Ninth generation of video game consoles: Difference between revisions
From WE Computers Museum
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media = [[Blu-ray]], [[compact disc|CD]], [[digital distribution]], [[DVD]], [[Ultra-high-definition television|Ultra HD]] [[Blu-ray]], [[SD Card]]| | media = [[Blu-ray]], [[compact disc|CD]], [[digital distribution]], [[DVD]], [[Ultra-high-definition television|Ultra HD]] [[Blu-ray]], [[SD Card]]| | ||
release = March 3, 2017 - present| | release = March 3, 2017 - present| | ||
added_to_museum = See | added_to_museum = See [[:Category:Ninth-generation video game consoles|Ninth generation console category]]| | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Ninth generation of video game consoles''' began with the release of the [[Nintendo Switch]] on March 3, 2017. | The '''Ninth generation of video game consoles''' began with the release of the [[Nintendo Switch]] on March 3, 2017. | ||
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===Nintendo Switch=== | ===Nintendo Switch=== | ||
The Switch was released only five years after the release of the [[Wii U]] | 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 [[CPU|processor]] power, [[RAM|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 [[Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS]] handheld consoles as well | 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|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=== | ===Sales numbers=== | ||
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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]]. | 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=== | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | ||
!| Title | !| Title | ||
!| Release | !| Release | ||
!| | !| Notes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo Switch]] | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo Switch]] | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 6.2-inch [[LCD]] screen.<br />[[Digital distribution]] and [[Game Card]] | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 6.2-inch [[LCD]] screen.<br />[[Digital distribution]] and [[Game Card]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch Lite]] | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2019 | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 5.5 inch-inch [[LCD]] screen. Portable only.<br />[[Digital distribution]] and [[Game Card]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S|Xbox Series S]] | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S|Xbox Series S]] | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] only. | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] only. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S|Xbox Series X]] | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S|Xbox Series X]] | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] and [[Blu-ray]]. | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] and [[Blu-ray]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 5]] | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 5]] | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | ||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] and [[Blu-ray]]. | | style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] and [[Blu-ray]]. | ||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5 Digital Edition]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Digital distribution]] only. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch OLED model]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2021 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 7-inch [[OLED]] screen.<br />[[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. | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | |||
!| Title | |||
!| Release | |||
!| Notes | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Google]] [[Stadia]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2019 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Cloud]]-based gaming service that shut down in 2023.<br />Stadia controllers patched for [[Bluetooth]] connection to other systems. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] [[Luna]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2022 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[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. | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | |||
!| Title | |||
!| Release | |||
!| Notes | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Generations II]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Game Boy]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Generations III]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Super Retrocade]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Sony]] [[PlayStation Classic]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo]] [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition|SNES Classic Edition]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2017 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo]] [[NES Classic Edition|Famicom Mini: Shonen Jump]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2018 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo]] [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition|Super Famicom Mini]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2018 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro-Bit]] [[Retro-Bit Generations|Generations IV]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2018 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[arcade]] and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro Games]] [[THEC64|THEC64 Mini]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2018 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Commodore 64|C64]] and [[VIC-20]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro Games]] [[THEC64]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2019 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Home console with built-in [[Commodore 64|C64]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Blaze Entertainment]] [[Evercade|Evercade Portable]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with games on [[ROM Cartridge]]s. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Konami]] [[TurboGrafx-16 Mini]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Arcade CD-ROM²]], [[CD-ROM²]], [[PC Engine]], [[Super CD-ROM²]], [[SuperGrafx]], [[Turbo Duo]], and [[TurboGrafx-16]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo]] [[Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with built-in [[Famicom Disk System]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games plus a [[Game & Watch]] remake. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro Games]] [[THEVIC20]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2020 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Home console with built-in [[Commodore 64|C64]] and [[VIC-20]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Blaze Entertainment]] [[Evercade|Evercade VS.]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2021 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Home console with built-in games, [[digital distribution]], and [[ROM Cartridge]]s. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Nintendo]] [[Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2021 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with built-in [[Game Boy]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games plus a [[Game & Watch]] remake. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Blaze Entertainment]] [[Evercade|Evercade EXP]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2022 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with built-in games, [[digital distribution]], and [[ROM Cartridge]]s. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro Games]] [[The A500 Mini]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2022 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Commodore]] [[Amiga]] games. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Hyper Mega Tech!]] [[Super Pocket|Super Pocket Capcom]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2023 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with built-in [[Capcom]] games, [[digital distribution]], and [[ROM Cartridge]]s. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Hyper Mega Tech!]] [[Super Pocket|Super Pocket Taito]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2023 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Portable console with built-in [[Taito]] games, [[digital distribution]], and [[ROM Cartridge]]s. | |||
|- | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Retro Games]] [[The 400 Mini]] | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2024 | |||
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Mini console with built-in [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]] games. | |||
|} | |} | ||
[[Category:Ninth-generation video game consoles]] | [[Category: Computers and consoles]] | ||
[[Category: Ninth-generation video game consoles]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:53, 24 June 2024
| 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.
