# Essentials (PlayStation)

Essentials is the Sony PlayStation budget range in the PAL region, which covers Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Australia and South Asia. It was launched in 1997 as the Platinum range but was later renamed for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. After reaching the required level of sales, Sony often dropped the prices of the original title to Platinum pricing levels (generally about half of the original retail price), as a way to clear inventory for retailers. Similar budget ranges from Sony include the Greatest Hits and The Best labels for the North American and Japanese markets, respectively.

## History and requirements

Platinum was introduced in January 1997 and the first titles under it were Air Combat, Battle Arena Toshinden, Destruction Derby, Tekken and Wipeout. To become a Platinum release, it was reported initially that a game required over 400,000 or 500,000 sales in its first six months of release.
By 2006, the requirements had been revised to over 400,000 sales after six months on the market (PAL region sales in particular; games that sell over 400,000 units in another region alone, such as Japan or the U.S., do not necessarily qualify for a Platinum title). For PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable releases, there is no specific target required to achieve Platinum status as indicated by SCEE Press Releases and the discrepancies between the Platinum status of specific titles and their chart performance.
The Platinum distinction has since been extended, however since 2010 they have been renamed Essentials for the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4. The first PS3 titles were released on August 1, 2008, namely: Assassin's Creed, Heavenly Sword, MotorStorm, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Virtua Tennis 3.
For PlayStation 4 games the name was changed to PlayStation Hits. The first games under the new label were released on 18 July 2018 in PS Store and in retail stores for €19.99 / £15.99 each.

## Design differences

Platinum Range titles were recognisable by a platinum/silver coloured band on the game's casing, both the front and the spine. The PlayStation design used the same logo that was introduced in early 1997 for all PAL region game cases, the differences being the colouring and that it indicates itself as Platinum. The PlayStation 2 design of the platinum games had a silver band to act as a border and to contain the game's original cover, which is shrunk to fill about 75% of the platinum cover. The early platinum games that were released prior to 2003 had the PlayStation logo repeated twice on the front case, once on the platinum border, and once on the original game's case. (with the original game's case dropping the PlayStation logo after 2002.) In 2005, a new featured layout was introduced; these have a black border, and silver outlines around the shrunken original game cover. There is also a red orb located at the bottom of the original game cover with the words Platinum The Best of PlayStation 2 and Platinum The Best of PSP (PlayStation Portable) for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable games respectively. The platinum band can also be seen on the manual. The PlayStation 3 Platinum range box art replaces the black background of the PlayStation 3 logo on the left with a yellow background, and has the original box art shrunk slightly, with a grey border, and a yellow rectangle on top of it, with Platinum The Best of PlayStation 3 written on it.
PlayStation and PlayStation 2 platinum game discs do not feature any of the original game disc design; instead, it is replaced with a simple silver design – which, along with the copyright notices around the edges, features the game's name in the centre surrounded by a black outline. PlayStation Portable platinum games use the original UMD games' disc design whilst PlayStation 3 platinum games use the original disc design with a platinum design on the disc.

