# What was the PSX? The souped-up PS2 rarely sold outside of Japan

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-was-the-psx-the-souped-up-ps2-rarely-sold-outside-of-japan/
- Published: 2026-09-13T16:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-13T16:18:07+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2252840/psx-ps2-console-history-rarely-sold-outside-japan/
- Topics: Asia, Entertainment, Gaming, World

## Key points

- Sony's PSX combined a PS2, DVR and DVD burner, Japan-only in 2003
- It sold poorly and was discontinued by early 2005
- Its XMB menu later became a defining PS3 feature

## Summary

The Sony PSX was a quirky hybrid console released only in Japan in December 2003, combining a fully functional PlayStation 2 with a DVR, DVD burner, TV tuner and broadband capability. It matters as a curious footnote in gaming history because, despite its ambition, it flopped commercially and was quietly phased out by early 2005, while its home menu, the XrossMediaBar, went on to become a defining feature of the PS3.

The machine launched with either a 160GB or 250GB hard drive and sold 100,000 units in its first week, but demand quickly dried up and Sony never released reliable lifetime sales figures. Reported internal conflict between Sony's games and Blu-ray divisions reportedly hampered development, while steep pricing (around $730-$910 versus roughly $179 for a PS2 at the time) and Japan-specific broadcasting features that complicated an international release all contributed to its downfall.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.