History of video game consoles (eighth generation)

The **eighth generation** of video game consoles began in 2012. The eighth generation began with the release of Wii U. The PlayStation 4 was announced on February 20, 2013. It was released worldwide on November 15, 2013.  Microsoft announced the Xbox One on May 21, 2013. It had its first regional release on November 22, 2013. For handheld game consoles, the generation began in February 2011. The first handheld was the Nintendo 3DS. The PlayStation Vita was released in December 2011 in Japan. It was available for the Western countries in February 2012.

It is believed by the video game media that the eighth generation home consoles compete with the smartphone, tablet, and Smart TV gaming markets. Because of this, some analysts incorrectly believed the eight generation would be the last generation of home consoles. Other microconsoles such as the NVIDIA Shield, Steam Box, Ouya and GameStick are attempting to compete in this market. Nintendo officially discontinued the Wii U on January 31, 2017 in anticipation of the March 3, 2017 worldwide release of the Nintendo Switch. The Switch is a "hybrid" console that acts as both a home console and handheld device, and it is the beginning of a ninth generation of home consoles.

## Systems 
### Comparison
| PlayStation Network
| Xbox Live
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Regional lockout
| Yes
| 
| 
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Games can be shared/resold without a fee
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Requires an Internet connection
| No
| No
| No
|- style="text-align:center;"
!List of games
|List of Wii U games
|List of PlayStation 4 games
|List of Xbox One games
|-
!Backward compatibility
|**Nintendo optical discs**
* Wii
**Downloadable only**
* WiiWare
* **Virtual Console** in *Wii Mode*
| **Optical disc/download**

Not compatible with PlayStation 3 titles due to hardware incompatibility; other systems unannounced

**Gaikai cloud streaming** (not at launch)
* PlayStation
* PlayStation 2
* PlayStation 3
|Compatible with some Xbox 360 and Xbox titles
|}

## Handheld consoles 
### Handheld comparison
|

|-
! Preloaded applications
|
* Health & Safety Information
* Nintendo 3DS / DS Game Card
* Nintendo 3DS Camera (Photo + Video Recording and Editing)
* Nintendo 3DS Sound
* Nintendo eShop
* Mii Maker
* StreetPass Mii Plaza
* AR Games
* Face Raiders
* Activity Log
* Nintendo Zone
* Nintendo Video
* Swapnote (Nintendo Letter Box in PAL region)
* Eurosport (PAL region only)
* Netflix (w/ paid subscription)
* Hulu Plus (w/ paid subscription)
* DS Download Play
* 3DS Download Play
* System Settings
* Game Notes
* Friend List
* Notifications
* Internet Browser
|
* Trophies
* PlayStation Store
* Friends
* Party
* Group Messaging
* Notifications
* Music
* Videos
* Photos
* Internet Browser
* Email
* Maps
* Settings
* Content Manager
* Remote Play
* Cross-Controller
* *Welcome Park*
* *near* 
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Regional lockout
|Yes
|No
|- style="text-align:center;"
!List of games
|List of Nintendo 3DS games
|List of PlayStation Vita games
|-
!Backward compatibility
|**Nintendo Game Cards**
* Nintendo DS/DSi
**Downloadable only**
* DSiWare
* **Virtual Console**
|**Downloadable only**
* PlayStation
* PlayStation Portable
* PlayStation minis
|}

## References