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Every PlayStation Console, Ranked
Collider has published a ranked list of every PlayStation console Sony has released, evaluating each on game quality, technological impact and lasting cultural influence rather than raw sales figures. The piece argues that while none of the consoles are outright bad, some have left a far deeper mark on gaming and popular culture than others, with the ranking running from least to most significant across five home consoles and two handhelds.
Bottom of the list is the PlayStation Vita (2011–2019), praised for its hardware and cult indie library but ultimately judged a commercial underachiever due to high pricing and weak backwards compatibility, a failure that led Sony to abandon handhelds altogether. Just above it sits the PlayStation 5 (2020–present), whose legacy the article says is muddied by Sony's growing tendency to port its console exclusives to PC, undermining the PS5's distinct identity despite it outperforming Microsoft's Xbox Series X.
In short
- Collider ranks all seven PlayStation consoles from worst to best.
- PlayStation Vita placed last over cost and support issues.
- PlayStation 5 ranked low due to exclusives migrating to PC.
Explained simply
Sony’s PlayStation is a family of video game consoles, first launched in 1994. It includes home consoles connected to a television and portable handheld systems, such as the PlayStation Vita, which players could use away from home.
Sony has competed with companies such as Nintendo and Microsoft, whose Xbox consoles are another major gaming platform. PlayStation consoles have differed in their games, hardware and influence on how people play; sales are one measure of success, but not the only one.
A console’s legacy can also depend on memorable games, new technology and its place in popular culture. Sony’s decision to release some PlayStation games on PC has also raised questions about how distinct its consoles are from other ways of playing.