The Sony Playstation was released in 1995. It is a 32 bit console video game system that uses CD-ROM technology to deliver games. By March 2005, the Sony Playstation console had sold over 100 million units, making it the first video game console to break this sales mark.
The first conception of the Playstation console was in 1986. Sony partnered with Nintendo to develop a CD-ROM based add-on to its Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). After development began in 1988, Nintendo cancelled the partnership due to a contract dispute over Sony's exclusive ownership rights to the game technology. Sony decided to independently continue the development of the technology because it was so far along.
The Sony Playstation was released in North America on September 9th, 1995. At launch, the console retailed at $299.99. Having lasted over 11 years, the PlayStation enjoyed one of the longest production runs in the video game industry. On March 23, 2006, Sony announced the end of production.