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.

PAL/50 Hz versions of the DVD Player will also play 60 Hz DVDs, as long as the region code matches (e.g. Japanese DVDs can be played back on European consoles, since both, Japan and Europe, have DVD-region 2). Video output will be in 60 Hz (true NTSC, not PAL60). NTSC/60 Hz consoles on the other hand will refuse playback of 50 Hz DVDs, even if the region code matches. For further information on region codes and default video modes, see SKU Regioning.

Versions

These lists might be incomplete

1.xx

• 1.00J, March 4th 2000
  • Only available as an installation to memory card from Utility Disc 1.00 bundled with early SCPH-10000 consoles produced until March 25th, 2000 (about 1.25 million units)
  • Blocked on late 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, April 1st 2000
  • 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, October 26th 2000
  • This North American-only version is found preinstalled in early B-chassis SCPH-30001 consoles
• 1.20U/A/E November 24th 2000
  • This Western-only version is found preinstalled in late B-chassis SCPH-30001 as well as in all C-chassis SCPH-30001/2/3/4 consoles
  • This is the first version for British/European/Australian consoles
• 1.30U/A/E
  • This Western-only version is found preinstalled in early Western D-chassis SCPH-30001/2/3/4 consoles (no R behind the model number)

2.xx

• 2.00J, December 8th 2000
  • 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, some of which are only accessible via remote control
• 2.01J, December 22nd 2000
  • 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, April 18th 2001
  • This version is found preinstalled in early Japanese D-chassis SCPH-30000 consoles (Japanese consoles never have an R behind the model number, since all japanese SCPH-30000 consoles came with DVD Player 2.02 or newer)
• 2.10J/U/A/E
  • This version is found preinstalled in late D-chassis as well as in all F-chassis consoles
    • Outside of Japan, these consoles have an R behind their model number, denoting remote control support (Japanese consoles never have an R behind the model number, since all japanese SCPH-30000 consoles came with DVD Player 2.02 or newer and thus support the remote control)
  • 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 remote control
• 2.12J/U/K/G
  • This version is found preinstalled in Korean/Taiwanese/Asian F-chassis SCPH-30005/6/7 R and North American G-chassis SCPH-39001/39010 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 British/European/Australian G-chassis SCPH-39002/3/4 consoles
• 2.14J/U/A/E
  • This version is available via update disc in all regions and also preinstalled in Japanese G-chassis SCPH-37000 consoles
• 2.15K/G
  • This version is found preinstalled in Korean/Taiwanese/Asian G-chassis SCPH-39005/6/7 consoles
• 2.16J/D
  • This version is found preinstalled in Russian G-chassis SCPH-39008 consoles
  • This version is available via update disc in Japan and also found preinstalled in late Japanese G-chassis SCPH-39000 consoles

3.xx

• 3.00J/U/A/E, May 15th 2003
  • Available preinstalled on H-chassis (GH-023) SCPH-500XX consoles in Western regions and early SCPH-50000/55000 consoles in Japan
  • Additionally, this version is available via update disc in Japan
  • Progressive scan support (only SCPH-500XX consoles and newer)
  • DVD-R/-RW(+R/+RW) playback (only SCPH-500XX 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-500XX in Western regions)
• 3.02J/U/A/E/K/G/D/C
  • Available preinstalled on I-chassis (GH-026) SCPH-500XX consoles in Western regions and late SCPH-50000/55000 consoles in Japan
  • Available preinstalled on H-chassis (GH-023) SCPH-5X005/6/7 consoles in Korea/Taiwan/Asia and SCPH-50008/9 consoles in Russia/China
• 3.03J/E
  • Available preinstalled on J-chassis (GH-029) SCPH-50000 consoles in Japan and SCPH-50004 consoles in Europe
• 3.04J/M
  • Available preinstalled on Latin American/Mexican I-chassis (GH-026) SCPH-50011 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 SCPH-700XX slim consoles
  • In Korea doesn't include the K region suffix anymore
• 3.11J/U/A/E/G/D/M
  • This version is found preinstalled from L-chassis SCPH-750XX slim consoles onwards

Update Discs

The version number printed on the label of these discs doesn't 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 version 1.00J). These consoles did not have a 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