DVD Player

While the PS2 has a DVD Player in it's ROM (except SCPH-10000 and SCPH-15000 consoles, see Utility Disc), the PS2 is also capable of loading newer versions of the DVD Player that have been installed to a memory card. To install these updates to a memory card, several official update discs have been released by Sony.

Versions

These lists might be incomplete

1.xx

• 1.00J
  • Only available as an installation to memory card from Utility Disc 1.00 bundled with early SCPH-10000 consoles from March 4th (Launch) until March 25th, 2000 (about 1.25 million units)
  • Blocked on later SCPH-10000 and all SCPH-15000 consoles
  • Allows to bypass DVD region code check by entering specific button codes (needs to be 60 Hz video though independently of the region code) - this was likely a development-only feature that was left inside production code by mistake
  • Can output DVD-Video via RGB
• 1.01J
  • Available as an update from Utility Disc 1.01 bundled with late SCPH-10000 and all SCPH-15000 consoles or as a free mail-in replacement for Utility Disc 1.00
  • Fixed some bugs (e.g. some audio skipping on optical output)
  • Analog audio output level can be adjusted when optical output is disabled
  • Aspect ratio can be changed even during playback
  • The "secret" region-free button codes from 1.00 have been removed
• 1.10U
  • This North American-only version is preinstalled in early B-chassis units
• 1.20U/A/E
  • This western-only version is found preinstalled in late B-chassis as well as C-chassis consoles
  • This is the first version for PAL consoles
• 1.30U/A/E
  • This western-only version is found preinstalled in early western D-chassis consoles (SCPH-3000X with no R behind the model number)

2.xx

• 2.00J
  • This version is only found preinstalled in SCPH-18000 consoles (both, A+ and AB chassis)
  • First version to support the IR remote
  • Adds several movie navigation features
• 2.01J
  • This version is bundled as an install CD with the earliest SCPH-10170 remote control sets which were meant for use on SCPH-10000 and SCPH-15000 consoles (SCPH-18000 consoles already bundled the remote control by default)
• 2.02J
  • This version is found preinstalled in early japanese D-chassis consoles
• 2.10J/U/A/E
  • This version is found preinstalled in late D-chassis as well as in F-chassis consoles (SCPH-3000X R, except in Japan, where no R is behind the model number)
  • Additionally, this version is bundled as an install CD with SCPH-10170 / 71 / 72 / 73 remote control sets
  • First non-japanese version to support the IR remote
• 2.12J/U/K/G
  • This version is found preinstalled in early G-chassis consoles
  • Additionally, this version is bundled as an install CD with SCPH-10170 / SCPH-10171 (Japanese and North American) remote control sets
• 2.13A/E
  • This version is found preinstalled in late PAL G-chassis consoles
• 2.14J/U/A/E
  • This version is available via update disc in all regions, and also preinstalled in later japanese G-chassis consoles
• 2.15K/G
• 2.16J/D
  • This version is available via update disc in Japan and also preinstalled in very late japanese G-chassis consoles

3.xx

• 3.00J/U/A/E
  • Available preinstalled on H-chassis (GH-023) SCPH-5XXXX consoles
  • Additionally, this version is available via update disc in Japan
  • Progressive scan support (only SCPH-5XXXX consoles and newer)
  • DVD-R/-RW(+R/+RW) playback (only SCPH-5XXXX consoles and newer)
  • Some navigation functions only accessible via remote control before can now also be used via DualShock controller (all consoles if updated to 3.00; update disc only available in japan, thus this version is only available in SCPH-5XXXX in other regions)
• 3.02J/U/A/E/K/G/D/C
  • Available preinstalled on I-chassis (GH-026) SCPH-5XXXX consoles
• 3.03J/E
  • Available preinstalled on J-chassis (GH-029) SCPH-5XXXX consoles in Japan and Europe
• 3.04J/M
  • Available preinstalled on mexican J-chassis (GH-029) SCPH-50011 consoles (and maybe late Japanese J-chassis consoles?)
  • Additionally, this version is available via update disc in Japan
• 3.10J/U/A/E/G/D/M
  • This version is found preinstalled in K-chassis slim consoles (SCPH-70XXX)
• 3.11J/U/A/E/G/D/M
  • This version is found preinstalled from L-chassis slim consoles (SCPH-75XXX) onwards

Update Discs

The version number printed on the label of these discs does not include the region suffix. Compare the actual disc ID listed below with that on your disc to determine the actual region if unsure.
The following DVD Player update discs have been released:

NTSC-J (Japan/Asia)

Note: For SCPH-10000 and SCPH-15000 consoles, the Utility Disc was originally used to install the DVD player (either version 1.00J or 1.01J, depending on the version of the utility disc, with later SCPH-10000 consoles as well as all SCPH-15000 consoles blocking installation of 1.00J). These consoles did not have the DVD player preinstalled in ROM, unlike all later consoles.

• 2.01: PBPX-95206
  • Part of the SCPH-10170 remote control set
• 2.10: PBPX-95207
  • Part of the SCPH-10170 remote control set
• 2.12: PBPX-95221
  • Part of the SCPH-10170 remote control set
• 2.14: PBPX-95222
  • Part of the SCPH-10170 remote control set
• 2.16: PBPX-95224
  • Part of the SCPH-10170 remote control set
• 3.00: PBPX-95228
  • Available for a small fee via mail-in order
• 3.04: PDPX-99109
  • Available for a small fee via mail-in order

NTSC-U (North America)

All of these discs were available as part of the SCPH-10171 remote control set

• 2.10: PBPX-95210
• 2.12: PBPX-95218
• 2.14: PBPX-95223

PAL (Europe)

All of these discs were available as part of the SCPH-10172 remote control set

• 2.10: PBPX-95208
• 2.14: PBPX-95219

PAL (Australia)

All of these discs were available as part of the SCPH-10173 remote control set

• 2.10: PBPX-95209
• 2.14: PBPX-95220