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 update from Utility Disc 1.00 bundled with early SCPH-10000 consoles
  • Blocked on late SCPH-10000 and all SCPH-15000 consoles
  • Has some bugs and allows to bypass DVD region code check (needs to be 60 Hz video though independently of the region code)
• 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
• 1.10U
  • This version is only found in North American consoles, preinstalled in early B-chassis units
• 1.20U/A/E
  • This version is found preinstalled in late B-chassis as well as C-chassis consoles
• 1.30U/A/E
  • This 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
  • Removed RGB output (for DVD playback, the console forcefully switches to component/YPbPr output if RGB is enabled)
• 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
• 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)
  • First non-japanese version to support the IR remote
• 2.12J/U/K/G
  • This version is found preinstalled in early G-chassis consoles
• 2.13A/E
  • This version is found preinstalled in late G-chassis consoles
• 2.14J/U/A/E
• 2.15K/G
• 2.16J/D

3.xx

• 3.00J/U/A/E
  • Released with H-chassis (GH-023) SCPH-5XXXX consoles
  • Progressive scan support (only SCPH-5XXXX consoles and newer)
  • DVD-R/-RW(+R/+RW) (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 only available in SCPH-5XXXX and newer in other regions)
• 3.02J/U/A/E/K/G/D/C
  • Released with I-chassis (GH-026) SCPH-5XXXX consoles
• 3.03J/E
• 3.04J/M
• 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
• 2.14: PBPX-95222
• 2.16: PBPX-95224
• 3.00: PBPX-95228
  • Available via mail-in order
• 3.04: PDPX-99109
  • Available 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