PlayStation 2 - Online

Online

Main article: PlayStation 2 online functionality See also: List of PlayStation 2 online games

PlayStation 2 users have the option to play select games over the Internet, using a broadband internet connection and a PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor. Instead of having a unified, subscription-based online service like Xbox Live as competitor Microsoft had chosen for its Xbox console, online multiplayer on the PlayStation 2 is the responsibility of the game publisher and is run on third-party servers. Most recent PlayStation 2 online games have been developed to exclusively support broadband internet access. Xbox Live similarly requires a broadband internet connection. Many games' servers have been shut down, but there are still a few games out there that are still active and people still play online.

The PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor adaptor is integrated into the hardware on "slimline" models, and can be bought as an add-on for the original "fat" models. Some games also allow online gameplay using a dial-up connection (not available on all models), or LAN play by connecting two network adapters (or slimline consoles) together directly with an Ethernet cable or through the same router network.