PS3 was the peak of Sony. Free online multiplayer, reverse compatibility with PS1 and 2 discs (depending on console model), amazing first party titles, and the biggest jump in graphical capabilities between generations.

You forgot "sabotaging their customers' property by forcibly removing OtherOS."

Sony has always been a shitty wannabe monopolist, but PS3 is when the gaming division really started disrespecting its customers.

Nah, PS3 was just like today. Just their arrogance bit them in the butt.

PS3 was $599USD and was made fun of for that. They had no games and just expected devs to come to them. Like they did with PS2. They didn’t see Xbox as a threat… until they were.

Difference was back then the 360 was competition. So Sony had to come back swinging.

They dropped the price (by loosing PS2 backward compatibility and streamlining the hardware), they paid out the nose for exclusives, from both their first party devs (uncharted, resistance, Infamous, LittleBigPlanet) but also the new and growing market of indi devs (Journey, PixelJunk Monsters, Patchwork Heroes).

It’s why the end of the gen, PS3 matches the sales of Xbox. And why when PS4 came out they moved must of the “greatest hits” over to PS4.

However their attitude remained, not learning from this. It doomed the Vita, and it’s hurting them now. Sony needs real competition, and while it’s there with PC. They don’t see it, just like with Xbox and I don’t they they will see it until it’s too late.

I was with PlayStation until I got married. Had PS1 and PS2. Got married, wife wanted Xbox. We missed the OG, but we got 360, XB1, and XSX. I liked the 360 but at times it made me wish I had a PS3, because PS3 had Blu-ray and 360 didn't. XB1 flat-out sucked. I got a great deal on the PS3. I like my PS3 way more than the XB1. By the way, XB1's contemporary PlayStation was the PS4. I never had a PS4. I liked the PS3 (contemporary to the 360) more than the XB1.

I only own the XSX because of All Access. For $35 a month, I got GamePass Ultimate (at the $15/month price even after it went up) and the other $20 went toward the console. 2 years later it was mine and I owed nothing else. Bonus, I got the $500 console for $480 ($20 times 24 payments). Also, I was getting GPU for $15 when month-to-month payers were paying $30. So there was that, too. Because basically I bought this $900 bundle and made payments on it. Zero interest though, and I saved $20 on the console. Heck of a deal. If Sony matched it, I'd have a PS5 instead.

I still have that PS3. It's a 60GB "Slim" model. I paid $150 for it and like a dozen games, but most of which I have no interest in. Skyrim and Saints Row: The Third were there, though. I should go for those plats someday, but I never chased trophies.