PlayStation 4 ends its journey with 118 million sales and a legacy of more than 4,500 games

Sony has officially confirmed the end of production of the PlayStation 4, one of the most successful consoles in the history of video games. Lançado in November 2013, the device will no longer be manufactured from April 2025, ending a cycle lasting more than a decade that redefined digital entertainment and established new standards for the industry.

With an impressive milestone of more than 118 million units sold worldwide, the PS4 has established itself as the second best-selling desktop console of all time, surpassed only by its predecessor, the legendary PlayStation 2. Its success has been driven by a vast catalog of games, technological innovations and a strong focus on narrative experiences that have captivated millions of players.

The console’s cultural impact is undeniable, influencing not only how games are developed and played, but also how they are shared. The platform has transformed into a connected entertainment hub, integrating social networks and streaming services in a way that has become standard for generations to come.

A trajectory of success and innovation

Since its launch, the PlayStation 4 has demonstrated impressive commercial strength, quickly outpacing its direct competitors and establishing a solid user base. Sony’s strategy focused on offering powerful hardware at a competitive price, combined with strong support from first-party studios and partner developers, which ensured a steady flow of high-quality titles from the beginning of its lifespan.

In 2016, the PS4 family was expanded with the launch of two new models: the PS4 Slim, a more compact and energy-efficient version, and the PS4 Pro, which offered greater processing power to run games in 4K resolution and with better performance. Essa diversification has allowed Sony to serve different market segments, from the casual gamer to the enthusiast looking for the best possible visual quality, keeping the platform relevant and competitive over the years.

The control that changed the interaction

The DualShock 4 controller was a cornerstone of the PlayStation 4 experience, introducing features that have become iconic. Entre the new features were an integrated touchpad, a built-in speaker and, most importantly, the “Share” button.

The latter, in particular, revolutionized the way players interacted with their communities. Ele allowed for the instant capture and sharing of gameplay videos and images, fostering content creation and the growth of online communities on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.

This combination of affordable hardware, continuous innovations, and a gamer-focused ecosystem solidified the PlayStation 4’s dominant position throughout its lifecycle, creating a loyal base that remains active even after its successor arrives.

Catalog of games that marked a generation

The main pillar of the PlayStation 4’s legacy is, without a doubt, its library of more than 4,500 games, which includes some of the most acclaimed and awarded works in history. Sony has invested massively in its in-house studios, resulting in a series of exclusive titles that have not only sold millions of copies, but also set the standard for interactive storytelling and technical excellence.

Titles such as “The Last of Us Part II”, by Naughty Dog, which accumulated hundreds of awards from Jogo of

Other monumental successes include “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End”, Insomniac Games’s “Marvel’s

In addition to exclusives, the PS4 has been home to huge cross-platform hits and a vibrant indie scene, offering a variety of experiences for all types of gamers and cementing its reputation as an indispensable platform.

The importance of connectivity and community

PlayStation 4 was designed with connectivity in mind, transforming the gaming experience into a social act. The aforementioned “Share” button was the catalyst for this change, simplifying the process of sharing gameplay moments and fueling the growth of content creators.

PlayStation Network (PSN) has established itself as a robust ecosystem, housing a community with more than 110 million monthly active users. The network not only allowed online gaming, but also access to the PlayStation Store, which became the main storefront for purchasing digital games, expansions and other content.

Pioneering accessible virtual reality

In 2016, Sony took a bold step by launching PlayStation VR, a virtual reality device designed specifically for the PS4. The initiative aimed to democratize access to VR technology, offering a cheaper and simpler-to-use alternative compared to solutions available for PCs at the time. With more than 5 million units sold, PS VR has established a sizable user base and encouraged the development of unique immersive experiences.

Games such as “Astro Bot Rescue Mission”, “Resident Evil 7: Although Embora did not become the platform’s main focus, PS VR represented an important chapter in the console’s history, showcasing Sony’s commitment to innovation and exploring new technological frontiers.

Challenges faced during his era

Despite its enormous success, the PlayStation 4’s trajectory has not been without challenges and criticism. At launch, one of the most recurring complaints was the lack of backwards compatibility with PlayStation 3 games, a feature that many players expected. Sony tried to mitigate this absence with the PlayStation Now streaming service, which allowed playing titles from previous generations via the cloud, but the solution did not please all users who wanted to access their library of old games directly on the new hardware. Além Furthermore, PlayStation Network security has been tested on multiple occasions, with data leak incidents and attacks affecting millions of users. While the company has worked to strengthen its infrastructure over the years, these events have served as a reminder of the growing importance of digital security in an increasingly connected world, forcing the industry as a whole to adopt more stringent measures to protect player information.

The transition to the new generation

Even with the launch of the PlayStation 5 in 2020, the PS4 continued to be a relevant platform. The global semiconductor shortage, which limited production of the new console, and Sony’s strategy of releasing major titles like “Horizon Forbidden West” and “God of