List of best-selling game consoles
Table:
Million-selling home game consoles

Platform

Firm

Released[2]

Units sold

Ref.

PlayStation 2

Sony

2000

>155 million

[note 1]

PlayStation 4 #

Sony

2013

106 million

[32]

PlayStation

Sony

1994

102.49 million

[33]

Wii

Nintendo

2006

101.63 million

[17]

PlayStation 3

Sony

2006

>87.4 million

[note 1]

Xbox 360

Microsoft

2005

>84 million

[note 3]

Nintendo Entertainment System

Nintendo

1983

61.91 million

[17]

Nintendo Switch #‡

Nintendo

2017

52.48 million
(including Switch Lite)

[40][83]

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Nintendo

1990

49.10 million

[17]

Xbox One #

Microsoft

2013

46.9 million
(estimate)

[note 3]

Sega Genesis

Sega

1988

35 million

[note 4][41]

Nintendo 64

Nintendo

1996

32.93 million

[17]

Atari 2600

Atari

1977

30 million

[42]

Xbox

Microsoft

2001

24 million

[43]

GameCube

Nintendo

2001

21.74 million

[17]

Wii U

Nintendo

2012

13.56 million

[17]

Master System

Sega

1986

10–13 million

[note 5]

TurboGrafx-16

NEC/Hudson Soft
[note 6]

1987

10 million

[52]

Sega Saturn

Sega

1994

9.26 million

[53]

Dreamcast

Sega

1998

9.13 million

[53][54][55][56]

Taking into account the accompanying table and the supporting text listed below.

Respond to the question below: What year was the inception of the company whose platform is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on ROM cartridges ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

