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Magnavox Odyssey
The first home video game console. -
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First Generation
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Video 2000
Also known as Video Compact Cassette -
Philips Odyssey
The Philips version of the Magnavox Odyssey. -
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Second Generation
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Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 was typically bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a game cartridge: initially Combat, and later Pac-Man. -
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Ninth Generation (Handheld Devices)
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PlayCable
Allowed local cable television system operators to send games for the Intellivision over cable wires alongside normal television signals. -
Vectrex
A vector display-based home video game console. -
Nintendo Entertainment System
An 8-bit home video game console that was developed and manufactured by Nintendo. -
Period: to
Third Generation
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Sega Master System
The Master System featured accessories such as a light gun and 3D glasses which were designed to work with a range of specially coded games. -
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Fourth Generation
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Action Max
A home video game console using VHS tapes for games. -
Sega Genesis
A 16-bit home video game console that supports a library of more than 900 games created both by Sega and a wide array of third-party publishers and delivered on ROM-based cartridges. -
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
A 16-bit home video game console that introduced advanced graphics and sound capabilities compared with other consoles at the time. -
Philips CD-I
An interactive multimedia CD player. This category of device was created to provide more functionality than an audio CD player or game console, but at a lower price than a personal computer with a CD-ROM drive at the time. -
Period: to
Fifth Generation
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Atari Jaguar
The console was the sixth and last programmable console to be developed under the Atari brand -
PlayStation
The PlayStation is the first "computer entertainment platform" to ship 100 million units, which it had reached 9 years and 6 months after its initial launch. -
Nintendo 64
64-bit central processing unit, it is the industry's last major home console to use the cartridge as its primary storage format. -
Period: to
Sixth Generation
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PlayStation 2
The first PlayStation console to offer backwards compatibility for its predecessor's DualShock controller, as well as for its games. It is currently the best-selling video game console in history. -
Game Boy Advance
Part of the Game Boy line of handheld consoles. Backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Plays ROM cartridges. -
GameCube
The first Nintendo console to use optical discs as its primary storage medium. -
Xbox
The first installment in the Xbox series of consoles manufactured by Microsoft. Graphically powerful compared to its rivals. -
PlayStation Portable
Plays Universal Media Discs and digital games via internet download. -
Period: to
Seventh Generation
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Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 features an online service, Xbox Live, which was expanded from its previous iteration on the original Xbox and received regular updates during the console's lifetime. -
PlayStation 3
It is the first to introduce Sony's social gaming service, PlayStation Network, and its remote connectivity with PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, being able to remote control the console from the devices. -
Wii
Introduced the Wii Remote controller, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and which detects movement in three dimensions. -
Nintendo DSI
A dual-screen handheld game console that features two digital cameras, supports internal and external content storage, and connects to an online store called the Nintendo DSi Shop. -
Period: to
Eighth Generation
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Wii U
The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics. The system's primary controller is the Wii U Gamepad, which features an embedded touchscreen, and combines directional buttons, analog sticks, and action buttons. -
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 places an increased emphasis on social interaction and integration with other devices and services, including the ability to play games off-console on PlayStation Vita and supported Sony Xperia mobile devices ("Remote Play"), the ability to stream gameplay online, or to friends with them controlling gameplay remotely ("Share Play"). -
Xbox One
Offering the ability to overlay live television programming from an existing set-top box or a digital tuner for digital terrestrial television with an enhanced program guide, split-screen multitasking of applications, and improved second-screen support. Also offers the ability to upload clips to streaming platforms.
