Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Availability of New, Slimmer, PlayStation®2

Preparing the market for the upcoming holiday selling season, industry leader Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced the availability of a new, redesigned PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. With the widest distribution base of any platform ever available, the new PlayStation 2 can now be purchased at more than 20,000 doors/retail locations for a suggested retail price of $149.99. Equipped with an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming, the new PlayStation 2 will enable the company to maintain market momentum as it expands its online console gaming community, the largest in North America with more than 1.6 million registered users.

Incorporating the same functionalities and technology of the original, the new PlayStation 2 has been aesthetically modified and as a result, internal volume has been reduced by 75 percent, overall weight has been halved, and thickness trimmed over 35 percent to slightly larger than a DVD case. Built-in Ethernet enables out-of-the-box online gaming, and unlike any other gaming console, an analog modem port is also included for non-broadband gaming. The new console includes the same two memory-card slots and two controller slots, the same USB functionality as the original PlayStation 2, and comes with one DUALSHOCK®2 analog controller (for PlayStation®2). Additionally, the unit now comes with an external AC power adaptor to reduce power consumption and a new round base, sold separately, for vertical display.

"Response to the new PlayStation 2 has been amazing," said Dan DeMatteo, President and COO of GameStop, a leading videogame retailer. "We've seen a steady increase in consumer demand throughout our stores nationwide, with sales of PlayStation 2 rising to well above our expectations."

Consumer demand further solidifies Sony Computer Entertainment America and PlayStation 2 as the industry leader. Today found in one out of every four U.S. households, the PlayStation 2 game console has already reshaped the concept of entertainment for many consumers. In just four years, PlayStation 2 has dominated the marketplace with a North American installed base of more than 27 million consoles. PlayStation 2 continues to maintain market dominance, holding an over 58 percent of the U.S. next generation hardware market share life-to-date, according to the NPD Group.

"The introduction of the redesigned unit came when we felt it was strategically the best timing to expand the market, and it's gratifying to see consumers respond so positively as we enter the holiday selling season," said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Consumers continue to place their confidence in the longevity of PlayStation 2, which we see as absolutely essential to the health of the industry."

The new PlayStation 2 will support CDs, DVDs and all of the 2,000 titles in the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 catalogue, as well as the more than 55 additional titles currently under development to be released by year-end. Strongly supported by software developers and publishers, PlayStation 2 is indisputably the most popular computer entertainment system in the world and the new design will position it for even greater success over the next half of its life.

   BASIC FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

  Product Name                   PlayStation®2

  Color                          Charcoal Black

  Product Code                   SCPH-70011 CB (for North America)
                                 SCPH-70012 CB (for United States)
  Suggested
  Retail Price                   $149.99

  Dimensions                     Approximately 230 mm(W)×28 mm(H)×152 mm(D)
                                 *internal volume about 23% of the current
                                 model

  Weight                         Approximately 900g
                                 *weight about 45% of the current model

  Power requirements             DC 8.5V

  Electrical current consumption
  (power consumption)            Approximately 5.3A (approximately 45W)

  Compatible format              PlayStation format CD-ROM
                                 PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM
                                 PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM
                                 Audio CD
                                 DVD-Video*
                                 DVD-RW (VR mode)
                                 * The term "DVD-Video" is used to refer to
                                 DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+R and
                                 DVD+RW discs.

  Interfaces                     Controller Port x 2
                                 MEMORY CARD slot x 2
                                 USB connector x 2
                                 NETWORK connector x 1 (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T)
                                 LINE connector x 1 (modem: RJ-11C)
                                 DC IN 8.5V connector x 1
                                 AV MULTI OUT connector x 1
                                 DIGITAL OUT(OPTICAL) connector x 1

  Included                       PlayStation®2 console x 1
                                 Analog Controller(DUALSHOCK®2) x 1
                                 AV Cable (integrated audio/video) x 1
                                 AC Adaptor (AC power cord included) x 1


   Separately Sold Accessories

  Product Name                   Vertical Stand (for PlayStation®2)

  Color                          Charcoal Black

  Price                          $14.99 (SRP)

  Product Code                   SCPH-70110 UCB

  Release Date                   November 1st, 2004 (Monday)


  *The Vertical Stand for the current model cannot be used with the new
   model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70011 CB, 70012 CB), due to difference in
   design.

  Product Name                   Multitap (for PlayStation®2)

  Price                          $34.99 (SRP)

  Product Code                   SCPH-70120 U

  Release Date                   November 1st, 2004 (Monday)

  *The Multitap for the current model cannot be used with the new model
   PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70011 CB, 70012 CB), due to difference in design. The
   new Multitap offers the same function as the current Multitap.

  About Sony Computer Entertainment America

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console, and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com/

SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Clark, +1-650-655-5994, or
jennifer_clark@playstation.sony.com, or Janette Barrios, +1-650-655-5583, or
janette_barrios@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony Computer Entertainment
America

Web site: http://www.playstation.com/