The first game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, was released in 1972 and required players to put plastic overlays on their TV screens to create the game’s graphics.
The Nintendo GameCube was originally designed to have a handle on the back, making it easy to carry to friends’ houses for multiplayer gaming.
The Atari 2600, released in 1977, was so popular that it remained in production until 1992, making it one of the longest-running game consoles in history.
The Sega Dreamcast was the first console to have a built-in modem, allowing players to connect to the internet and play games online.
The Xbox was originally going to be named the “DirectX Box” after the Microsoft graphics technology used in game development, but the name was shortened to just “Xbox” before release.
The Sony PlayStation 2, released in 2000, remains the best-selling game console of all time, with over 155 million units sold worldwide.
The Nintendo Wii, released in 2006, was the first console to feature motion controls, allowing players to use gestures and movements to control games.
The Sega Genesis was originally going to be named the “Mega Drive,” but it was changed for the North American market to avoid legal issues with a company called Mega Drive Systems.
The PlayStation 3, released in 2006, was the first console to use a Blu-ray disc drive, which allowed it to play high-definition movies as well as games.
The Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, is both a home console and a portable console, allowing players to switch between playing on their TV and playing on the go.