Sony and Microsoft are slowly revealing their new consoles over the last 5 months. The PlayStation 5 controller was revealed, fans got to see the Xbox Series X, and the specs for both consoles were announced. The anticipation of new consoles is always a fun time as fans argue and try to uncover new information.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the new consoles like exact release dates and prices. Let’s take a break from all the speculation and look at the consoles of the past. Evaluating the drastic differences in console prices may give us a better understanding of the next generation. The list will take inflation prices into account to rank the 10 most expensive consoles. Prices from Digital Trends and IGN.
10 Nintendo Entertainment System (Launch $180, Inflation $428)
The NES sparked what we know and love about gaming to this day. It was truly an iconic system with classics like Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Metroid, and Pac-Man. Nintendo sold the Famicon in Japan in 1983, which, unbeknownst at the time, would change gaming forever. In 1985, the NES, a redesigned Famicon, was announced for Western audiences. The console with undisputed for years until the Sega Genesis arrived on the scene in 1989.
9 Xbox (Launch $299, Inflation $436)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Bill Gates announced the original Xbox during the 2001 Electronics Arts Expo. It was touted to be built like a PC and friendly to PC developers. It’s amazing that the same tenant is at the forefront of the Xbox Series X marketing 19 years later. The Xbox also brought one of the most beloved game franchises to gamers - Halo, a major selling point for every Microsoft console to date.
8 PlayStation 4 (Launch $399, Inflation $441)
The 2013 PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One E3 will go down in gaming history. Sony fans were ecstatic to see Microsoft’s annihilation during the event. Nowadays, both consoles are on equal footing but the 2013 Xbox One made some bad decisions that Sony capitalized on. The original ideas of the Xbox One always being online, not playing used games, and making it difficult to share games were prime ingredients for Sony. The PlayStation 4 refuted all these strange concepts and launched with a significantly lower price point.
7 Sega Master System (Launch $200, Inflation $467)
Before the massive success of the Sega Genesis, Sega was attempting to break through the console game. The Sega Master System was quickly overshadowed by the NES’s popularity.
Though the Master System sold better in Europe and Brazil, it was not enough to beat hugely successful NES. Sega had yet to develop a breakthrough gaming franchise like Nintendo’s Mario and Zelda. That is until Sonic The Hedgehog arrived in 1988.
6 PlayStation (Launch $299, Inflation $506)
When Nintendo failed to launch PlayStation as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sony ventured out on their own. The original PlayStation, released in 1995, sparked Sony’s long-standing commitment to the gaming industry. It also moved the industry passed cartridges with the evolution of disc-based gaming. PlayStation was the first console to sell over 100 million units and it launched famous franchises like Crash Bandicoot and Tekken.
5 Xbox One (Launch $499, Inflation $553)
Microsoft had an uphill battle after its rocky Xbox One announcement. Even after this, Microsoft managed to make major advancements for the gaming industry. They pioneered cross-compatibility with PCs and consoles, sparked the surgent of crossplay, and launched the beloved Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft also upgraded the system with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, which stands as the most powerful console.
4 PlayStation 3 (Launch $499, Inflation $639)
The PlayStation 3’s high price point made its competitor, the Xbox 360 ($299), a more favorable option for gamers. It was notable, though, for its blue-ray capabilities and free online services. Sony did start building a strong exclusive showing with the PlayStation 3. Games like Uncharted and God of War made Sony renowned for their strong single-player experiences.
3 Sega Saturn (Launch $400, Inflation $677)
The Sega Saturn released in 1995 after the success of its predecessor, the Sega Genesis. Sega had a major competitor, the looming Sony gaming console. Much like today, the console wars were very much alive in 1995.
At E3, Sega went head to head with Sony and the PlayStation. The Saturn ended up losing the fight. Many retailers did not get the console, blocking a large majority of the market. The PlayStation was also $100 cheaper, making it a more agreeable purchase.
2 3DO (Launch $700, Inflation, 1,250)
The companies Goldstar, Sanyo, Samsung, AT&T, Creative Labs, and Panasonic signed a licensing agreement with this promising new tech. The 3DO, released in 1993, was advertised as a multimedia console. It could be used as a PC, music player and gaming system. The extremely high price point was not worth it for many gamers and it did not receive any third-party support. The console ended up selling only 2 million units and the 3DO company went bankrupt, according to Giant Bomb.
1 Philips CD-i (Launch $700, Inflation $1,381)
Before PlayStation famously extinguished game cartridges, the Philips company and Sony tried putting video games on a compact disc. The CD-i essentially became the PlayStation ancestor, setting the stage for Sony’s industry-changing system. The system did not do too well but at least it introduced us to some silly Nintendo knock-off games.
NEXT: 10 Of The Rarest Limited Edition Consoles
