Ninth generation of video game consoles
| Ninth generation of video game consoles | |
| Designer | Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, various |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, various |
| CPU | various |
| Graphics | various |
| Memory | various |
| Media | Blu-ray, CD, digital distribution, DVD, Ultra HD Blu-ray, SD Card |
| Released | March 3, 2017 - present |
| Added to Museum | See Ninth generation console category |
The Ninth generation of video game consoles began with the release of the Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017.
The three major console manufacturers
Like the previous two generations, the three main video game console manufacturers are Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. In this generation, Microsoft released the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, Nintendo released the Switch, and Sony released the PlayStation 5.
Nintendo Switch
The Switch was released in 2017, which was only five years after the release of the Wii U. The latter sold poorly and Nintendo wanted to recover from its losses.
Nintendo continued with its business model to release a console with a unique design that only has a modest increase in processor power, memory, and graphics capabilities.
The Switch combined portable and home consoles with a handheld system that can be played on a television set through HDMI when plugged into a charging dock. Because of this, the Switch was the successor of not just the Wii U, but of the New Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS handheld consoles as well.
The Nintendo Switch supports playing games on a physical Game Card and also supports purchasing games over the internet through digital distribution.
Microsoft Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
In 2020, three years after the release of the Nintendo Switch, Microsoft released its own ninth-generation console as an update to the Xbox One.
Unlike Nintendo, Microsoft's offering had much higher processor, memory, and graphics capabilities than the previous generation.
Unlike Nintendo's console, Microsoft opted to go strictly for the home market without a portable option. The console line came in two different options, the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S.
The Xbox Series X has a built-in Blu-ray drive and also supports purchasing games over the internet through digital distribution.
The Xbox Series S lacks a Blu-ray drive so games can only be purchased over the internet through digital distribution.
A Blu-ray drive add-on is not available so the Xbox Series S can not be upgraded to the capabilities of the Xbox Series S.
Sony PlayStation 5
In 2020, nine days after the release of the Microsoft Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Sony released its own ninth-generation console as an update to the PlayStation 4.
Like Microsoft, Sony's offering had much higher processor, memory, and graphics capabilities than the previous generation.
The PlayStation 5 console line came in two different options, the standard PlayStation 5 and the and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.
The PlayStation 5 has a built-in Blu-ray drive and also supports purchasing games over the internet through digital distribution.
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition lacks a Blu-ray drive so games can only be purchased over the internet through digital distribution.
Like Microsoft's offerings, a Blu-ray drive add-on is not available so the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition can not be upgraded to the capabilities of the standard PlayStation 5.
Sales numbers
The Switch was the highest-selling console worldwide from 2018 through 2022. Because the Nintendo Switch had a headstart compared to the release of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S systems, it was the only ninth-generation console available on the market until 2020.
From 2020 to 2022, the strong sales of the Nintendo Switch were partly due to the fact that the Microsoft and Sony consoles had persistent stock shortages. The manufacturing process and the supply chain were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Console models
| Title | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | 2017 | 6.2-inch LCD screen. Digital distribution and Game Card |
| Nintendo Switch Lite | 2019 | 5.5 inch-inch LCD screen. Portable only. Digital distribution and Game Card |
| Microsoft Xbox Series S | 2020 | Digital distribution only. |
| Microsoft Xbox Series X | 2020 | Digital distribution and Blu-ray. |
| Sony PlayStation 5 | 2020 | Digital distribution and Blu-ray. |
| Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | 2020 | Digital distribution only. |
| Nintendo Switch OLED model | 2021 | 7-inch OLED screen. Digital distribution and Game Card |
Other consoles
Although Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony have the highest sales numbers, some companies also released consoles and gaming platforms in the ninth generation.
| Title | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Stadia | 2019 | Cloud-based gaming service that shut down in 2023. Stadia controllers patched for Bluetooth connection to other systems. |
| Amazon Luna | 2022 | Cloud-based gaming service. |
Retro consoles
Companies also continued to release consoles for the retro video game market. These consoles ran video games through emulation from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2020s, or newer video games either created on consoles from those time periods or games developed in the style of those games.