The PlayStation 2 ( officially branded as PS2 ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment . It was first released in Japan on March 4 , 2000 , in North America on October 26 , 2000 , and in Europe and Australia on November 24 , 2000 , and is the successor to the original PlayStation , as well as the second installment in the PlayStation console line-up . A sixth-generation console , it competed with Sega 's Dreamcast , Nintendo 's GameCube , and Microsoft 's original Xbox . Announced in 1999 , the PS2 offered backward-compatibility for its predecessor 's DualShock controller , as well as its games . The PS2 is the best-selling video game console of all time , having sold over 155 million units worldwide , as confirmed by Sony . Over 3,800 game titles have been released for the PS2 , with over 1.5 billion copies sold . Sony later manufactured several smaller , lighter revisions of the console known as Slimline models in 2004 . Even with the release of its successor , the PlayStation 3 , the PS2 remained popular well into the seventh generation , and continued to be produced until 2013 , when Sony finally announced it had been discontinued after twelve years of production - one of the longest lifespans of a video game console . Despite the announcement , new games for the console continued to be produced until the end of 2013 , including Final Fantasy XI : Seekers of Adoulin for Japan , FIFA 13 for North America , and Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 for Europe . Repair services for the system in Japan ended on September 7 , 2018 .
Sony Corporation ( ソニー株式会社 , Sonī Kabushiki Kaisha , /ˈsoʊni/ SOH-nee , commonly known as Sony and stylized as SONY ) is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan , Minato , Tokyo . Its diversified business includes consumer and professional electronics , gaming , entertainment and financial services . The company owns the largest music entertainment business in the world , the largest video game console business and one of the largest video game publishing businesses , and is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products for the consumer and professional markets , and a leading player in the film and television entertainment industry . [ better source needed ] Sony was ranked 97th on the 2018 Fortune Global 500 list . Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group ( ソニー・グループ , Sonī Gurūpu ) , which is engaged in business through its four operating components : electronics ( AV , IT & communication products , semiconductors , video games , network services and medical business ) , motion pictures ( movies and TV shows ) , music ( record labels and music publishing ) and financial services ( banking and insurance ) . These make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world . The group consists of Sony Corporation , Sony Pictures , Sony Mobile , Sony Interactive Entertainment , Sony Music , Sony Financial Holdings , and others . Sony is among the semiconductor sales leaders and since 2015 , the fifth-largest television manufacturer in the world after Samsung Electronics , LG Electronics , TCL and Hisense . The company 's current slogan is Be Moved . Their former slogans were The One and Only ( 1979-1982 ) , It 's a Sony ( 1982-2005 ) , like.no.other ( 2005-2009 ) and make.believe ( 2009-2013 ) . Sony has a weak tie to the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) corporate group , the successor to the Mitsui group .
2000 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Deus Ex , Hitman : Codename 47 , Paper Mario , Mario Tennis , Perfect Dark , Shogun : Total War , SSX , TimeSplitters and The Sims .
The PlayStation 4 ( officially abbreviated as PS4 ) is an eighth-generation home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment . Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013 , it was launched on November 15 in North America , November 29 in Europe , South America and Australia , and on February 22 , 2014 , in Japan . It competes with Microsoft 's Xbox One and Nintendo 's Wii U and Switch . Moving away from the more complex Cell microarchitecture of its predecessor , the console features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built upon the x86-64 architecture , which can theoretically peak at 1.84 teraflops ; AMD stated that it was the most powerful APU it had developed to date . 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 other supported devices ( Remote Play ) , the ability to stream gameplay online or to friends , with them controlling gameplay remotely ( Share Play ) . The console 's controller was also redesigned and improved over the PlayStation 3 , with improved buttons and analog sticks , and an integrated touchpad among other changes . The console also supports HDR10 High-dynamic-range video and playback of 4K resolution multimedia . The PlayStation 4 was released to critical acclaim , with critics praising Sony for acknowledging its consumers ' needs , embracing independent game development , and for not imposing the restrictive digital rights management schemes like those originally announced by Microsoft for the Xbox One . Critics and third-party studios also praised the capabilities of the PlayStation 4 in comparison to its competitors ; developers described the performance difference between the console and Xbox One as significant and obvious . Heightened demand also helped Sony top global console sales . By the end of September 2019 , over 102 million PlayStation 4 consoles had been shipped worldwide , surpassing lifetime sales of the PlayStation 3 . On September 7 , 2016 , Sony unveiled the PlayStation 4 Slim , a smaller version of the console ; and a high-end version called the PlayStation 4 Pro , which features an upgraded GPU and a higher CPU clock rate to support enhanced performance and 4K resolution in supported games .
Numerous games were released in 2013 , including new installments for well-received franchises , such as Ace Attorney , Army of Two , Assassin 's Creed , Batman : Arkham , Battlefield , BioShock , Call of Duty , Crysis , Dead Rising , Dead Space , Devil May Cry , Final Fantasy , Fire Emblem , Forza Motorsport , God of War , Gears of War , Gran Turismo , Grand Theft Auto , Killer Instinct , Killzone , Lost Planet , Luigi 's Mansion , Mario Party , Metal Gear , Metro , Need for Speed , Pokémon , Rayman , Pikmin , Saints Row , SimCity , Sly Cooper , Sonic The Hedgehog , StarCraft , Super Mario , The Legend of Zelda , Tom Clancy 's Splinter Cell , Tomb Raider , Total War and Zoo Tycoon . In addition , it saw the release of many new intellectual properties , such as Beyond : Two Souls , Papers , Please , Tearaway , The Wonderful 101 and The Last of Us . Many awards went to games such as BioShock Infinite , Grand Theft Auto V , The Last of Us and The Legend of Zelda : A Link Between Worlds . New video game consoles were also released in 2013 with the PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment and the Xbox One from Microsoft .
