As the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, plenty of casual and avid gamers have relied on their trusty PlayStation to keep themselves entertained through global lockdowns.
While many are now waiting with baited breath for the reveal of the PlayStation 5 – a celebratory event for which was scheduled for Thursday, June 4, but then cancelled because of America's ongoing protests surrounding George Floyd's murder – we take a look at the history of this legendary gaming device.
The history of the PlayStation
The illustration below takes us through the history of the console, starting from 1994, when the first PlayStation (PS1) was introduced. It was worth $299 (Dh1,098) and a whopping 104.25 million units were sold.
It was another six years before a second iteration of the console was released – the PlayStation 2 (PS2) came out in March 2000, cost $299 and, this time, Sony went on to sell 157.68m units.
This time, it was only a couple of months before another option came out in the form of the PSOne, a smaller, cheaper redesign of the original PS1 with improved graphic user interface that retailed at only $99.
If we count the much-awaited PlayStation 5, there have been a total of 20 consoles to come out over the past 26 years, including handhelds and even a virtual reality headset.
While the release date for the new version, which promises to be a much savvier and upgraded device, is up in the air, Sony Interactive Entertainment still very much plans to release it later this year.
“[The pandemic is] obviously introducing a level of complexity any business would prefer not to have to deal with,” Jim Ryan, the company's chief executive and president, told the BBC. “But we’re feeling really good about the supply chain, we’re going to launch this year and we’ll be global.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
