Sony has announced that its PlayStation 2 (PS2) has sold over 160 million units worldwide since its 2000 debut, cementing its position as the best-selling video game console of all time. The updated figures were revealed as part of PlayStation’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, reflecting a rise from the previously reported 158.3 million units.

Launched at an MSRP of $299, the PS2 gained immediate popularity due to its backward compatibility with PlayStation 1 games, controllers, and memory cards. It also served as an affordable DVD player during the format’s early days. The console’s library boasts over 4,000 titles, including enduring franchises like God of War and Ratchet and Clank. Production ceased in 2013, but its legacy lives on, with remakes like Silent Hill 2 keeping its spirit alive.

Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch is closing in on the PS2’s record, with 146 million units sold since its 2017 release. Including the Switch Lite and OLED models, Nintendo’s hybrid console trails the PS2 by just 14 million units. With a successor in development, the Switch remains a strong contender to overtake the PS2 in the near future.

Within Sony’s lineup, the PlayStation 4 follows with 117 million units sold.

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The Nationalist Party has called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to take accountability for the following series of scandals implicating key government ministers.

Speaking outside of Castille, PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione expressed his frustration over the delayed resignation of Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and called for the dismissal of Minister Clint Camilleri. Both ministers have been linked to allegations of fraudulent behaviour, with Camilleri accused of arranging a fictitious job for Bartolo’s wife, Calascione said.

Perici Calascione stressed that the public shouldn’t have had to take to the streets or rely on pressure from student groups and civil society for the government to act. “This isn’t the kind of leadership Malta deserves”, he said, adding that the country’s reputation as a serious investment hub is at stake.

PN Secretary General Michael Piccinino described the government as “distracted by scandals”, claiming it is focused more on covering up misconduct rather than leading the country. He warned that if Robert Abela cannot deliver accountability and good governance, the people will demand change.

He urged the administration to focus on regaining the people’s trust by ensuring accountability and fairness. “The country needs a government that puts the interests of the Maltese and Gozitan people first,” he said.

This comes as the Nationalist Party calls for another protest on Monday outside parliament, following last week’s protest concerning the same ‘Bartolo-Camilleri scandal.’

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