The PlayStation [ a ] ( officially abbreviated as PS and commonly known as the PS1 or its codename PSX ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment . It was first released on 3 December 1994 in Japan , on 9 September 1995 in North America , on 29 September 1995 in Europe , and on 15 November 1995 in Australia , and was the first of the PlayStation lineup of video game consoles . As a fifth generation console , the PlayStation primarily competed with the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn . The PlayStation was the first computer entertainment platform to ship over 100 million units , which it had reached nine years after its initial launch . In July 2000 , a redesigned , slim version called the PS one was released , replacing the original grey console and named appropriately to avoid confusion with its successor , the PlayStation 2 . The PlayStation 2 , which is backwards compatible with the PlayStation 's DualShock controller and games , was announced in 1999 and launched in 2000 . The last PS one units were sold in late 2006 to early 2007 shortly after it was officially discontinued , for a total of 102 million units shipped since its launch eleven years earlier . Games for the PlayStation continued to sell until Sony ceased production of both the PlayStation and PlayStation games on 23 March 2006 - over eleven years after it had been released , and less than a year before the debut of the PlayStation 3 . On 19 September 2018 , Sony unveiled the PlayStation Classic to mark the 24th anniversary of the original console . The new console is a miniature recreation of the original PlayStation , preloaded with 20 titles released on the original console , and was released on 3 December 2018 , the exact date the console was released in Japan in 1994 .
1994 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Super Metroid , Donkey Kong Country and Sonic & Knuckles .
The Wii ( /wiː/ WEE ; known unofficially as the Nintendo Wii ) is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19 , 2006 . As a seventh-generation console , the Wii competed with Microsoft 's Xbox 360 and Sony 's PlayStation 3 . Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others . As of the first quarter of 2016 [ update ] , the Wii led its generation over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in worldwide sales , with more than 101 million units sold ; in December 2009 , the console broke the sales record for a single month in the United States . The Wii introduced the Wii Remote controller , which can be used as a handheld pointing device and which detects movement in three dimensions . The console runs games supplied on Wii optical discs . It also supported the now discontinued WiiConnect24 service , which enabled Wii to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode . Like other seventh-generation consoles it supported a service , called Virtual Console , that downloaded emulated games from past Nintendo consoles , support for online video streaming such as BBC iPlayer , and other services provided by Nintendo over the Internet . From June 28 , 2013 , Internet services were gradually discontinued ; since January 31 , 2019 , only re-download of games , system software update , and transfer of data between Wii and Wii U continued to be available , to be withdrawn at an unspecified future date . Wii Points could no longer be purchased after March 2018 , and could not be used and were permanently lost from January 31 , 2019 . The Wii succeeded the GameCube ; early models are fully backward-compatible with all GameCube games and most accessories . Nintendo first spoke of the console at the E3 2004 press conference and later unveiled it at E3 2005 .
Nintendo Co. , Ltd. [ a ] is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics and video game company headquartered in Kyoto . Nintendo is one of the world 's largest video game companies by market capitalization , creating some of the best-known and top-selling video game franchises of all-time , such as Mario , The Legend of Zelda , Animal Crossing , and Pokémon . Nintendo was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produced handmade hanafuda playing cards . By 1963 , the company had tried several small niche businesses , such as cab services and love hotels , without major success . Abandoning previous ventures in favor of toys in the 1960s , Nintendo developed into a video game company in the 1970s . Supplemented since the 1980s by its major divisions Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe , it ultimately became one of the most influential in the video game industry and one of Japan 's most-valuable companies with a market value of over $ 37 billion in 2018 .
2006 saw the release of several sequels and prequels in video games , prominently including New Super Mario Bros , alongside many prominent new releases including Bully , Company of Heroes , Dead Rising , Gears of War , Just Cause , Lost Planet : Extreme Condition , Prey , Resistance : Fall of Man , Saints Row and Thrillville .
The PlayStation 3 ( officially abbreviated as PS3 ) is a home video game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment . It is the successor to PlayStation 2 , and is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles . It was first released on November 11 , 2006 in Japan , November 17 , 2006 in North America , and March 23 , 2007 in Europe and Australia . The PlayStation 3 competed primarily against Microsoft 's Xbox 360 and Nintendo 's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles . The console was first officially announced at E3 2005 , and was released at the end of 2006 . It was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium . The console was the first PlayStation to integrate social gaming services , including the PlayStation Network , as well as the first to be controllable from a handheld console , through its remote connectivity with PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita . In September 2009 , the Slim model of the PlayStation 3 was released . It no longer provided the hardware ability to run PS2 games . It was lighter and thinner than the original version , and featured a redesigned logo and marketing design , as well as a minor start-up change in software . A Super Slim variation was then released in late 2012 , further refining and redesigning the console . During its early years , the system was negatively received , due to its high price ( $ 599 for a 60 gigabyte model , $ 499 for a 20 GB model ) , a complex processor architecture , and lack of quality games but was praised for its Blu-ray capabilities and untapped potential .
