The total number of game consoles ever released worldwide is quite large and spans many decades, including home consoles, handhelds, and specialty devices.
๐ฎ How Many Game Consoles Are There?
1. Home Consoles
Since the early 1970s, there have been over 50 major home consoles released by various companies such as Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Atari, and more. These include all the main generations from the Magnavox Odyssey to the latest PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch models.
2. Handheld Consoles
There are 30+ notable handheld consoles, including the Game Boy series, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Nintendo DS family, and newer devices like the Steam Deck.
3. Specialty and Retro Consoles
Add to that 20+ specialty or retro-inspired consoles, like mini versions of classic consoles (NES Classic, Sega Genesis Mini), plug-and-play TV consoles, and indie handhelds.
Overall Estimate:
| Category | Approximate Number |
|---|---|
| Home Consoles | 50+ |
| Handheld Consoles | 30+ |
| Specialty / Mini Consoles | 20+ |
| Total Consoles | 100+ unique models |
Why So Many?
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Multiple brands releasing generations and variants.
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Regional exclusives and limited editions.
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Evolving technology creating new console categories (hybrid, microconsoles, cloud gaming devices).