The PlayStation 4, an eighth-generation console from Sony, arrived on North American retail shelves on Friday, more than two years after PS4 rumors first surfaced.
Although Sony officially announced the faster, more powerful console on Feb. 20, speculation began as early as 2011.
See also: Share Your 15-Second Review of the PlayStation 4
Our timeline, below, documents the very first whispers, the much-anticipated launch day and everything in between to help you relive the hype.
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BONUS: PlayStation 4: A Comeback Console, Still Rough Around the Edges
Sony's next-generation PlayStation 4 is here. The sleek console features an 8-core x86 AMD Jaguar chip and 8 gigs of GDDR5 memory. It's Sony's first console since the PlayStation 3, which was released in 2006.
The PlayStation 4 isn't a cube, but actually a tilted parallelogram. It's also small at only 10.8 inches by 12 inches.
The console can lay on its side, or can be placed vertically with a stand, which you can purchase separately for $14.99.
The PlayStation 4's front is bisected by an LED light, which pulses blue when the console is starting up and white when it's on.
The easily missed power button is right on the front, between the glossy and matte sections, where the LED separates the console.
The back of the console is where all the heat escapes. It also holds the power, HDMI, optical, ethernet and PlayStation Camera ports.
The PlayStation 4 features a newly redesigned controller, the DualShock 4. While some aspects of the old controller have remained, such as the iconic shape-face buttons, it's a big departure from the previous PlayStation 3 controller.
The biggest new feature is the controller's touchpad in the center, which boasts multitouch gestures just like most smartphones. It can also be clicked like a trackpad.
The PlayStation 4 has its own camera, sold separately from the console for $59.99. It features two lenses to see 3D images, along with a microphone array to detect sound.
Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani