PlayStation 3 Resource Center

The PlayStation 3 is the latest console system manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment. The PlayStation 3 is the successor to Sony's PlayStation 2 system, the runaway winner of the previous console generation competition among the GameCube, Xbox, and the PlayStation 2. Sony launched the PlayStation 3 in November 2006 in Japan and North America. Nintendo shipped its Wii system at about the same time, but Microsoft was able to get the Xbox 360 to retail at the end of 2005, a full year ahead of Sony and Nintendo.

The newest game consoles all have upgraded hardware, expanded multimedia support, and online services. Sony has outfitted its newest PlayStation with a multicore IBM Cell processor,an Nvidia RSX graphics chip, and a Blu-ray drive. The system can play DVDs, Blu-ray movies, and music CDs in addition to PlayStation 3 video games. You can also use the console to play video and music files, as well as view images stored on the system hard disk or from a connected flash memory or USB device. Sony recently released a console firmware upgrade that lets the system stream content from DLNA-enabled PCs over the local network.

Sony may have to share Grand Theft Auto and Devil May Cry with Microsoft this time around, but the PlayStation 3 will still have a good number of first-party exclusives developed by SCE game studios. Expect to see plenty of God of War, Gran Turismo, and Hot Shots Golf during the console's lifetime. Sony still has several major third-party exclusives, most notably Metal Gear Solid 4 from Konami and Final Fantasy XIII from Square Enix. Popular PlayStation 3 games currently include Ratchet & Clank Future, Warhawk, Resistance: Fall of Man, and MotorStorm.

PlayStation 3 System Configurations

There's more than one kind of PlayStation 3. Discover the differences between all the PlayStation 3 models in our hardware configurations section.

PlayStation 3 Online

You're missing out if you're still gaming offline these days. Find out what the PlayStation Network has to offer PlayStation 3 owners.

PlayStation 3 Accessories

The PlayStation 3 doesn't have a whole lot of accessories, but there are a couple worth considering. Who doesn't like remote controls and microphone-array equipped USB cameras?