Fourth-generation video game consoles

Fourth-generation video game consoles
Designer	Atari, NEC, Nintendo, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sega, various
Manufacturer	Atari, NEC, Nintendo, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sega, Sharp, various
Distributor	Sharp, various
CPU	various
Graphics	various
Memory	various
Media	ROM cartridges
Released	October 30, 1987 - 1996
Added to Museum	See fourth-generation consoles

Fourth-generation video game consoles were marketed as 16-bit consoles due to the use of 16-bit central processing units, or in the case of the PC Engine, 16-bit graphics processors.

This generation had the first video game consoles with CD-ROM add-ons in conjunction with the usual ROM cartridges. It is also the only generation to include LD-ROM add-ons. The first fourth-generation console, the NEC Home Electronics PC Engine, was released on October 30, 1987.

Companies involved

This generation of consoles had multiple companies involved, including some that were active in previous generations The returning companies from the first and second, and third generations were Atari and Nintendo. Sega returns from the third generation.

Home consoles

Consoles by NEC Home Electronics and its licensees

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	NEC PC Engine	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1987	Designed by Hudson Soft. Sodipeng distributed it in France and Benelux in 1989 with SECAM rather than radio frequency output.
	NEC PC-KD863G	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1988	A CRT monitor with a built-in NEC PC Engine. Japan-exclusive.
	NEC PC Engine CD-ROM²	Uses the HuC6280 of the main unit	1988	The first CD-ROM add-on for a console. Has 64K buffer RAM. An Arcade Card Pro will increase the on-board RAM of the CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PC Engine CoreGrafx	Hudson Soft HuC6280A	1989	Updated version of the NEC PC Engine. Japan-exclusive. Switched from radio frequency to composite video via RCA connectors. The HuC6280 central processor unit was updated to HuC6280A to fix minor audio issues.
	NEC PC Engine Shuttle	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1989	Japanese update of the NEC PC Engine. Distributed in South Korea by Daewoo Electronics in 1990. Aimed at young gamers, it includes a TurboPad II controller. Switched from radio frequency to composite video via RCA connectors.
	NEC PC Engine SuperGrafx	Hudson Soft HuC6280A	1989	The successor of the PC Engine. Japan-exclusive. Only six retail games were released that took advantage of the SuperGrafx hardware.
	NEC TurboGrafx-16	HuC6280	1989	North American version of the NEC PC Engine. Distributed by Telegames in the UK in 1989 with SCART rather than radio frequency output. Distributed by Loto in Portugal and Spain in 1990 with SCART rather than RF output.
	NEC TurboGrafx-CD	Uses the HuC6280 of the main unit	1989	North American version of the NEC PC Engine CD-ROM². Has 64K buffer RAM.
	Sharp X1-Twin	Zilog Z80A Hudson Soft HuC6280	1989	Combined a Sharp X1 computer with a PC Engine. Japan-exclusive.
	NEC PC Engine CoreGrafx II	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1991	Updated version of the NEC PC Engine CoreGrafx. Japan-exclusive. The central processor unit was reverted to the HuC6280.
	NEC PC Engine Duo	HuC6280	1991	Japanese version of the NEC TurboDuo. Combines the PC Engine and the Super CD-ROM² in one console. Integrates the updated BIOS and buffer RAM of the Super CD-ROM² into the unit. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PC Engine Super CD-ROM²	Uses the HuC6280 of the main unit	1991	Upgraded version of the PC Engine CD-ROM². Not released separately outside Japan The Super System Card updates the BIOS to version 3.0 and increases RAM from 64KB to 256KB. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	Haitai Vistar 16	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1992	South Korean version of the NEC TurboGrafx-16.
	NEC TurboDuo	HuC6280	1992	North American version of the NEC PC Engine Duo. Combines the TurboGrafx-16 and the Super CD-ROM² in one console. Integrates the updated BIOS and buffer RAM of the Super CD-ROM² into the unit. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PC Engine Duo R	HuC6280	1993	Updated version of the NEC PC Engine Duo. Japan-exclusive. Omits the 3.5 mm phone connector for headphones, and the locking switch for the CD-ROM lid. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PAC-N1	HuC6280	1993	Japanese add-on for the Pioneer LaserActive. Supports PC Engine HuCards, plus CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² CD-ROMs, as well LD-ROMs. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PAC-N10	HuC6280	1993	North American add-on for the Pioneer LaserActive. Supports TurboGrafx-16 HuCards, plus TurboGrafx-CD and TurboDuo CD-ROMs, as well LD-ROMs.
	NEC PCE-LD1	HuC6280	1993	NEC-manufactured version of the Pioneer LaserActive. The LD-ROM² PAC is included. Japan-exclusive. Supports PC Engine HuCards, plus CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² CD-ROMs, as well LD-ROMs. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.
	NEC PC Engine Duo RX	HuC6280	1994	Updated version of the NEC PC Engine Duo R. Japan-exclusive. Includes the six-button Arcade Pad 6 instead of the standard Turbo Pad. An Arcade Card Duo will increase the on-board RAM of the Super CD-ROM² to 2MB.

Handheld consoles

Consoles by NEC Home Electronics and its licensees

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	NEC PC Engine GT	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1991	A portable NEC PC Engine handheld. Sodipeng distributed it in France and Benelux in 1991.
	NEC TurboExpress	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1991	A portable NEC TurboGrafx-16 handheld. North American version of the PC Engine GT.
	NEC PC Engine LT	Hudson Soft HuC6280	1991	A portable NEC PC Engine in a laptop form factor. Japan-exclusive.

Sega console

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Sega Genesis Nomad	Motorola 68000	1995	A portable Sega Genesis. North America-exclusive.

Sony consoles

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Sony CD-i Intelligent Discman IVO-V10	Philips 68070	1996	A portable CD-i. Japan-exclusive.
	Sony CD-i Intelligent Discman IVO-V11	Philips 68070	1996	A portable CD-i. Japan-exclusive. Compliant with the CD-i pointing devices standard.

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