Brands With Best-Selling Video Game Consoles 1972 – 2019
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.