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft . As the successor to the original Xbox , it is the second console in the Xbox series . It competed with Sony 's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo 's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles . It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12 , 2005 , with detailed launch and game information announced later that month at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo . 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 . Available in free and subscription-based varieties , Xbox Live allows users to : play games online ; download games ( through Xbox Live Arcade ) and game demos ; purchase and stream music , television programs , and films through the Xbox Music and Xbox Video portals ; and access third-party content services through media streaming applications . In addition to online multimedia features , it allows users to stream media from local PCs . Several peripherals have been released , including wireless controllers , expanded hard drive storage , and the Kinect motion sensing camera . The release of these additional services and peripherals helped the Xbox brand grow from gaming-only to encompassing all multimedia , turning it into a hub for living-room computing entertainment . Launched worldwide across 2005-2006 , the Xbox 360 was initially in short supply in many regions , including North America and Europe . The earliest versions of the console suffered from a high failure rate , indicated by the so-called Red Ring of Death , necessitating an extension of the device 's warranty period . Microsoft released two redesigned models of the console : the Xbox 360 S in 2010 , and the Xbox 360 E in 2013 .
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond , Washington . It develops , manufactures , licenses , supports , and sells computer software , consumer electronics , personal computers , and related services . Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems , the Microsoft Office suite , and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers . Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers . In 2016 , it was the world 's largest software maker by revenue ( currently Alphabet/Google has more revenue ) . The word Microsoft is a portmanteau of microcomputer and software . Microsoft is ranked No . 30 in the 2018 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue . Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4 , 1975 , to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800 . It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s , followed by Microsoft Windows . The company 's 1986 initial public offering ( IPO ) , and subsequent rise in its share price , created three billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires among Microsoft employees . Since the 1990s , it has increasingly diversified from the operating system market and has made a number of corporate acquisitions , their largest being the acquisition of LinkedIn for $ 26.2 billion in December 2016 , followed by their acquisition of Skype Technologies for $ 8.5 billion in May 2011 .
2005 saw the release of many sequels and prequels in video games , such as Brothers in Arms : Road to Hill 30 , Mario Kart DS , Mario & Luigi : Partners in Time and Need for Speed : Most Wanted , alongside several prominent new releases including F.E.A.R. , Forza Motorsport , God of War , Guitar Hero , Shadow of the Colossus , and Sniper Elite .
The Nintendo Entertainment System ( NES ) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced , released , and marketed by Nintendo . It is a remodelled export version of the company 's Family Computer [ a ] ( FC ) platform in Japan , commonly known as the Famicom [ b ] , which was launched on July 15 , 1983 . The NES was launched in a test market of New York City on October 18 , 1985 , followed by Los Angeles as a second test market in February 1986 , followed by Chicago and San Francisco , then other top 12 American markets , followed by a full launch across North America and some countries in Europe in September 1986 , followed by Australia and other countries in Europe in 1987 . Brazil saw only unlicensed clones until the official local release in 1993 . The console 's South Korean release was packaged as the Hyundai Comboy [ c ] and distributed by Hyundai Electronics ( now SK Hynix ) . As one of the best-selling gaming consoles of its time , the NES helped revitalize the US video game industry following the video game crash of 1983 . With the NES , Nintendo introduced a now-standard business model of licensing third-party developers , authorizing them to produce and distribute games for Nintendo 's platform . It had been preceded by Nintendo 's first home video game console , the Color TV-Game , and was succeeded by the Super Nintendo Entertainment System ( SNES ) .
1983 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Mario Bros. , Pole Position II and Spy Hunter .
The Nintendo Switch [ b ] is a video game console developed by Nintendo , released worldwide in most regions on March 3 , 2017 . [ c ] It is a hybrid console that can be used as a home console and portable device . Its wireless Joy-Con controllers , with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input , motion sensing , and tactile feedback , can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play . They can also connect to a Grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form , or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk , supporting local multiplayer modes . The Nintendo Switch 's software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity , as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles . Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop ; the system has no region lockout . A handheld-focused revision of the system called the Nintendo Switch Lite , was released on September 20 , 2019 . The Nintendo Switch was unveiled in October 2016 . Known in development by its codename NX , the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo 's reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014 , attributed to poor sales of its previous console , the Wii U , and market competition from mobile gaming . Nintendo 's then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware . The Nintendo Switch 's design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through the multiple modes of use . Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components , such as a chipset based on Nvidia 's Tegra line , to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines .
2017 saw the release of numerous video games as well as other developments in the video game industry . The Nintendo Switch console was released in 2017 , which sold more than 14 million units by the end of 2017 , exceeding the underperforming Wii U lifetime sales , and helped to revitalize Nintendo , alongside the retro Super NES Classic Edition console , the refreshed New Nintendo 2DS XL handheld , and a strategy for mobile gaming . Microsoft also released the higher-powered Xbox One X targeted for 4K resolutions and virtual reality support . Top-rated games in 2017 included The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild , Super Mario Odyssey , Persona 5 , Divinity : Original Sin II , and Horizon Zero Dawn . One of the most influential games of 2017 was PlayerUnknown 's Battlegrounds , which was released in early access for personal computers in March 2017 and by the end of the year had sold 30 million units , breaking several concurrent player count records and established the battle royale genre . The highest-grossing game of the year was the mobile game Honor of Kings , known as Arena of Valor internationally . Considerable debate was held over the use of loot boxes in video games and whether they constituted gambling , coming to a head with the release of Star Wars Battlefront II .
