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.
