If you’re trying to remember exactly when you first stood in a midnight launch line or frantically refreshed a browser tab to snag a pre-order, you're likely thinking of late 2013. Honestly, it feels like forever ago. The PlayStation 4 officially hit the shelves in North America on November 15, 2013.
It was a cold Friday. I remember the buzz being different than the PS3 era. People weren't just excited; they were relieved. Sony had spent years playing catch-up with the Xbox 360, and with the PS4, they finally seemed to have their act together. They didn't just launch a console; they launched a comeback.
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When did ps4 come out across the globe?
Sony didn't drop the console everywhere at once. It was a staggered rollout that left some regions waiting while others were already diving into Killzone Shadow Fall.
The North American crowd got the first bite on November 15, 2013. Two weeks later, on November 29, 2013, the console launched in Europe, South America, and Australia. If you were in the UK, that late November date was your D-day.
Japan had it the hardest, though. Despite being Sony's home turf, the PS4 didn't actually come out in Japan until February 22, 2014. Sony claimed they wanted to ensure there was enough Japanese-centric software ready, but it was a weird move that left Japanese fans importing consoles from the West for months.
The Price That Changed Everything
You can't talk about the release without mentioning the price. At E3 2013, Andrew House announced the PS4 would retail for $399.
The room erupted.
Why? Because Microsoft had just announced the Xbox One would be $499. That $100 gap, largely due to Microsoft bundling the Kinect sensor that nobody really asked for, basically won the "console war" before it even started. Sony undercut their biggest rival and focused purely on "The Players." It was a masterclass in reading the room.
The Hardware Evolution: Slim and Pro
The 2013 "Jet Black" brick wasn't the end of the story. Sony has a habit of slimming things down, and they did exactly that three years later.
On September 15, 2016, the PS4 Slim arrived. It was basically the same guts but in a much smaller, quieter, and more power-efficient shell. It replaced the original model entirely. If you bought a PS4 after 2016, odds are it was this rounded, matte-finish version.
Then things got serious.
The PS4 Pro launched on November 10, 2016. This was a big deal because it was the first time we saw a "mid-generation" upgrade. It wasn't a PS5, but it was beefier. With a boosted GPU and a higher clock rate, it was designed to handle 4K gaming and provide smoother frame rates for titles like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn.
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By the Numbers: A Massive Success
To say the PS4 was a hit is an understatement. It sold one million units in its first 24 hours in North America alone. By the time the dust settled and the PlayStation 5 took over the spotlight, the PS4 had moved over 117 million units worldwide.
It sits comfortably as one of the best-selling consoles of all time, second only to the legendary PS2 and the Nintendo Switch in the home console category.
Is the PS4 Still Worth It in 2026?
Believe it or not, people are still buying these things. Even with the PS5 Pro out in the wild, the PS4 remains a workhorse.
The library is just too good to ignore. You've got Bloodborne, The Last of Us Part II, and Ghost of Tsushima—games that still look better than many modern "next-gen" titles. Plus, in 2025 and 2026, we've seen a massive surge in the second-hand market.
If you're a casual gamer or looking for a budget-friendly way to play some of the best narratives ever written, a used PS4 Slim is still a phenomenal value. Just keep an eye on the fan noise; those early "OG" units can sound like a jet engine taking off if they haven't been cleaned in a decade.
Key Milestones to Remember
- February 20, 2013: The "Future of PlayStation" event where the console was first announced (but the box itself wasn't shown).
- June 10, 2013: The physical design and that $399 price tag were revealed at E3.
- November 15, 2013: Official North American launch.
- September 2016: The transition to the Slim and Pro models began.
- March 2024: Sony officially discontinued the PS4 in Japan, marking the beginning of the end for new production.
The PS4 didn't just give us great games; it refined the way we share gameplay. The "Share" button on the DualShock 4 was a gamble that paid off, turning every gamer into a potential content creator. We take it for granted now, but back in 2013, being able to hit a button and instantly upload a clip to Twitter was revolutionary.
If you're looking to dive back into the ecosystem, your best bet is to find a PS4 Pro (model CUH-7200). It's the quietest version of the 4K-capable machine. Ensure you've got a decent SSD to swap in for the old mechanical hard drive; it cuts loading times by nearly half in games like The Witcher 3.
Keep an eye on firmware updates too. Sony is still occasionally patching the system for stability, though the days of major feature updates are long gone. It’s a legacy system now, but what a legacy it is.
Actionable Next Steps for You
- Check the Model: If you own an original PS4, consider opening it up to clear out dust and replace the thermal paste; it significantly extends the life of the APU.
- SSD Upgrade: Swap the internal 5400 RPM drive for a cheap SATA SSD. It's the single best performance boost you can give the console.
- Library Check: Use the PlayStation Store's web interface to find "Cross-Buy" titles that give you both the PS4 and PS5 versions for one price.