Video game console: Difference between revisions

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re-arranging based on descriptions because numbered generations don't explain much
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==Video game consoles owned by WEC Museum==
==Video game consoles owned by WEC Museum==
===[[Home video game consoles powered by integrated circuits and discrete components]] (1972 - 1983)===
===[[Ball-and-paddle video game consoles]] (1972-1983)===
====Dedicated consoles====
====Home consoles====
*[[Nintendo]] [[Color TV-Game|Color TV-Game ''Block Breaker'']] (1979)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Color TV-Game|Color-TV Game ''Block Breaker'']] (1979)


===[[First home video game consoles using ROM cartridges]] (1976-1992)===
===[[Post-ball-and-paddle video game consoles]] (1976-1992)===
*[[Atari, S.A.|Atari]] [[Atari 2600|2600 Video Computer System]] (1979)
====Home consoles====
*[[Atari]] [[Video Computer System]] (1977)
*[[Acetronic]] [[1292 Advanced Programmable Video System|MPU 2000]] (1979)
*[[Acetronic]] [[1292 Advanced Programmable Video System|MPU 2000]] (1979)
*[[Texas Instruments]] [[TI-99/4 series|TI-99/4A]] (1981) (result of a merger between computer and video game console design)
*[[RadioShack|Tandy]] [[TRS-80 Color Computer|TRS-80 Color Computer 2]] (1983)


===[[Simple LCD handheld console]]s (1979 - present)===
====Handheld consoles====
*[[Tiger Electronics]] [[World Games (video game console)|World Games]] (1988)
*[[Tiger Electronics]] ''[[World Games (video game console)|World Games]]'' (1988)
*[[Watercore]] [[Dinkie Pet 4-in-1]] (1997)
*[[McDonald]]s [[Tetris Gaming Handheld]] (2023)


===[[8-bit home video game console]]s (1983 - 2003)===
===[[8-bit video game console]]s (1983 - 2003)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1985)
*[[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1985)
*[[Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association|JAMMA]] [[SuperGun]] (1985) (allowed [[Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association|JAMMA]] [[arcade]] [[video game]]s to be played on a television like a video game console)
*[[Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association|JAMMA]] [[SuperGun]] (1986) (allowed [[Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association|JAMMA]] [[arcade]] [[video game]]s to be played on a television like a video game console)


===[[8-bit handheld video game console]]s (1989 - 2003)===
====Handheld consoles====
*[[Sega]] [[Game Gear]] (1991)
*[[Sega]] [[Game Gear]] (1991)


===[[16-bit home video game console]]s (1987 - 2004)===
===[[16-bit video game console]]s (1987 - 2004)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Sega CD]] (1991) ([[Sega Genesis]] [[Compact disc|CD-ROM]] add-on)
*[[Sega CD]] (1991) ([[Sega Genesis]] [[Compact disc|CD-ROM]] add-on)


===[[16-bit handheld video game console]]s (1998 - 2003)===
====Handheld consoles====
*[[SNK]] [[Neo Geo Pocket Color]] (1991)
*[[SNK]] [[Neo Geo Pocket Color]] (1999)
 
===[[16-bit handheld video game console]]s (1998 - 2003)
*[[SNK]] [[Neo Geo Pocket]] (1999)


===[[32 and 64-bit home video game console]]s (1993 - 2006)===
===[[32 and 64-bit home video game console]]s (1993 - 2006)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Nintendo 64]] (1996)
*[[Nintendo 64]] (1996)
*[[iQue Player]] (2003)
*[[iQue Player]] (2003)


===[[32-bit handheld video game console]]s (1993 - 2006)===
====Handheld consoles====
*[[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]] (2001)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]] (2001)


===[[128-bit video game console]]s (1998 - 2013)===
===[[Post-bit video game console]]s (1998 - 2013)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Sega]] [[Dreamcast]] (1998)
*[[Sega]] [[Dreamcast]] (1998)
*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation 2]] (2000)
*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation 2]] (2000)
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*[[Nintendo]] [[GameCube]] (2001)
*[[Nintendo]] [[GameCube]] (2001)


====Dedicated consoles====
====Handheld consoles====
*[[Legacy Engineering]] [[Atari Flashback]] (2004) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included [[Atari]] games ported to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
*[[Nintendo]] [[Nintendo DS|DS]]


===[[Home video game consoles with motion control]] (2005 - 2017)===
===[[Video game consoles with motion control]] (2005 - 2017)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Microsoft]] [[Xbox 360]] (2005)
*[[Microsoft]] [[Xbox 360]] (2005)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Wii]] (2006)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Wii]] (2006)
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*[[Nintendo DSi]] (2009) (handheld)
*[[Nintendo DSi]] (2009) (handheld)


