured shapes – only the DualSense has these 45,674 petite triangles, circles, crosses and squares.
2021: Expanding your experience
As the PS5 player base grew, so did the platform’s capabilities. 2021 focused on updates that expand social connectivity and storage options:
- The first major update to the PS5 system has been added Intergenerational playing together, allowing PS5 players with a PlayStation Plus membership to virtually “pass the controller” to friends using PS4. Since its launch, Share Play has been widely used 700 million times on PS5.
- M.2 SSD storage expansion gave players the freedom to expand their libraries. The employ of the industry-standard M.2 form factor provided a versatile and cost-effective way to expand PS5 storage, and the feature has since been adopted by millions of gamers.
- We also added the option share PS5 game recordings via the PlayStation app, as a result 5.6 billion photos have been uploaded. Currently, almost half of PlayStation messages are sent from the PS App over 1 billion voice chat sessions takes place via the application.
- The first PS5 color variants were also introduced in 2021 – Midnight black and space red, giving gamers more options to customize their console and accessories in their favorite color.
2022: more options, more ways to play
In 2022, PS5 has further evolved to provide a richer and more personalized gaming experience.
- VRR (variable refresh rate) Enhanced visual performance by minimizing visual artifacts for smoother and clearer gameplay. Millions of players have enabled this feature using 96% people who have VRR-compatible monitors and employ it regularly.
- It was that year too PlayStation Plus introduced modern three-stage service, offering hundreds of games in the Game Catalog for Extra and Deluxe/Premium members, as well as access to the classic games catalog for Premium members. Since launch, the number of unique players in the catalog has doubled, and the total number of hours of gameplay in the Game Catalog and Classic Catalog has also increased – a combined hit 14 billion hours.
- PS5 customization has been expanded even further with modern galaxy-inspired color variants: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue and Galactic Purple.
2023: Pushing the boundaries of fun with modern accessories
2023 was a year of more groundbreaking hardware and innovation.
- PlayStation VR2 introduced next-generation immersion with eye tracking, headset feedback, and deep immersion with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers via the PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller.
- Discord voice chat came to PS5, bringing players together across platforms. Since the premiere over 1 billion Discord voice chat sessions occurred on average on PS5 105 minutes per session.
- PlayStation Portal remote player redefined remote play, now responsive over 50% all PS5 Remote Play sessions – surpassing streams via mobile devices, PC, PS4 and PS5 consoles combined.
- We also presented DualSense Edge wireless controller – our first high-performance, highly customizable controller – and Access controllera set of controllers designed to make the game more accessible to everyone.
- Cloud streaming access for PS5 games has introduced modern options for PlayStation Plus Premium members to stream supported PS5 digital games from the game catalog, game trials and PS Store purchases to your PS5 console.
- Additionally, we have launched a modern line of audio products featuring planar magnetic drivers and our novel PlayStation Link technology, which provides lightning-fast, lossless audio connection to Pulse Explore wireless in-ear headphones, then Pulse Elite wireless headset in early 2024
2024: Empowering players and communities
In 2024, PS5 deepened community connection and personalization.
- Game community support debuted, allowing players to share videos containing gameplay tips generated by consenting authors. This feature is now available in hundreds of PS5 titles and includes thousands of helpful community tips submitted by players around the world.
- New Welcome to the center introduced a personalized space on the PS5 home screen with customizable widgets and backgrounds. Since launch, customization options have increased, with battery widget are becoming the most popular, and personal gameplay screenshots are becoming the most frequently chosen background among gamers.
- This was also the year we launched the platform PS5Pro – our most visually striking and novel console ever, with PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collectioncelebrating 30 amazing years of fun and creativity.
2025: Five years of play
Happy 5th Anniversary, PS5! Celebrating five years of this incredible journey, the numbers tell the story:
- Total PS5 sold 84 million pieces globally. If you line up all the PS5s sold, they will stretch together 28,600 kilometers – long enough to drive from Tokyo to San Francisco to London and then all the way back home.
- Above 7,500 games on PS5 have been published by over 4,000 creators all over the world. In terms of total play time, the three most-played multiplayer games on PS5 are Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare II, while the three most-played single-player games on PS5 are Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, God of War Ragnarök, and Hogwarts Legacy.
- Players scored in total 40 billion trophies on PS5, incl 110 million platinum trophies.
- For five years, PS5 players did just that recorded a total of 100 billion hours of gameplay.
Five years later, the PS5 platform continues to evolve and connect more gamers than ever. From launch to today, PS5 has redefined what fun can mean for both creators and communities.
Here’s to five amazing years of gaming – and to the millions of players who made them unforgettable!
*All data is based on internal data collected as of September 2025.
