The development of the PS2 was first announced to the public in April 1999. The PS2 had some unique features, not present in any other console. The PS2 was released in Japan in March 2000, in the US in October and in Europe in November and sold incredibly well.  So much so that it was continuously running out stock and causing prices to skyrocket in some areas. the machine became the highest selling console ever, reaching 100 million units by November 2005, and eventually passing 155 million in 2011. 3,874 games were released for the console, combined sales of those were 1.5 billion copies. One of the big selling points for the PS2 was the ability to play DVDs. While the initial line up of games for the PS2 were a bit lack luster that all changed 2001 when games like Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty came out becoming very popular very quickly and helped boost the PS2 sales even further. In 2002 with the launch of the Xbox having online multiplayer 'Xbox Live' Sony decided release the PlayStation Network Adapter in late 2002. In 2004 Sony released a new slimmer version of the PS2 around the same time as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas which when on to become the highest selling PS2 game of all time, selling 17.3 million copies as of 2009. 

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Some of the best PS2 games include: Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, God of War, Silent Hill 2, Shadow of Colosuss, Need For Speed 2 Most Wanted, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, The Warriors, Devil May Cry, Gran Turismo 4, Bully, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,Final Fantasy X, Kingdom Hearts,Ico,Rachet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal,Soulcalibur 2 and so many more.