Released by Sony in Japan in 2000, and later the same year in North America and Europe, the PlayStation 2 arrived after the original PlayStation had already reshaped the console market. Its main rivals were Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox, while the first PlayStation remained an important part of its early appeal. The built-in DVD player was a key factor, making the system attractive as a home entertainment device as well as a games console.

The system was built around the Emotion Engine, a powerful but complex processor, supported by the Graphics Synthesizer and 32 MB of RDRAM. DVD-ROM media allowed larger games, longer cutscenes and more cinematic productions, while backward compatibility with much of the original PlayStation library made the transition smoother for players. Compared to its rivals, the PS2 was not always the easiest or most modern machine to develop for, but its huge user base and vast software library made it dominant.

With around 160 million units sold, the PlayStation 2 is generally regarded as the best-selling console of all time. Its legacy runs through Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 2, Final Fantasy X, Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, Gran Turismo 4, Silent Hill 2 and Devil May Cry.