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System ( SNES ) , [ b ] also known as the Super NES [ c ] or Super Nintendo , [ d ] is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea , [ citation needed ] 1991 in North America , 1992 in Europe and Australasia ( Oceania ) , and 1993 in South America . In Japan , the system is called the Super Famicom ( SFC ) . [ e ] In South Korea , it is known as the Super Comboy [ f ] and was distributed by Hyundai Electronics . The system was released in Brazil on August 30 , 1993 , by Playtronic . Although each version is essentially the same , several forms of regional lockout prevent the different cartridges from being compatible with one another . The SNES is Nintendo 's second programmable home console , following the Nintendo Entertainment System ( NES ) . The console introduced advanced graphics and sound capabilities compared with other systems at the time . The system was designed to accommodate the ongoing development of a variety of enhancement chips integrated in game cartridges to be competitive into the next generation . The SNES was a global success , becoming the best-selling console of the 16-bit era after launching relatively late and facing intense competition from Sega 's Genesis console in North America and Europe . Overlapping the NES 's 61.9 million unit sales , the SNES remained popular well into the 32-bit era , with 49.1 million units sold worldwide by the time it was discontinued in 2003 . It continues to be popular among collectors and retro gamers , with new homebrew games and Nintendo 's emulated rereleases , such as on the Virtual Console , the Super NES Classic Edition , and Nintendo Switch Online .
1990 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Metal Gear 2 : Solid Snake , Fire Emblem : Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , Dr. Mario , and Super Mario World .
The Xbox One is an eighth-generation home video game console developed by Microsoft . Announced in May 2013 , it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox series of video game consoles . It was first released in North America , parts of Europe , Australia , and South America in November 2013 , and in Japan , China , and other European countries in September 2014 . It is the first Xbox game console to be released in China , specifically in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone . Microsoft marketed the device as an all-in-one entertainment system , hence the name 'Xbox One ' . The Xbox One mainly competes against Sony 's PlayStation 4 and Nintendo 's Wii U and Switch . Moving away from its predecessor 's PowerPC-based architecture , the Xbox One marks a shift back to the x86 architecture used in the original Xbox ; it features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built around the x86-64 instruction set . Xbox One 's controller was redesigned over the Xbox 360 's , with a redesigned body , D-pad , and triggers capable of delivering directional haptic feedback . The console places an increased emphasis on cloud computing , as well as social networking features , and the ability to record and share video clips or screenshots from gameplay , or live-stream directly to streaming services such as Mixer and Twitch . Games can also be played off-console via a local area network on supported Windows 10 devices . The console can play Blu-ray Disc , and overlay live television programming from an existing set-top box or a digital tuner for digital terrestrial television with an enhanced program guide . The console optionally included a redesigned Kinect sensor , marketed as the Kinect 2.0 , providing improved motion tracking and voice recognition .
The Sega Genesis , known as the Mega Drive [ b ] outside North America , is a 16-bit home video game console developed and sold by Sega . The Genesis is Sega 's third console and the successor to the Master System . Sega released it as the Mega Drive in Japan in 1988 , and later as the Genesis in North America in 1989 . In 1990 , it was distributed as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe , Ozisoft in Australasia , and Tec Toy in Brazil . In South Korea , it was distributed by Samsung as the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy . [ c ] Designed by an R & D team supervised by Hideki Sato and Masami Ishikawa , the Genesis was adapted from Sega 's System 16 arcade board , centered on a Motorola 68000 processor as the CPU , a Zilog Z80 as a sound controller , and a video system supporting hardware sprites , tiles , and scrolling . It plays a library of more than 900 games created by Sega and a wide array of third-party publishers delivered on ROM-based cartridges . Several add-ons were released , including a Power Base Converter to play Master System games . It was released in several different versions , some created by third parties . Sega created two network services to support the Genesis : Sega Meganet and Sega Channel . In Japan , the Mega Drive fared poorly against its two main competitors , Nintendo 's Super Famicom and NEC 's PC Engine ( aka TurboGrafx-⁠16 ) , but it achieved considerable success in North America , Brazil , and Europe . Contributing to its success were its library of arcade game ports , the popularity of Sega 's Sonic the Hedgehog series , several popular sports franchises , and aggressive youth marketing that positioned the system as the cool console for adolescents .
Sega Games Co. , Ltd. [ a ] is a Japanese multinational video game developer and publisher headquartered in Shinagawa , Tokyo . Its international branches , Sega of America and Sega Europe , are respectively headquartered in Irvine , California , and London . Sega 's arcade division , once part of Sega Corporation , has existed as Sega Interactive Co. , Ltd. since 2015 . Both companies are subsidiaries of Sega Holdings Co. , Ltd. , which is in turn a part of Sega Sammy Holdings . From 1983 until 2001 , Sega also developed and sold video game consoles . Sega was founded by Martin Bromley and Richard Stewart as Nihon Goraku Bussan [ b ] on June 3 , 1960 . The company became known as Sega Enterprises , Ltd. after acquiring Rosen Enterprises , an importer of coin-operated games . Sega developed its first coin-operated game with Periscope in the late 1960s . In an effort to become a publicly traded company , Sega was sold to Gulf and Western Industries in 1969 . Following a downturn in the arcade business in the early 1980s , Sega began to develop video game consoles , starting with the SG-1000 and Master System , but struggled against competitors such as the Nintendo Entertainment System . In 1984 , Sega executives David Rosen and Hayao Nakayama led a management buyout of the company with backing from CSK Corporation . Sega released its next console , the Sega Genesis ( known as the Mega Drive outside North America ) , in 1988 .
1988 saw many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Super Contra , Super Mario Bros 2 , Assault , Altered Beast , Mega Man 2 , Double Dragon II : The Revenge , and Super Mario Bros 3