====Dedicated consoles====
===[[Video game consoles positioned as home entertainment hubs]] (2011 - present)===
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Columns]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
====Home consoles====
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Sonic]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Virtua Fighter]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Sega Genesis Arcade Motion Dual]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[Kobian]] [[PlayPal]] (2006) (handheld) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Game Gear]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Sega Genesis Arcade Motion Dual]] (2010) (a custom [[emulation|emulator]] runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[Legacy Engineering]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback 2+]] (2010) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included games from the [[Atari 2600]])
 
===[[Home video game consoles positioned as home entertainment hubs]] (2011 - present)===
*[[Nintendo 3DS]] (2011) (handheld)
*[[Nintendo 3DS]] (2011) (handheld)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Wii U]] (2012)
*[[Nintendo]] [[Wii U]] (2012)
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*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation 4]] (2013)
*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation 4]] (2013)
*[[New Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 2DS]] (2015) (handheld)
*[[New Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 2DS]] (2015) (handheld)
====Multi-system consoles====
*[[Hyperkin]] [[RetroN|RetroN 5]] (2014) (accepts [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s to emulate games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Sega Genesis]])


====Microconsoles====
====Microconsoles====
*[[Apple TV|Apple TV: 4th generation]] (2015)
*[[Apple TV|Apple TV: 4th generation]] (2015)


====Dedicated consoles====
===Ninth-generation video game consoles (2017 - present)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Nintendo Switch]] (2017) (handheld/home console/[[computer#Tablet computer|tablet computer]] hybrid)
 
===Tenth-generation video game consoles (2025 - present)===
====Home consoles====
*[[Nintendo Switch 2]] (2025) (handheld/home console/tablet computer hybrid)
 
===Retro===
*[[Watercore]] [[Dinkie Pet 4-in-1|''Dinkie Pet'' 4-in-1]] (1997)
*[[Legacy Engineering]] [[Atari Flashback]] (2004) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included [[Atari]] games ported to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
*[[Kobian]] [[PlayPal]] (2006) (handheld) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Game Gear]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Columns]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Sonic]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Arcade Nano|Arcade Nano: Virtua Fighter]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Sega Genesis Arcade Motion Dual]] (2010) (a custom emulator runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Sega Genesis Arcade Motion Dual]] (2010) (a custom [[emulation|emulator]] runs included [[Sega Genesis]] games)
*[[Legacy Engineering]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback 2+]] (2010) (a custom system-on-a-chip runs included games from the [[Atari 2600]])
*[[Hyperkin]] [[RetroN|RetroN 5]] (2014) (accepts [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s to emulate games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Sega Genesis]])
*[[Nintendo]] [[NES Classic Edition]] (2016) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]])
*[[Nintendo]] [[NES Classic Edition]] (2016) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]])
*[[NES Classic Edition|Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer]] (2016) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]])
*[[NES Classic Edition|Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer]] (2016) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]])
*[[Retro-Bit Generations]] (2016) (open-source emulators runs included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Game Boy|GB]], [[Game Boy Advance|GBA]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
*[[Retro-Bit Generations]] (2016) (open-source emulators runs included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Game Boy|GB]], [[Game Boy Advance|GBA]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
 
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Portable Deluxe]] (2017) (handheld)
===Ninth-generation video game consoles (2017 - present)===
*[[Nintendo]] [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition|Classic Mini: Super Famicom]] (2017) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
*[[Nintendo Switch]] (2017) (handheld/home console/[[computer#Tablet computer|tablet computer]] hybrid)
*[[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Generations II]] (2017) (open-source emulators run included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Game Boy]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
*[[Blaze Entertainment]] [[Evercade]] (2020) (handheld) (open-source emulators run games on ROM cartridge from the [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Intellivision]], [[Lynx]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[Sega Master System]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
 
