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From Pixels To Powerhouses: The Evolution Of Home Consoles Through The Ages

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So many memories in just one gallery!

Lisa Islinger

Gaming - July 3rd 2024, 14:00 GMT+2

1977: Atari Video Computer System

When people refer to "Atari" today, they typically mean the highly successful game console of the 1970s and early 1980s, released in 1977: the Atari Video Computer System, later known as the Atari 2600. This console is considered the pioneer of commercially successful gaming systems. | © atari-computermuseum.de

S l1600 — 1983: Nintendo Entertainment System

The console's success story started in Japan in 1983 when the Nintendo Entertainment System (known as the Famicom in Japan) became a sensation, introducing iconic games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

The NES offered over 500 game titles, featuring a maximum resolution of 256 x 240 pixels, and was equipped with 2 KB of RAM. | © Nintendo

FQ Dg 09 WUA Us Qxz — 1990: Super Nintendo

Four years after the NES, Nintendo launched its successor. In Europe, the Super Nintendo was released in 1992 (April 11, 2022, was the 30th anniversary).

It offers stereo sound for the first time and allows more complex graphics with 32,000 colors, 256 of which can be displayed simultaneously. The first Mario Kart is released on this console, which remains one of Nintendo's all-time classics. | © Nintendo

1280px Sega Mega Drive PAL — 1990: Sega Mega Drive

Sega's Mega Drive was in direct competition with Nintendo's NES. Unlike its rival, the Mega Drive was capable of 16-bit support as early as 1988. And what Mario is to Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog is to Sega. | © Sega

Games ps1 e10thhbw — 1995: PlayStation

A little fun fact: Sony and Nintendo originally planned to launch the Nintendo PlayStation on the market as part of a joint project.

However, since the two companies didn't see eye to eye during the collaboration, the project was put on hold and Sony decided to launch a standalone console. The birth of the PlayStation era! | © Sony

Leitfaden beste nintendo 64 spiele — 1996: Nintendo 64

The release of the Nintendo 64 was like a revolution in gaming. The days of controlling our pixelated 2D characters in four directions across the screen were finally a thing of the past. From now on, the three-dimensional gaming experience was the new standard. Masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are still unforgettable today. | © Nintendo

Games ps1 e10thhbw1 — 2000: PlayStation 2

When the second generation of the PlayStation brand was unveiled in 2000, the hype around Sony's console knew no bounds. Even if the graphics seem a bit edgy to us today, it was the non plus ultra back then.

More than 3500 games were released for the PS2. Among them were unforgettable hits like GTA: San Andreas. Because the console was so popular, the last PS2 title, FIFA 14, arrived on Sony's bestseller 13 years after its original launch. | © Sony

Neues Projekt — 2001: Nintendo GameCube

The GameCube was Nintendo's last attempt to keep up with the competition. The console didn't just want to impress with risky design and innovative controls, but also with exclusive titles. One example of this is Resident Evil 4. | © Nintendo

5 98 35 31100 die erste xbox war dick und schwarz orig 1 — 2002: Microsoft Xbox

Until 2001, the US company Microsoft was only associated with the production of home computers. The clunky black box came with an integrated hard drive, making the use of external storage media unnecessary.

The Xbox Live service set new standards in online gaming. | © Microsoft Xbox

2005: Xbox 360

The "Halo" games as well as the thrilling "Gears of War" parts could only be played on Microsoft's flagship. Microsoft's Xbox Live also had a lot to offer in the area of successful online support, thanks to stable servers.

Nevertheless, many were convinced that the PlaySi offered better exclusive titles. That's why it was more successful commercially. | © Microsoft Xbox

Nintendo wii — 2006: Nintendo Wii

Five years after the Gamecube, Nintendo has changed the way we play games with the Wii. It comes with a wireless remote with motion sensor, rumble and nunchuck controllers. There are numerous accessories for the Wii, such as a balance board or the Wii Wheel.

It also brought the biggest bop of all time, the Mii Theme. | © Nintendo

Ps3 — 2007: PlayStation 3

Although the PlayStation 3 was released around a year after the Xbox 360 and also came onto the market with a hefty starting price of 599 Euros, it still managed to overtake its Microsoft competitor. Even despite the massive hacker attack on the online servers.

The PS3 era produced absolute hits in gaming history: e.g. "The Last of Us", "Uncharted 3" or "God of War 3". | © Sony

Wii u — 2012: Nintendo Wii U

With the Wii U, Nintendo introduced a console that can be used both as a handheld and in conjunction with a TV. The Wii U gamepad has the typical controller buttons and a touch screen. | © Nintendo

Neues Projekt3 — 2013: Xbox One

Launched in 2013, the Xbox One stood out for its ambitious vision of being more than just a gaming console; it aimed to serve as an all-in-one entertainment system. By integrating with live TV, offering unique features such as voice control via Kinect, and providing access to a wide range of apps and services, the Xbox One sought to dominate the living room experience.

Its robust online infrastructure and commitment to backwards compatibility underscored Microsoft's focus not only on new gaming experiences, but also on honoring the legacy of past game libraries. | © Microsoft Xbox

Ps4 — 2013: PlayStation 4

When it launched in 2013, the PS4 stood out for its powerful hardware, which promised and delivered a significant leap in gaming performance and graphics quality over its predecessors. Its emphasis on social gaming features, including the ability to share gameplay clips and screenshots directly from the console, as well as its integration with streaming services, set a new standard for player connectivity and interaction.

In addition, the PS4 was praised for its user-friendly interface and robust lineup of launch titles, cementing its place as a must-have console for gamers around the world. | © Sony

2017: Nintendo Switch

The final chapter in Nintendo's console history (for now) is being written with the Switch. It's a tablet with detachable controllers that can be used to play games on the go or at home on your TV. A console that launched one of the most epic games in gaming history: Zelda: Breath of the Wild. | © Nintendo

Neues Projekt1 — 2020: Xbox Series X/S

The Xbox Series X and Series S set a new standard for console gaming with powerful performance and speed thanks to dedicated SSDs and support for high frame rate gameplay.

The Series X, with impressive 4K resolution capabilities, and the Series S, with a more affordable digital-only option, both underscore Microsoft's commitment to accessibility and the future of gaming, including seamless game transitions and extensive backwards compatibility. | © Microsoft Xbox

Ps5 — 2020: PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 revolutionized console gaming with a blazing fast SSD that dramatically reduced load times and improved immersion. Its support for 4K graphics and up to 120fps gameplay, along with the innovative DualSense controller with haptic feedback, offered a new level of interactive experience.

The PS5 also continued Sony's legacy of strong exclusive titles and secured its place as the leading platform for next-generation gaming. Now we look forward to the PS6. | © Sony

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The introduction of the first consoles into our living rooms marked a transformative moment for the gaming industry.

Games transitioned from the pixelated screens of bustling arcades to the comfort of our homes, allowing gamers to enjoy their favorite titles from the cozy embrace of their couches. This shift, sparked by the introduction of the first home consoles, created a wave of excitement that continues to this day.

Thank you to the pioneers behind these remarkable inventions! What a long way we've come...

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