The History of Consoles

Console Timeline

The Panasonic 3DO FZ-1, a video game console released in 1993.

3DO Interactive Multiplayer

Released: October 4, 1993

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Atari Jaguar console shown with the standard controller.

Atari Jaguar

Released: November 23, 1993

Photo: Evan-Amos

A Japanese Sega Saturn. This is the second version of the hardware that is white and has round power and reset buttons.

Sega Saturn

Released: November 22, 1994

Photo: Evan-Amos

A Sony PlayStation video game console, shown with controller and memory card attached. This is a Japanese SCPH-1000, which was the very first model of PlayStation commercially released. It is similar to the American SCPH-1001 except it also features an S-Video out and comes bundled with the shown SCPH-1010 controller. The SCPH-1010 was a short-lived controller model and was only bundled with the SCPH-1000. It features shorter arms, a shorter cord and lacks a ferrite bead compared to the more common SCPH-1080.

PlayStation 1

Released: December 3, 1994

Photo: Evan-Amos

A Nintendo 64 video game console shown with gray controller.

Nintendo 64

Released: June 23, 1996

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Sega Dreamcast, a video game console released on September 9th, 1999 in North America. The last console by Sega, the Dreamcast was well received at launch but many factors like Sega's financial troubles and the extreme popularity of Sony's PlayStation 2 led to the system being discontinued in early 2001. After dropping out of manufacturing hardware, Sega focused on publishing and developing software for other gaming platforms.

Sega Dreamcast

Released: November 27, 1998

Photo: Evan-Amos

Two iterations of the PlayStation 2 console, the original and the slim. On the left is a model SCPH-30001 with a vertical stand. On the right is a slimline model SCPH-70001 with a vertical stand, a DualShock2 and 8MB memory card plugged in. This is the JPG version.

PlayStation 2

Released: March 4, 2000

Photo: Evan-Amos

A Nintendo GameCube console shown with memory card and a standard controller.

Nintendo GameCube

Released: September 14, 2001

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Xbox, a sixth-generation gaming console made by Microsoft that was first released in 2001. The Xbox was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market, and was followed by the Xbox 360 in 2005. The console is shown here with the Duke controller, the original pack-in controller, which was later replaced by a smaller 'S' controller. The console is notable for having a built-in hard drive, breakaway controller dongles and an Ethernet port to support Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live.

Xbox

Released: November 15, 2001

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Xbox 360, a video game console released by Microsoft in 2005. This is the 'Pro' model from the launch line-up, which featured a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller and a silver DVD bezel. The production date of this unit is 2005-11-05, making it a very early unit. Of note is the gray on the hard drive at the top, which is very shiny and silvery. This was changed to a matte gray in later models.

Xbox 360

Released: November 22, 2005

Photo: Evan-Amos

The original 'fat' PS3. This is a 60GB model with backwards compatibility and memory card reader. Shown with the Sixaxis controller.

PlayStation 3

Released: November 11, 2006

Photo: Evan-Amos

Nintendo Wii console with Wii Remote controller

Nintendo Wii

Released: November 19, 2006

Photo: Evan-Amos

Wii U Console and Gamepad transparent background

Nintendo Wii U

Released: November 18, 2012

Photo: Takimata　(And: Tokyoship)

The Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4), an eighth generation video game console released in 2013. The PS4 is shown here with the DualShock 4 controller and an optional vertical stand.

PlayStation 4

Released: November 15, 2013

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Xbox One console, shown with the controller and the Kinect. Released in 2013 in North America and select markets, it is the third video game console made by Microsoft and succeeds the Xbox 360.

Xbox One

Released: November 22, 2013

Photo: Evan-Amos

PlayStation 4 Pro console with DualShock 4 controller

PlayStation 4 Pro

Released: November 10, 2016

Photo: PlayStation

The Nintendo Switch, a hybrid portable - home console released by Nintendo in 2017. It is shown here in the docked - home mode, with the controllers detached from the main unit and in the included grip.

Nintendo Switch

Released: March 3, 2017

Photo: Evan-Amos

The Xbox One X video game console and controller, made by Microsoft and originally released in 2017. This is a mid-generation refresh of the original Xbox One, which offered more powerful hardware capable of running games at higher resolutions and frame rates.

Xbox One X

Released: November 7, 2017

Photo: Evan-Amos

Xbox Series S console with Xbox Wireless Controller

Xbox Series S

Released: November 10, 2020

Photo: DirtABXY

Black Xbox Series X console standing vertically with controller in front

Xbox Series X

Released: November 10, 2020

Photo: DirtABXY

A picture of the black and white ps5 on a stand with a controller resting by its side.

PlayStation 5

Released: November 12, 2020

Photo: Howardcorn33

A picture of the black and white ps5 Pro on a stand with a controller standing by its side.

PlayStation 5 Pro

Released: November 7, 2024

Photo: PlayStation

Console History Timeline - The History of Consoles