InfoSearched
Published -
- July 28, 2020
- 7:05 pm
This compares the major players in the gaming console wars from the beginning. It all began with the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972.
Magnavox releases the first game console in 1972. The Odyssey for $99 ($600 in 2019). Magnavox kept releasing updated versions of the Odyssey until 1978.
In 1975 Atari released its Pong arcade game as a console. $99 ($600 in 2019).
In 1976 COLECO joined the console race with the Telstar. $99 ($600 in 2019). While Nintendo prepared to launch its own hardware. The Color Game-TV.
The famous Atari 2600, which supported ROM game cartridges, was released the following year, in 1977. For $199 ($860 in 2019). Magnavox followed with Odyssey2, also featuring ROM cartridges. For $179 ($724 in 2019)
Mattel also released a 2nd gen console, the Intellivision. $299 ($1,110 in 2019)
ColecoVision launched in 1982, influencing the NES development, with it’s smooth graphics and performance. For $175 ($715 in 2019)
Nintendo released the Famicon in 1983. Later launching it as the NES $179 ($420 in 2019)
The Master System was launched by Sega at the end of 1986. $199 ($460 in 2019)
NEC TurboGrafx-16 launched as the first 16-bit game console even thought it actually used an 8-bit chip. $249 ($550 in 2019)
Sega Mega Drive was released in 1988, then as the Genesis in NA. $189 ($410 in 2019)
Nintendo launches Super Famicom at the end of 1990. ¥25,000 ($¥47,000 in 2019). After a redesign, the Super Famicom is launched as the SNES in 1991. $175 ($715 in 2019)
In 1993 Sega released a game console for kids, the Pico. $139 ($250 in 2019). Followed by the Sega Saturn just before the Playstation launch. $399 ($610 in 2019). The first Playstation launched a month after the Sega Saturn. $299 ($500 in 2019)
Released in 1996, Nintendo 64 was the last home console to use cartridges. $199 ($325 in 2019)
The Dreamcast was the first sixth generation console but sadly Sega’s last game console. $199 ($310 in 2019)
The Playstation 2 is the best-selling console of all-time, since 2000. $199 ($300 in 2019)
In November 2001 Microsoft joined the console race with the powerful Xbox $299 ($431 in 2019)
GameCube launched a couple of months before the Xbox. $199 ($300 in 2019)
Microsoft quickly released their second console 4 years later. $299 ($400 in 2019)
Playstation 3, even with its high price, was sold at a loss of $240 per unit. $499 ($640 in 2019)
The Wii was Nintendo’s best-selling console, selling over 100 million units. $249 ($320 in 2019)
In 2009 PlayStation 3 Slim was released by Sony as a thinner, lighter and cheaper PS3. $299
After the Wii’s market success Nintendo launched the Wii U in 2012, which was it’s worst selling console. Selling just over 13M units at $299.
Xbox One was released in 2013 as a complete entertainment system for $499.
Playstation 4 launches in 2013 and is as successful as first Playstation. Selling 102 million units. Playstation 4 Pro was an update in 2016 that added 4K,UHD,USB 3.1 and much more. $399
In 2017 the Xbox One X launched, adding UHD, 4K, FreeSync, speed, and much more for $499.
The Switch has been Nintendo’s fastest selling console to date. 40 million units sold to date at $299.
What technological innovations did Microsoft introduce with the Xbox console series?
The video game industry has been one of the most lucrative and rapidly growing markets in the entertainment industry. Since the introduction of video game consoles in the early 1970s, various brands have emerged, each with its own unique gaming experience. In this article, we take a closer look at the top brands with the best-selling video game consoles from 1972 to 2019.
Atari (1972-1985)
Atari is considered the pioneer of the video game industry, and its first console, the Atari 2600, was released in 1977. Atari had a significant impact and set the stage for console gaming. The brand continued to soar in popularity with the introduction of other consoles such as the Atari 5200, Atari 7800, and Atari Lynx.
Nintendo (1985-2019)
In the mid-1980s, Nintendo emerged as a major player in the video game market after launching the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES revitalized the video game industry after the video game market collapse in 1983, and it broke sales records. Nintendo continued its reign with other consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and the most recent Nintendo Switch, which is still dominating the market.
Sony (1994-2019)
Sony entered the console market in 1994 with the release of the Sony PlayStation. This console introduced 3D gaming and a CD-ROM drive, delivering a unique gaming experience. The PlayStation went on to sell over 100 million units, and Sony further dominated the market with the PlayStation 2, which is the best-selling console of all time with over 158 million units sold.
Microsoft (2001-2019)
In 2001, Microsoft entered the console market with the Xbox, which was the first console to feature an internal hard drive. It posed a strong competition to Sony’s PlayStation 2, and Microsoft continued to establish its presence with the release of the Xbox 360 (2005), Xbox One (2013), and the most recent Xbox Series X (2020).
These four brands have proven to be the most successful in the video game industry with their best-selling consoles spanning over four decades. Each of these brands has contributed to the advancement of the gaming industry through technological innovations, immersive gaming experiences, and quality games.
In conclusion, the video game industry has evolved significantly over the years. The success of these four brands demonstrates the market’s growing demand for video games, which in turn drive the need for superior consoles. The competition among these brands has led to innovative products and new developments that continue to shape the video game industry today. It is fascinating to see what the future holds for the video game industry, particularly given the strong competition and the drive to exceed customer expectations.
