SingStarâ??s Greatest Hits

To read Develop’s full feature on SingStar, including interviews with the London Studios team, click here.

May 21st, 2004
First version released in a bundle with mics, and some classics tracks like Careless Whisper and Take On Me.

November 2004
The second disc, SingStar Party, arrives.

May 2005
The first major sales milestone: in just a year, the franchise has shifted two million copies across Europe. At the same time, SingStar: Popworld arrives, featuring a cheeky intro from Never Mind The Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell (okay, yeah, and the irritating Miquita Oliver).

November 2005
The franchise starts to diversify – SingStar ‘80s is released.

April 2006
SingStar Rocks! released in Europe. 2006 also sees the release of SingStar Anthems (y’know for the gays), and SingStar Legends (classic tracks – y’know, for the mums and dads).

November 2006
After much foot-dragging by the fools at SCEA, the franchise finally arrives in the US. Singstar Rocks! is the debut release. The Americans get localised versions of the other discs from this point on.

2007
A bumper year for SingStar PS2 releases in the UK – SingStar Pop Hits (April), SingStar ‘90s (August), SingStar Rock Ballads (Meatloaf’s I’d Do Anything For Love – yes!, September) SingStar Bollywood and SingStar R&B (October).

December 2007
After a bit of a wait SingStar arrives for PS3, complete with online store and community features. The SingStore launches with only 41 tracks – but today over 500 are now available to download. The Americans have to wait six months for it. More fool them.

2008
More new SKUs this year: SingStar Summer Party (April), SingStar Country (October), and SingStar Boy Bands vs Girl Bands (October).

April 2008
Massive milestone alert: 12 million copies sold globally by this point, with a million tracks already downloaded from the SingStore.

November 2008
Perfectly timed to coincide with Mamma Mia!’s DVD success, SingStar ABBA arrives, in all territories – first in the UK then the US and elsewhere a few weeks later. It’s the first time the franchise gets close to a global day and date arrival. Oh, and SingStar Disney Singalong is released for the little ‘uns too.

March 2008
Wireless mics arrive for the PS2 and PS3.

April 2009
SingStar Queen released. We see what they’re doing there. Michael Jackson version next please, Sony. That or a Bond Themes one.

May 2009
SingStar’s all growed up fifth birthday. To celebrate, Sony’s holding a competition. See page 27.