Since the first PS2 launched in Japan, there has been numbers of chips available in the market. First thing first, Playstationmods.com of UK released the first modchip for Playstation 2, Neo 2 in 2nd quarter of 2001. Now, they are Neo2/2.2/2.5, Starchip, Origa v1.0 and Bootmaster3. However these chips still need a swap using a Datel, well-known technology; Action Replay2/Gameshark2/ DVD Region X discs.

In October 2001, Playstationmods released their first non swap chip, Neo 4, following by Channel Technology (CT) released first true non swap chip, Messiah for PS2 PAL in November 2001. However, in early December 2001, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe (SCEE) had taken legal actions against Playstationmods, the creator of serial Neo chips and CT, the creator of Bootmaster3 and Messiah, asking them to cease their modchip sales.

Playstationmods ceased its operation after few days they received a letter from SCEE's solicitor and they will not continue their modchip operations indefinitely, while CT prefered going "the righteous way" via the Court of Law taken place in London. Unfortunately in the case of SCEE V CT, on 16th December, 2001, the judge found the favour for SCEE, CT lost.

Late December 2001, there were some rumors saying that there will be other non swap chips releases in Asia and Europe. They are called Bootmaster 4, Elvis the King of modchip and Phoenix. After going through investigations, we suprisingly found that they are Messiah chips with other names, which has been produced in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It seems that Sony has not been able to stop underground operations of modchip producers.

Although there is no doubt that the modchips have also helped boosting the sales of previous Playstation (PSX) console, modchips are also bad news for the games developers. Yet they cannot do anything stopping the piracies. At the end that will also affect us, the gamers if the developers' shut down their operations.