The Nintendo 64 [ a ] ( officially abbreviated as N64 , hardware model number pre-term : NUS , stylized as NINTENDO64 ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo . Named for its 64-bit central processing unit , it was released in June 1996 in Japan , September 1996 in North America , and March 1997 in Europe and Australia . It was the last major home console to use the cartridge as its primary storage format until the Nintendo Switch in 2017 . The Nintendo 64 was discontinued in mid 2002 following the launch of its successor , the GameCube , in 2001 . Codenamed Project Reality , the Nintendo 64 design was mostly complete by mid-1995 , but its launch was delayed until 1996 , when Time named it Machine of the Year . It was launched with three games : Super Mario 64 , Pilotwings 64 ( worldwide ) and Saikyō Habu Shōgi ( exclusive to Japan ) . As part of the fifth generation of gaming , the system competed primarily with the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn . The suggested retail price at its United States launch was US $ 199.99 , and 32.93 million units were sold worldwide . In 2015 , IGN named it the ninth-greatest video game console of all time .
1996 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Blazing Heroes , Super Mario 64 , NiGHTS into Dreams. , Crash Bandicoot , Resident Evil , Dead or Alive , Duke Nukem 3D and Tomb Raider .
The Atari 2600 , originally branded as the Atari Video Computer System or Atari VCS for short until November 1982 , is a home video game console from Atari , Inc . Released on September 11 , 1977 , it is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on ROM cartridges ( a format first used with the Fairchild Channel F in 1976 ) instead of dedicated hardware with games physically built into the unit . The 2600 was bundled with two joystick controllers , a conjoined pair of paddle controllers , and a game cartridge : initially Combat , and later Pac-Man . The Atari VCS launched with nine simple , low-resolution games in 2 KiB cartridges . The system found its killer app with its version of Taito 's Space Invaders in 1980 and became widely successful , leading to the creation of Activision and other third-party game developers as well as competition from home console manufacturers Mattel and Coleco . By the end of its primary lifecycle in 1983-84 , games for the 2600 were using more than four times the ROM of the launch titles with significantly more advanced visuals and gameplay than the system was designed for , such as Pitfall ! and its scrolling sequel Pitfall II : Lost Caverns . Atari invested heavily in two games for the 2600 , Pac-Man and E.T . the Extra-Terrestrial , that became commercial failures and contributed to the video game crash of 1983 which ended the market relevance of the 2600 . Warner sold off the home console division of Atari to Commodore CEO Jack Tramiel . In 1986 , the new Atari Corporation under Tramiel released a lower-cost version of the 2600 and the backwards-compatible Atari 7800 , but these were not enough to turn things around , and ultimately it was Nintendo that led the recovery of the industry . Atari finally ended production of the Atari 2600 on January 1 , 1992 .
Atari ( /əˈtɑːri/ ) is a brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972 , currently by Atari Interactive , a subsidiary of the French publisher Atari , SA . The original Atari , Inc. , founded in Sunnyvale , California in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney , was a pioneer in arcade games , home video game consoles , and home computers . The company 's products , such as Pong and the Atari 2600 , helped define the electronic entertainment industry from the 1970s to the mid-1980s . In 1984 , as a result of the video game crash of 1983 , the original Atari Inc. was split , and the arcade division was turned into Atari Games Inc. Atari Games received the rights to use the logo and brand name with appended text Games on arcade games , as well as rights to the original 1972-1984 arcade hardware properties . The Atari Consumer Electronics Division properties were in turn sold to Jack Tramiel 's Tramel Technology Ltd. , which then renamed itself to Atari Corporation . In 1996 , Atari Corporation reverse-merged with disk-drive manufacturer JT Storage ( JTS ) , becoming a division within the company . In 1998 , Hasbro Interactive acquired all Atari Corporation related properties from JTS , creating a new subsidiary , Atari Interactive . Infogrames Entertainment ( IESA ) bought Hasbro Interactive in 2001 and renamed it Infogrames Interactive , which intermittently published Atari branded titles . In 2003 , it renamed the division Atari Interactive . Another IESA division , Infogrames Inc. ( formerly GT Interactive ) , changed its name to Atari Inc. the same year , licensing the Atari name and logo from its fellow subsidiary . In 2008 , IESA completed its acquisition of Atari , Inc. 's outstanding stock , making it a wholly owned subsidiary . IESA renamed itself Atari , SA in 2009 .
1977 has several new titles such as Space Wars .
The Xbox is a home video game console and the first installment in the Xbox series of video game consoles manufactured by Microsoft . It was released as Microsoft 's first foray into the gaming console market on November 15 , 2001 , in North America , followed by Australia , Europe and Japan in 2002 . It is classified as a sixth generation console , competing with Sony 's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo 's GameCube . It was also the first major console produced by an American company since the Atari Jaguar ceased production in 1996 . Announced in 2000 , the Xbox was graphically powerful compared to its rivals , featuring a 733 MHz Intel Pentium III processor , a processor that could be found on a standard PC . It was also noted for its PC-like size and weight , and was the first console to feature a built-in hard disk . In November 2002 , Microsoft launched Xbox Live , a fee-based online gaming service that enabled subscribers to download new content and connect with other players through a broadband connection . Unlike online services from Sega and Sony , Xbox Live had support in the original console design through an integrated Ethernet port . The service gave Microsoft an early foothold in online gaming and would help the Xbox become a competitor in the sixth-generation of consoles . The popularity of blockbuster titles such as Bungie 's Halo 2 contributed to the popularity of online console gaming , and in particular first-person shooters . The Xbox had a record-breaking launch in North America , selling 1.5 million units before the end of 2001 , aided by the popularity of one of the system 's launch titles , Halo : Combat Evolved , which sold a million units by April 2002 . The system went on to sell a worldwide total of 24 million units , including 16 million in North America ; however , Microsoft was unable to make a steady profit off of the console , which had a manufacturing price far more expensive than its retail price , despite its popularity , losing over $ 4 billion during its market life .
