A press release from 2002 regarding the PlayStation 2 has resurfaced, and the celebrity testimonials it contains are a hilarious look back through time. Sony’s PS2 launched in 2000, and a collection of quotes released to promote the console is a veritable who’s who of Hollywood stars and musicians. Some of them almost sound like a gun was put to their head and only removed in exchange for a glowing endorsement of the PS2.
Screenshots of the press release from Sony were shared on Bluesky by Devolver Digital PR representative and author Andy Kelly. It includes an astounding number of big-name celebrities, including Vin Diesel, Luke Wilson, Sandra Bullock, Hayden Christensen, Justin Timberlake, Adrien Brody, the late Matthew Perry, and more. By far the most shocking (and hilarious) quote comes from Smallville star Michael Rosenbaum, though, who said, “The PlayStation 2 is more fun than my blow-up doll.”
PlayStation 2 Press Release From 2002 Is A Comical Time Capsule
And A Bizarre Bit Of Marketing
Rosenbaum, best known for playing Lex Luthor in Smallville and Martinex in two of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, definitely has the wildest quote, but there’s no shortage of funny PS2 endorsements. Adrien Brody, in the year he would go on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for The Pianist, said, “I don’t even have a TV, but I’m going to get one and go crazy with PlayStation 2.” Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late night has been a national story here in 2025, but 23 years ago he said, “My son is eight years old and is hooked up like an IV to the PlayStation 2.”
Friends star Matthew Perry, who tragically passed away in 2023, gave a few rapid-fire jokes that headlined the press release:
“I used to have a social life, go on dates, go to dinner parties, have a job. Now all I do is sit in a big chair and play PlayStation 2. I never leave my house. My friends have wondered what happened to me. Howard Hughes must have had one of these.”
A couple of years after her iconic turn in Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock astutely noted that “PlayStation 2 is the only place where I can legally explode things and not harm anyone.” There was also a lot of talk about having a PS2 in trailers on set – from Jason Biggs, Tara Reid, and Joshua Jackson – and how it was a necessity on tour, according to Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, and Dave Matthews.
Even Survivor host Jeff Probst is a PS2 evangelist:
“When we did the first Survivor, I didn’t realize I’d have some downtime between challenges and Tribal Councils, but for Survivor 2, I was ready. I brought a PlayStation 2 as my luxury item. So, we’d finish Tribal Council, head back to base camp, toss in a game and start jammin’. It was a great way to get your mind out of your work and not a bad way to relieve some tension as well.”
I wonder if he has a PlayStation 5 in Fiji for Survivor 50….
The PS2 Went On To Be The Most Successful Gaming Console Of All Time
Sony’s Bestseller
While a lot of the PS2 press release quotes are clearly in jest or are weirdly too corporatized to be off the cuff, they’re endearing to look back on now that the PlayStation 2 is a cultural landmark. 25 years after its debut, the PS2 is still the best-selling video game console of all time, having shipped over 160 million units. Funnily enough, The Rocketeer and Dracula (1992) star Billy Campbell’s quote about the PS2 was prophetic: “It’s going to be a long time before anybody beats it….“
He wasn’t wrong; the PS2 has reigned for two decades, and the only system poised to potentially challenge the throne is the Nintendo Switch, which was roughly seven million units behind as of earlier this year, and will likely see its sales slow now that the Switch 2 is available. If any other consoles come close, Sony’s probably ready to drop some more sales data to keep the PlayStation 2 ahead of the curve again. After all, it’s clearly been a hit even among the Hollywood elite.
- Original Release Date
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February 4, 2000
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$299
- Weight
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4.85 lb
The PlayStation 2 was Sony’s second console in the PlayStation lineup and quickly became one of the best-selling home consoles of all time. Released in 2000, the Sony PlayStation had sold over 155 million units worldwide by March of 2012.