## List of Platinum range games
### PlayStation 2 titles

* 007: Quantum of Solace
* 24: The Game
* 50 Cent: Bulletproof
* Athens 2004
* Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
* Ben 10: Protector of Earth
* Black
* Bratz: Forever Diamondz
* Bratz: Rock Angelz
* Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
* Burnout
* Burnout 2: Point of Impact
* Burnout 3: Takedown
* Burnout Dominator
* Burnout Revenge
* Call of Duty 2: Big Red One
* Call of Duty 3
* Call of Duty: Finest Hour
* Call of Duty: World at War – Final Fronts
* Canis Canem Edit
* Chicken Little
* Colin McRae Rally 3
* Colin McRae Rally 04
* Colin McRae Rally 2005
* Conflict: Desert Storm
* Conflict: Desert Storm II
* Conflict: Vietnam
* Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
* Crash of the Titans
* Crash: Nitro Kart
* Crash: Tag Team Racing
* Crash: Twinsanity
* Crazy Taxi
* Dead or Alive 2
* Devil May Cry
* Devil May Cry 2
* Disney: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
* Disney•Pixar: Cars
* Disney•Pixar: Ratatouille
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
* Dragon Quest: The Journey of the Cursed King
* DRIV3R
* EA Sports Rugby 08
* Enter the Matrix
* EyeToy: Groove
* EyeToy: Play
* EyeToy: Play 2
* EyeToy: Play 3
* EyeToy: Play: Astro Zoo
* EyeToy: Sports
* FIFA 2001
* FIFA Football 2002
* FIFA Football 2003
* FIFA Football 2004
* FIFA Football 2005
* FIFA 06
* FIFA 07
* FIFA 08
* FIFA 09
* FIFA 10
* FIFA 11
* FIFA 12
* FIFA 13
* FIFA 14
* FIFA Street
* FIFA Street 2
* Final Fantasy X
* Final Fantasy X-2
* Final Fantasy XII
* Finding Nemo
* Formula One 2001
* Formula One 2003
* Formula One 04
* Formula One 05
* Formula One 06
* From Russia with Love
* God of War
* God of War II
* GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
* Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
* Gran Turismo 4
* Gran Turismo Concept: 2002 Tokyo-Geneva
* Grand Theft Auto III
* Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
* Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
* Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
* Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
* Gun
* Happy Feet
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
* Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
* Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
* Hulk
* Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
* Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
* Jak II: Renegade
* Jak 3
* Jak X
* James Bond 007 in... Agent Under Fire
* James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
* James Bond 007: Nightfire
* Juiced
* Killzone
* Kingdom Hearts
* Kingdom Hearts II
* Kung Fu Panda
* Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
* Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend
* Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
* LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
* LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
* LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
* Madagascar
* Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
* Manhunt
* Max Payne
* Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
* Medal of Honor: European Assault
* Medal of Honor: Frontline
* Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
* Medal of Honor: Vanguard
* Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
* Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
* Midnight Club: Street Racing
* Midnight Club II
* Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
* Moto GP
* Moto GP 3
* Moto GP 4
* MTV Music Generator 2
* MX vs. ATV Unleashed
* Need for Speed: Carbon
* Need for Speed: Most Wanted
* Need for Speed: ProStreet
* Need for Speed: Underground
* Need for Speed: Underground 2
* Oni
* Onimusha: Warlords
* Over The Hedge
* Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow
* Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
* Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
* Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
* Pro Evolution Soccer
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2
* Pro Evolution Soccer 3
* Pro Evolution Soccer 4
* Pro Evolution Soccer 5
* Pro Evolution Soccer 6
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2011
* Ratchet: Gladiator
* Ratchet & Clank
* Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded
* Ratchet & Clank 3
* Rayman: Raving Rabbids
* Rayman: Revolution
* Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
* Red Faction
* Resident Evil 4
* Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
* Resident Evil: Outbreak
* Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2005
* Rugby 2004
* Scarface: The World Is Yours
* Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem
* Shadow the Hedgehog
* Shrek 2
* Shrek The Third
* Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut
* Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2
* Smuggler's Run
* SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs
* SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
* SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs
* Sonic Heroes
* Sonic: Mega Collection Plus
* Soulcalibur III
* Spider-Man
* Spider-Man 2
* Spider-Man 3
* Spyro: A Hero's Tail
* Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly
* SSX
* SSX 3
* SSX: on Tour
* SSX: Tricky
* Star Wars: Battlefront
* Star Wars: Battlefront II
* Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
* Star Wars: Starfighter
* Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
* State of Emergency
* Stuntman
* Tekken 4
* Tekken 5
* Tekken Tag Tournament
* The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
* The Getaway
* The Getaway: Black Monday
* The Godfather
* The Incredibles
* The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
* The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
* The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
* The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
* The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
* The Simpsons Game
* The Simpsons: Hit & Run
* The Sims
* The Sims: Bustin' Out
* The Sims 2
* The Sims 2: Castaway
* The Sims 2: Pets
* The Urbz: Sims in the City
* The Warriors
* This Is Football 2002
* This Is Football 2003
* This Is Football 2005
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
* TimeSplitters
* ToCA Race Driver
* ToCA Race Driver 2
* ToCA Race Driver 3
* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
* Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
* Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
* Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
* Tony Hawk's Underground
* Tony Hawk's Underground 2
* Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator
* Transformers: The Game
* True Crime: New York City
* True Crime: Streets of LA
* Ultimate Spider-Man
* V-Rally 3
* World Rally Championship
* WRC II Extreme
* WRC 3: The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship
* WRC 4: The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship
* WRC: Avec Sébastien Loeb Édition 2005
* WRC: Rally Evolved
* WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
* WWE SmackDown! Just Bring It
* WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
* WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW
* WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006
* WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007
* WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008
* WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2009
* WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2010
* WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2011
* XIII

### PlayStation Portable titles
## List of Essentials range games
### PlayStation Portable titles
## List of PlayStation Hits range games
### PlayStation 4 (PAL)

* Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
* Batman: Arkham Knight
* Bloodborne
* Dishonored 2
* Doom
* Dragon Ball Xenoverse
* Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
* DriveClub
* Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
* Dynasty Warriors 9
* Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair
* Fallout 4
* Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
* God of War
* God of War III Remastered
* Gran Turismo Sport
* Gundam Versus
* Horizon Zero Dawn
* Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition
* inFamous: Second Son
* Injustice 2
* Killzone: Shadow Fall
* LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
* LittleBigPlanet 3
* Mad Max
* Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience
* Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
* Monster Hunter: World
* Mortal Kombat X
* Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
* Need for Speed
* Need for Speed Payback
* Need for Speed Rivals
* Nioh
* One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3
* Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
* Project Cars
* Ratchet & Clank
* Rayman Legends
* Resident Evil 6
* Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
* Street Fighter V
* Tales of Berseria
* Terraria
* The Evil Within
* The Last of Us Remastered
* UFC 2
* UFC 3
* Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
* Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
* Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
* Until Dawn
* Watch Dogs
* Wolfenstein: The New Order
* Yakuza 0
* Yakuza Kiwami 2
* Yakuza 6: The Song of Life