All PlayStation consoles (except PS5) have a unique red screen error, commonly known as a Red Screen of Death. Depending on the console, it is either the result of a disc or a system error.
PlayStation[]
RSoD showing on PS1 only for model SCPH-10X
A red screen error happens when inserting an unknown disc format into PS1. When it happens, the startup plays normally, but it suddenly changes to tiles of squares fading from white to red to the right, with a message saying "Please insert PlayStation format disc." then popping up. It only appears on an SCPH-10X model. The oldest models instead show a gray screen showing a PlayStation format disc being inserted into a PS1 with the message "INSERT DISC.", while some later models instead show a blue menu like screen with a message saying "Please insert PlayStation CD-ROM."
If a disc of the correct format (an audio CD or PS1 CD-ROM) is inserted and the error displays anyway, this error indicates either that the disc is damaged, or the disc reader laser or hardware is malfunctioning and likely needs repair.
PlayStation 2[]
As with the PlayStation, a red screen error occurs on a PS2 console when a user inserts an unknown disc format. Any incompatible disc, such as later Xbox 360 discs, or disc software intended for PCs or other consoles, can trigger the RSoD. Unlike the original PlayStation, this error screen appears on all models of the PlayStation 2. When it happens, the startup background, Main Menu, or the Browser (depending on what screen you're on, but if you're in System Configurations, it will detect an unknown disc, but it will not take you to the red screen until Browser is selected) fades into to a red screen, with 2 3D cubes spinning (but sometimes 1 cube), with text saying "Please insert a PlayStation or PlayStation 2 format disc." The sounds are like pitched down main menu screen, alongside a faint whistle. After the sound plays, the generic ambiance of crashing waves will play like it does on the main menu. Although the screen can be exited out by pressing the eject button, which then takes you back to the main menu. This is considered a scary error screen due to its abrupt introduction and creepy tone, especially for children.
However, earlier Xbox console discs do not show this message, due to them having a DVD movie clip to present the disc as a DVD movie except to the correct Xbox consoles. If a user inserts an original Xbox format disc, an Xbox DVD video is played with text in six different languages saying "This is an Xbox game disc. Please put it in your Xbox to start playing". If a Xbox 360 game from before 2010 is inserted into the console, like with the Original Xbox, it plays a DVD video that is shorter, has more languages and says "To play this disc, put it in an Xbox 360 console." instead. Later Xbox 360 games do not present as DVD movies to incorrect consoles/players, and instead trigger the RSoD when inserted.
Similarly, if a Dreamcast disc is inserted, track 2 can play sound telling the user to remove the disc immediately, instead of the normal red error message, as the disc is encoded to present as a CD Audio disc to non Dreamcast consoles or generic CD players. The audio message may vary depending on the game. Track 1 cannot play because it is a data track. Attempting to play the disc past the audio warning will cause static to be played - the Dreamcast game data being incorrectly treated as if it was CD Audio data.
If a disc of the correct format (an audio CD or movie DVD, or a PS1 or PS2 CD-ROM or PS2 DVD-ROM) is inserted and the error displays anyway, this error indicates either that the disc is damaged, or the disc reader laser or hardware is malfunctioning and likely needs repair. This error may also display if a PS2 game (regardless if it's a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM) from the wrong region is inserted, or if a burned game is inserted.
PlayStation Portable[]
A Red Screen of Death PSP error message.
Unlike prior PlayStation consoles, this red error message is a result of a hardware or software error, not a problem with the disc being read. The red screen of death can be caused by either missing things from the BIOS, necessary components, files, or caused by the system itself. The screen shows red, with the white text reading "A serious error has occurred. Contact the technical support line for assistance." in 12 different languages.
PlayStation 3[]
A Red Screen of Death PlayStation 3 error message.
A similar error to the PSP, the text is slightly different and it displays it in 19 languages throughout 2 screens. This error is caused by a corrupted NOR flash, effectively bricking the PS3. This error may still be fixed by replacing the flash and reflashing it with the original per console data and the PS3's operating system, though if the per console data was affected by the NOR corruption, it cannot be fixed.
PlayStation 4[]
PlayStation's rarest errors, which is PS4 RSoD
This particular red screen is rare, but much less severe than on PS3. It is caused by a faulty HDMI port or a faulty video chip.
PlayStation 5[]
The PlayStation 5 has no known Red Screen error. Most often when any errors occur a "system error" will pop up, and any colored screens would most likely be the fault of a dying GPU/APU.