PlayStation 2 is a home video game console developed and market by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is first released in Japan on March 4, 2000, in North America in October 26, 2000, in Europe in November 24, 2000, and in Australia on November 30, 2000. It is the successor to the PlayStation, as well as the second installment in the PlayStation brand of consoles. A sixth-generation console, it competes with Nintendo's GameCube, Sega's Dreamcast, and Microsoft's Xbox. It is the best-selling video game console of all time, having sold over 155 million units worldwide, nearly triple the combined sales of Dreamcast, GameCube, and Xbox.