====Dedicated consoles====
*[[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Portable Deluxe]] (2017) (handheld)
*[[Retro-Bit Generations|Retro-Bit Generations II]] (2017) (open-source emulators run included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Game Boy]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
*[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition|Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom]] (2017) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]])
*[[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Super Retro Cade]] (2017) (open-source emulators run included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
*[[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Super Retro Cade]] (2017) (open-source emulators run included games from the [[Arcade]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
*[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition]] (2017) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]])
*[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition]] (2017) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]])
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Activision Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 1]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 2]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 3]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Bandai Namco Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Legends Flashback|Legends Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[NES Classic Edition|Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer - Weekly Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary Version]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]])  
*[[NES Classic Edition|Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer - Weekly Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary Version]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]])  
*[[Retro Games]] [[THEC64|THEC64 Mini]] (2018) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Commodore 64]])
*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation Classic]] (2018) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]])
*[[Sony]] [[PlayStation Classic]] (2018) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]])
*[[Retro Games]] [[THEC64|THEC64 Mini]] (2018) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Commodore 64]])
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Adventure Flashback Blast!]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Star Flashback Blast!]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Legends Flashback]] (2019) (custom emulators run included games from [[arcade]], [[ColecoVision]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
*[[AtGames]] [[Legends Flashback]] (2019) (custom emulators run included games from [[arcade]], [[ColecoVision]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Genesis Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Genesis Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Mega Drive Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Mega Drive]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Mega Drive Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Mega Drive]])
*[[TurboGrafx-16 Mini|PC Engine Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-16]], [[TurboGrafx-CD]], and [[TurboGrafx-CD|TurboDuo]])
*[[TurboGrafx-16 Mini|PC Engine Mini]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]], [[TurboGrafx-16]], [[TurboGrafx-CD]], and [[TurboGrafx-CD|TurboDuo]])
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Bandai Namco Arcade Blast!]] (2020) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[Blaze Entertainment]] [[Evercade]] (2020) (handheld) (open-source emulators run games on ROM cartridge from the [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Intellivision]], [[Lynx]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[Sega Master System]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])
*[[My Arcade]] [[Pocket Player|Bases Loaded Pocket Player]] (2020) (handheld) (a system-on-a-chip runs included [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games)
*[[My Arcade]] [[Pocket Player|Bases Loaded Pocket Player]] (2020) (handheld) (a system-on-a-chip runs included [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games)
*[[My Arcade]] [[Pocket Player|Don Doko Don Pocket Player]] (2020) (handheld) (a system-on-a-chip runs included [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games)
*[[My Arcade]] [[Pocket Player|Don Doko Don Pocket Player]] (2020) (handheld) (a system-on-a-chip runs included [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games)
*[[Sega]] [[Game Gear Micro]] (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, and White models) (2020) (handheld) (a custom emulator runs included [[Game Gear]] and [[Sega Master System]] games)
*[[Retro Games]] [[THEVIC20]] (2020) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[VIC-20]])
*[[Retro Games]] [[THEVIC20]] (2020) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[VIC-20]])
*[[Retro Games]] [[The A500 Mini]] (2021) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Amiga|Amiga 500]])
*[[Retro Games]] [[The A500 Mini]] (2021) (open-source emulator runs included games from the [[Amiga|Amiga 500]])
*[[Sega]] [[Game Gear Micro]] (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, and White models) (2020) (handheld) (a custom emulator runs included [[Game Gear]] and [[Sega Master System]] games)
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Genesis Mini 2]] (2022) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis]] and [[Sega CD]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Genesis Mini 2]] (2022) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis]] and [[Sega CD]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Mega Drive Mini 2]] (2022) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Mega-CD]])
*[[Sega]] [[Sega Genesis Mini|Mega Drive Mini 2]] (2022) (a custom emulator runs included games from the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Mega-CD]])
====Plug-and-play consoles====
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Activision Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 1]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 2]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Atari Flashback|Atari Flashback Blast! vol. 3]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Bandai Namco Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Legends Flashback|Legends Flashback Blast!]] (2018) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Adventure Flashback Blast!]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included [[Atari 2600]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Star Flashback Blast!]] (2019) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[AtGames]] [[Flashback Blast!|Bandai Namco Arcade Blast!]] (2020) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[Arcade1Up]] [[Pac-Man Collection]] (2023) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
*[[Arcade1Up]] [[Pac-Man Collection]] (2023) (a custom emulator runs included [[arcade]] games)
 
*[[McDonalds]] [[Tetris Gaming Handheld|''Tetris'' Gaming Handheld]] (2023)
===Tenth-generation video game consoles (2025 - present)===
*[[Nintendo Switch 2]] (2025) (handheld/home console/tablet computer hybrid)


[[Category:Computers and consoles]]
[[Category:Computers and consoles]]

Revision as of 15:28, 25 July 2025

Video game console
Developer numerous
Publisher numerous
Systems numerous, see computers and consoles
Released 1972-present
Added to Museum numerous, see computers and consoles

A video game console is a system that is primarily used to play video games by consumers, as opposed to computers and arcade games.

The lines between video game consoles and computers sometimes get blurred, as video game consoles such as the Family Computer had computer-style options such as a keyboard and the BASIC programming language. In addition, computers such as the Commodore 64 were also advertised as video game machines.

Video game consoles owned by WEC Museum

Ball-and-paddle video game consoles (1972-1983)

Home consoles

Post-ball-and-paddle video game consoles (1976-1992)

Home consoles

Handheld consoles

8-bit video game consoles (1983 - 2003)

Home consoles

Handheld consoles

16-bit video game consoles (1987 - 2004)

Home consoles

Handheld consoles

32 and 64-bit home video game consoles (1993 - 2006)

Home consoles

Handheld consoles

Post-bit video game consoles (1998 - 2013)

Home consoles

Handheld consoles

Video game consoles with motion control (2005 - 2017)

Home consoles

Video game consoles positioned as home entertainment hubs (2011 - present)

Home consoles

Microconsoles

Ninth-generation video game consoles (2017 - present)

Home consoles

Tenth-generation video game consoles (2025 - present)

Home consoles

Retro