Video game Console Generations
The first video game console emerged in 1972 when Magnavox licensed Ralph Baer’s television gaming device from Sander Associates and released the Magnavox Odyssey, a modified retail version of Baer’s Brown Box prototype. The release of the Magnavox Odyssey kicked off the first-generation of home video game consoles.
The first generation of home video game consoles were mainly dedicated systems which only gave the ability to play different varieties of one game utilizing the programming stored in the console it’s self. As technology advanced video games consoles continued to innovate by implementing new ideas, approaches, and more advanced technology. In 1976 video game consoles took a huge leap forward when the Fairchild Channel F introduced programmable interchangeable cartridges.
Video game consoles continued to improve and evolve over the decades and with every generational leap in technology came a new console generation. The below content provides a high-level overview of the hardware console platforms that were released through each generation.
Magnavox Odyssey
- Released August 1972 in North America, 1973 in Europe and 1974 in Japan
- Launch price $100
- Sold approximately 350,000 units
Odyssey Series (11 variations)
- Released between 1975 and 1978
- Launch price between $100 and $230
TV Tennis Electrotennis
- Released on September 12, 1975 in Japan
- Launch price JP¥19,500
- Sold approximately 10,000 units
Home Pong
- Released in December 1975 by Atari
- Launch price $98.95
- Sold approximately 150,000 units
Binatone TV Master Series (9 variations)
- Release in 1977 in both Europe and North America
- Launch Price £39.95
Coleco Telstar Series (14 variations)
- Released between 1976 and 1978 in North America
- Launch price $50
- Sold Approximately 1 million units
Color TV-Game Series (9 variations)
- Released between 1977 and 1980 by Nintendo
- Sold approximately 3 million units
Fairchild Channel F
- Released November 1976 in North America and October 1977 in Japan
- Launch price - $169.95
- Sold approximately 250,000 units
Atari VCS (a.k.a - Atari 2600)
- Released September 1977 in North America, 1978 in Europe and May 1983 in Japan
- Launch price - $199
- Sold approximately 30 million units worldwide
Bally Astrocade
- Released 1978
- Launch price $299
Magnavox Odyssey²
- Released December 1978 in Europe, February 1979 in North America and 1982 in Japan
- Launch Price $199
- Sold approximately 2 million units worldwide
Intellivision
- Released in 1980 in North America and 1982 in both Europe and Japan
- Launch price $299
- Sold approximately 3 million units
Emerson Arcadia 2001
- Released in May 1982 in North America and 1983 in Japan
- Launch price $199
ColecoVision
- Released August 1982 in North America and in July 1983 throughout Europe
- Launch price $199
- Sold approximately 2 million units
Atari 5200
- Released in November 1982 in North America
- Launch price $270
- Sold approximately 1 million units worldwide
Vectrex
- Released in November 1982 in North America, May 1983 in Europe and June 1983 in Japan
- Launch price $199
- Game library of 28 North American titles, 19 European titles and 11 Japanese titles
SG-1000
- Released July 15, 1983 in Japan by Sega
- Launch price JP¥15,000
- Sold approximately 160,000 units
Famicom
- Also known as "Family Computer"
- Released on July 15, 1983 in Japan by Nintendo
- Launch price JP¥14,800
- Sold approximately 19.35 million units (totaling 61.91 million units with the NES)
- Sold approximately 500.01 million units of software
Famicom Disk System
- Released on February 21, 1986 in Japan
- Sold approximately 4.4 million units
- Launch price JP¥ 15,000
Nintendo Entertainment System
- Also known as the "NES"
- Released October 18, 1985 to test markets within the United States
- Released September 1986 in both North America and Europe
- Launch price $180
- Sold approximately 42.56 million units (totaling 61.91 million units with the famicom)
- Sold approximately 500.01 million units of software
Sega Mark III
- Released on October 20, 1985 in Japan
- Launch price JP¥15,000
- Sold approximately 1.28 million units (totaling 20.19 million with the Sega Master System)
Sega Master System
- Released in September 1986 in North America and August 1987 in Europe
- Launch price $199.99
- Sold approximately 18.91 million units (totaling 20.19 million units with the Mark III)
Atari 7800
- Released in May 1986 in North America and July 1987 in Europe
- Launch price $140
- Sold approximately 100,000 units
PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
- Also known as "TurboGrafx-16" in North America
- Released on October 30, 1987 in Japan and August 29, 1989 in North America
- Launch price JP¥15,000, $199 USD
- Sold approximately 10.5 million units
Sega Genesis
- Also known as "Mega Drive" in Europe and Japan
- Released on October 29, 1988 in Japan, August 14, 1989 in North America and September 1990 in Europe
- Launch price $189.99
- Sold approximately 40 million units
Super Nintendo
- Also known as "Super Famicom" in Japan
- Released on November 21, 1990 in Japan, August 23, 1991 in North America and April 11, 1992 in Europe
- Launch price $199.99
- Sold approximately 49.1 million units
- Sold approximately 379.06 million units of software
Neo Geo AES
- Released on April 26, 1990 (rental only) & July 1, 1991 in both Japan and North America
- Launch price $650 USD
- Sold approximately 410,000 units
- Game library of 118 titles
Philips CD-i
- Released on December 3, 1991 in North America and in 1992 for both Europe and Japan
- Launch price $699.99
- Sold approximately 570,000 units
Game Boy
- Released on April 21, 1989 in Japan, August 1989 in North American and 1990 in Europe
- Launch price $89.95
- Sold approximately 118.69 million units
- Sold approximately 501.11 million units of software
Atari Lynx
- Released in September 1989 in North America and in 1990 in Europe
- Launch price $189.99
- Sold approximately 5 million units
Game Gear
- Released on October 6, 1990 in Japan and on April 26, 1991 in both North America and Europe