2001 saw many sequels and prequels in video games . New intellectual properties include Animal Crossing , Burnout , Devil May Cry , Oni , Halo : Combat Evolved , Jak and Daxter : The Precursor Legacy , Max Payne , Operation Flashpoint : Cold War Crisis , Pikmin , Red Faction , Serious Sam , Tom Clancy 's Ghost Recon and Tropico
The Nintendo GameCube [ b ] [ c ] ( commonly abbreviated as GameCube ) is a home video game console released by Nintendo in Japan and North America in 2001 and in the PAL territories in 2002 . The sixth-generation console is the successor to the Nintendo 64 . It competed with Sony 's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft 's original Xbox . The GameCube is the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as its primary storage medium . The discs are in the miniDVD format and the system was not designed to play full-sized DVDs or audio CDs , unlike its competitors , and focused on gaming instead . The console supports limited online gaming for a small number of games via a GameCube broadband or modem adapter and can connect to a Game Boy Advance with a link cable , which allows players to access exclusive in-game features using the handheld as a second screen and controller . The GameCube uses composite video cables to display games on the television ; however , there are differences in the two GameCube models . The models produced before May 2004 also have the ability to use digital component AV cables and progressive scan and a second serial port . The nameplate on the top of the console with the words Nintendo GameCube can be removed . This model is known as DOL-001 . The previously mentioned features were removed in GameCube consoles produced between 2004-2007 ; the later model was known as DOL-101 . The newer model has updated firmware that disables Action Replay cheats and cheat codes ( a newer version was developed to circumvent this ) and the disc-reading laser was improved in many ways , though it is not as durable .
The Wii U ( /ˌwiː ˈjuː/ WEE YOO ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii . Released in late 2012 , it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft 's Xbox One and Sony 's PlayStation 4 . 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 , directional buttons , analog sticks , and action buttons . The screen can be used either as a supplement to the main display or in supported games to play the game directly on the GamePad . The Wii U Pro Controller can be used in its place as a more traditional alternative . The Wii U is backward compatible with all Wii software and accessories . Games can support any combination of the GamePad , Wii Remote , Nunchuk , Balance Board , or Nintendo 's Classic Controller or Wii U Pro Controller . Online functionality centers around the Nintendo Network platform and Miiverse , an integrated social networking service which allows users to share content in game-specific communities . The Wii U was met with a generally positive reception , which included praise for its innovative GamePad controller , improvements to online functionality over the Wii , backwards compatibility with existing Wii software and peripherals , and relative affordability . However , the Wii U was also criticized for the GamePad 's short battery life and issues with the console 's user interface and functionality . The Wii U was met with slow consumer adoption , with low sales that were primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch titles , limited third-party support , and poor marketing .
The year 2012 saw the release of numerous sequels to critically acclaimed video games , such as Alan Wake , Assassin 's Creed , Borderlands , Call of Duty , Counter-Strike , Darksiders , Dead or Alive , Diablo , Fable , Far Cry , Forza Motorsport , Halo , Hitman , Mario Party , Marvel vs. Capcom , Mass Effect , Max Payne , Medal of Honor , Modern Combat , Need for Speed , Ninja Gaiden , PlanetSide , Pokémon , Prototype , Resident Evil , Silent Hill , Sniper Elite , Spec Ops , Super Mario , Tekken , The Darkness , Tom Clancy 's Ghost Recon , Transformers , Trials and X-COM . In addition , it saw the release of many new intellectual properties , such as Asura 's Wrath , Dishonored , Journey , Lollipop Chainsaw and Sleeping Dogs . Many awards went to games such as Borderlands 2 , Far Cry 3 , Journey , Mass Effect 3 , The Walking Dead and XCOM : Enemy Unknown . It began with the worldwide release of Sony 's newest handheld game console , the PlayStation Vita , that was launched in Japan in December 2011 . The end of the year marked the worldwide release of the second most recent home console by Nintendo , the Wii U .
The Sega Master System ( SMS ) [ c ] is a third-generation 8-bit home video game console manufactured by Sega . It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III , the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles , which was released in Japan in 1985 and featured enhanced graphical capabilities over its predecessors . The Master System launched in North America in 1986 , followed by Europe in 1987 , and Brazil in 1989 . A Japanese version of the Master System was also launched in 1987 , which features a few enhancements over the export models ( and by proxy the original Mark III ) : a built-in FM audio chip , a rapid-fire switch , and a dedicated port for the 3D glasses . A cost-reduced model known as the Master System II was released in 1990 in North America and Europe . The original Master System models use both cartridges and a credit card-sized format known as Sega Cards . Accessories for the consoles include a light gun and 3D glasses that work with a range of specially designed games . The later Master System II redesign removed the card slot , turning it into a strictly cartridge-only system and is incompatible with the 3D glasses . The Master System was released in competition with the Nintendo Entertainment System ( NES ) . Its library is smaller and with fewer well-reviewed games than the NES , due in part to Nintendo licensing policies requiring platform exclusivity . Though the Master System had newer , improved hardware , it failed to overturn Nintendo 's significant market share advantage in Japan and North America . However , it attained significantly more success in Europe and Brazil .
1986 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Metroid , Out Run and Bubble Bobble .
