PSX (DESR)

Digital video recorder with a built-in PS2, sold only in Japan from 2003; it was the first device to use the XrossMediaBar interface.

The PSX is a digital video recorder with a built-in PS2 that Sony released only in Japan on December 13, 2003. It was marketed by Sony Corporation rather than Sony Computer Entertainment and carries no PlayStation branding. It combines the Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesizer in a single 90 nm chip, records TV and DVDs, connects over broadband and was the first device with the XrossMediaBar interface later used on the PSP and PS3. It came as the DESR-5000, with 160 GB at ¥79,800, and the DESR-7000, with 250 GB at ¥99,800.

It sold out in its first week, but its high price hurt later sales and Sony cancelled plans to release it outside Japan; sales picked up again after a price cut in September 2004. It runs PlayStation and PS2 games from a slot-loading drive, including those that use the hard drive, such as Final Fantasy XI. Its controller ports sit at the back, so no multitap works with it. There were eight retail configurations; the 7500 and 7700 added a ghost reduction tuner, and a limited silver edition appeared in 2004.

Models: DESR-5000, DESR-7000