"In a certain light, games are more expansive than they have ever been. Forums like Itch proliferate game jams and niche sub-cultures, and give aspiring developers a place to share their work. Steam is home to a wider catalogue of games than has ever been available on any home console. The diversity of the games in these places is under direct threat, but is by no means defeated."
"The PS2, on the other hand, is host to a set of video games that stretch beyond their borders and feel, somehow, barely associated with the console that first housed them. It carried Grand Theft Auto to becoming the biggest video game franchise on the planet. The console is tightly tied to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in my mind, even though those games also came out on the GameCube and Xbox. It was the origin point of Kingdom Hearts."
The PlayStation 2 celebrates its 25-year anniversary on October 26, 2025. The console's library offered unparalleled breadth, hosting mainstream blockbusters and unusual, niche experiences. PS2 titles helped establish major franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona's international rise. The console contrasted with contemporaries that leaned on in-house catalogs or singular online ecosystems. Modern platforms and storefronts like Steam and Itch expand game diversity but face threats to that variety. The PS2 remains a strong single-platform representation of video game history, influence, and eclectic design sensibilities.
Read at GameSpot
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