- Launch price $149.99
- Sold approximately 15 million units
Turbo Express
- Released on November 16, 1990 in Japan and in 1991 in North America
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 1.5 million units
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
- Released on October 4, 1993 and in 1994 in both Europe and Japan
- Launch price $699.99
- Sold approximately 2 million units
Atari Jaguar
- Released on November 15, 1993 and in 1994 for both Europe and Japan
- Launch Price $249.99
- Sold approximately 500,000 units
Sega Saturn
- Released on November 22, 1994 in Japan and in 1995 for both Europe and North America
- Launch price $399.99
- Sold approximately 9.4 million units
PlayStation
- Released on December 3, 1994 worldwide
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 102 million units
Nintendo 64
- Released on June 23, 1996 in Japan, September 29, 1996 in North America and on March 1, 1997 in Europe
- Launch price $199.99
- Sold approximately 32.93 million units
- Sold approximately 224.97 million units of software
Neo Geo CD
- Released on September 9, 1994 in Japan, December 1994 in Europe and January 1996 in North America
- Launch price $399.99
- Sold approximately 570,000 units
Sega Nomad
- Released October 1995 in North America
- Launch price $180
- Sold approximately 1 million units
Virtual Boy
- Released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and on August 14, 1995 in North America
- Launch price $179.95
- Sold approximately 770,000 units
Game Boy Color
- Released in November 1998
- Launch price $69.99
- Sold approximately 118.69 million units
- Sold approximately 501.11 million units of software
Neo Geo Pocket
- Released on October 28, 1998 in Japan
- Launch price $69.95
- Sold approximately 52,182 units
Neo Geo Pocket Color
- Released March 16, 1999 in Japan, August 6, 1999 in North America and October 1, 1999 in Europe
- Launch price $69.95
- Sold approximately 259,133 units
Dreamcast
- Released November 27, 1998 in Japan, September 9, 1999 in North America and September 23, 1999 in Europe
- Launch price $199.99
- Sold approximately 9.13 million units
PlayStation 2
- Released March 4, 2000 in Japan, October 26 in North America and November 24, 2000 in Europe
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 155 million units
GameCube
- Released September 14, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America and May 3, 2002 in Europe
- Launch price $199.99
- Sold approximately 21.74 million units
- Sold approximately 208.57 million units of software
Xbox
- Released November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan and March 14 in Europe
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 24 million units
Game Boy Advance
- Released March 21, 2001 in Japan, June 11, 2001 in North American and June 22, 2001 in Europe
- Launch price $99.99
- Sold approximately 81.51 million units
- Sold approximately 377.42 million units of software
N-Gage
- Released October 7, 2003
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 3 million units
Xbox 360
- Released November 22, 2005 in North America, December 2, 2005 in Europe and December 10, 2005 in Japan
- Launch price $399.99
- Sold approximately 84 million units
PlayStation 3
- Released November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America and March 23, 2007 in Europe
- Launch price $599.99
- Sold approximately 87.4 million units
Wii
- Released November 19, 2006 in North America, December 2, 2006 in Japan and December 8, 2006 in Europe
- Launch price $249.99
- Sold approximately 101.63 million units
- Sold approximately 921.85 million units of software
Nintendo DS
- Released November 21, 2004 in North America, December 2, 2004 in Japan and March 11, 2005 in Europe
- Launch price $149.99
- Sold approximately 154.02 million units
- Sold approximately 948.76 units of software
PlayStation Portable
- Released December 12, 2004 in Japan, March 24, 2005 in North America and September 1, 2005 in Europe
- Launch price $249.99
- Sold approximately 81.09 million units
Wii U
- Released November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30, 2012 in Europe and December 8, 2012 in Japan
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 13.56 million units
- Sold approximately 103.45 million units of software
PlayStation 4
- Released November 15, 2013 in North America, November 29 in Europe and February 22, 2014 in Japan
- Launch price $399.99
- Sold approximately 116.85 million units
Xbox One
- Released November 22, 2013 in both North American and Europe and September 4, 2014 in Japan
- Launch price $499.99
- Sold approximately 50.55 million units
Nintendo Switch
- Released March 3, 2017 worldwide
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 103.54 million units
- Sold approximately 766.41 million units of software
Nintendo 3DS
- Released February 26, 2011 in Japan, March 25, 2011 in Europe and March 27, 2011 in North America
- Launch price $249.99
- Sold approximately 75.94 million units
- Sold approximately 387.99 million units of software
PlayStation Vita
- Released December 17, 2011 in Japan and February 22, 2012 in both Europe and North America
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 16.21 million units
Xbox Series X
- Released world wide on November 10, 2020
- 4K Capable with Ultra Blu-ray Drive
- Launch price $499.99
- Sold approximately 12.39 million units (combined with series S)
Xbox Series S
- Released world wide on November 10, 2020
- 1440p Capable, Digital Media
- Launch price $299.99
- Sold approximately 12.39 million units (combined with series X)
PlayStation 5
- Released November 12, 2020 in both North American and Japan then on November 19, 2020 throughout Europe
- 4K Capable with Ultra Blu-ray Drive
- Launch price $499.99
- Sold approximately 18.5 million units (combined with digital edition)
PlayStation 5 (Digital Edition)
- Released November 12, 2020 in both North American and Japan then on November 19, 2020 throughout Europe
- 4K Capable, Digital Media
- Launch price $399.99
- Sold approximately 18.5 million units (combined with disc edition)