The TurboGrafx-16 , known in Japan and France as the PC Engine , is a cartridge-based home video game console manufactured and marketed by NEC Home Electronics , and designed by Hudson Soft . It was released in Japan on October 30 , 1987 and in the United States on August 29 , 1989 . The Japanese model was imported and distributed in France in 1989 and United Kingdom and Spain received a version based on the American model known as simply TurboGrafx . It was the first console released in the 16-bit era , although it used a modified 8-bit CPU . In Japan , the system was launched as a competitor to the Famicom but the delayed United States release meant that it ended up competing with the Sega Genesis and later on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The TurboGrafx-16 has an 8-bit CPU , a 16-bit video color encoder , and a 16-bit video display controller . The GPUs are capable of displaying 482 colors simultaneously , out of 512 . With dimensions of just 14 cm × 14 cm × 3.8 cm ( 5.5 in × 5.5 in × 1.5 in ) , the Japanese PC Engine is the smallest major home game console ever made . Games were released on HuCard cartridges or later the CD-ROM optical format with the TurboGrafx-CD add-on . The TurboGrafx-16 failed to break into the North American market and sold poorly , which has been blamed on the delayed release and inferior marketing . Despite the 16 in its name and the marketing of the console as a 16-bit platform , it used an 8-bit CPU , a marketing tactic that was criticized by some as deceptive . Developer Doug Snook of ICOM Simulations said the team struggled with the relative low performance of the CPU .
NEC Corporation ( 日本電気株式会社 , Nippon Denki Kabushiki-gaisha ) is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics company , headquartered in Minato , Tokyo . The company was known as the Nippon Electric Company , Limited , before rebranding in 1983 as NEC . It provides IT and network solutions to business enterprises , communications services providers and to government agencies , and has also been the biggest PC vendor in Japan since the 1980s with the PC-8000 series . NEC was the world 's fourth largest PC manufacturer by 1990 . Its semiconductors business unit was the world 's largest semiconductor company from 1985 to 1992 , the second largest in 1995 , one of the top three in 2000 , and one of the top 10 in 2006 . NEC has spun off its semiconductor business to Renesas Electronics and Elpida Memory . NEC was # 463 on the 2017 Fortune 500 list . NEC is a member of the Sumitomo Group .
Hudson Soft Co. , Ltd ( 株式会社ハドソン , Kabushiki gaisha Hadoson ) was a Japanese video game company that released numerous games for video game consoles , home computers and mobile phones , mainly from the 1980s to the 2000s . It was headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown , Akasaka , Minato , Tokyo , Japan , with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo . Hudson Soft was founded on May 18 , 1973 . Initially , it dealt with personal computer products , but later expanded to the development and publishing of video games , mobile content , video game peripherals and music recording . Primarily a video game publisher , it internally developed many of the video games it released while outsourcing others to external companies . It is known for series such as Bomberman , Adventure Island , Bloody Roar , and Bonk . Hudson also developed video games released by other publishers such as the Mario Party series from Nintendo . Hudson Soft made the TurboGrafx-16 in association with NEC , to compete against Nintendo , Sega , and SNK , while continuing making games on other platforms , as a third-party developer . Hudson Soft ceased to exist as a company on March 1 , 2012 , and merged with Konami Digital Entertainment , which was the surviving entity . Konami owns the assets of Hudson and has since rereleased its video game back catalogue on different occasions .
1987 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as The Legend of Zelda , Contra , Street Fighter and Metal Gear .
The Sega Saturn [ a ] [ b ] is a 32-bit fifth-generation home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22 , 1994 in Japan , May 11 , 1995 in North America , and July 8 , 1995 in Europe . The successor to the successful Sega Genesis , the Saturn has a dual-CPU architecture and eight processors . Its games are in CD-ROM format , and its game library contains several arcade ports as well as original games . Development of the Saturn began in 1992 , the same year Sega 's groundbreaking 3D Model 1 arcade hardware debuted . The system was designed around a new CPU from Japanese electronics company Hitachi . Sega added another video display processor in early 1994 to better compete with Sony 's forthcoming PlayStation . The Saturn was initially successful in Japan , but failed to sell in large numbers in the United States after its surprise May 1995 launch , four months before its scheduled release date . After the debut of the Nintendo 64 in late 1996 , the Saturn rapidly lost market share in the U.S. , where it was discontinued in 1998 . Having sold 9.26 million units worldwide , the Saturn is considered a commercial failure . The failure of Sega 's development teams to release a game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series , known in development as Sonic X-treme , has been considered a factor in the console 's poor performance . Although the Saturn is remembered for several well regarded games , including Nights into Dreams , the Panzer Dragoon series , and the Virtua Fighter series , its reputation is mixed due to its complex hardware design and limited third-party support . Sega 's management has been criticized for its decisions during the system 's development and discontinuation .
The Dreamcast [ a ] is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27 , 1998 in Japan , September 9 , 1999 in North America , and October 14 , 1999 in Europe . It was the first in the sixth generation of video game consoles , preceding Sony 's PlayStation 2 , Nintendo 's GameCube and Microsoft 's Xbox . The Dreamcast was Sega 's final home console , marking the end of the company 's 18 years in the console market . In contrast to the expensive hardware of the unsuccessful Sega Saturn , the Dreamcast was designed to reduce costs with off-the-shelf components , including a Hitachi SH-4 CPU and an NEC PowerVR2 GPU . Released in Japan to a subdued reception , the Dreamcast enjoyed a successful U.S. launch backed by a large marketing campaign , but interest in the system steadily declined as Sony built hype for the upcoming PlayStation 2 . Sales did not meet Sega 's expectations despite several price cuts , and the company continued to incur significant financial losses . After a change in leadership , Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31 , 2001 , withdrawing from the console business and restructuring itself as a third-party publisher . 9.13 million Dreamcast units were sold worldwide . Although the Dreamcast had a short lifespan and limited third-party support , reviewers have considered the console ahead of its time . Its library contains many games considered creative and innovative , including Crazy Taxi , Jet Set Radio and Shenmue , as well as high-quality ports from Sega 's NAOMI arcade system board . The Dreamcast was also the first console to include a built-in modem for internet support and online play .
1998 saw many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Half-Life , Metal Gear Solid , F-Zero X , The Legend of Zelda : Ocarina of Time , Gex : Enter the Gecko , Xenogears , Banjo-Kazooie , Spyro the Dragon and MediEvil . The year has been retrospectively considered one of the best in video gaming due to the release of several critically acclaimed , commercially successful and influential titles across all platforms and genres .