Video Game Console Introduce Prices Gradually
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While home console gaming’s share of the video gaming industry market has been diminishing over the years, many gamers still turn to trusted faves like the PS5 or Nintendo Switch to immerse themselves in the very best video games on the marketplace.
This visualization reveals the launch prices of numerous video game gaming consoles, adjusted for rising cost of living and categorized by their manufacturer (Atari, Sega, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and others), utilizing information from Rising cost of living Terminal, in addition to added information for specific console version costs from Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and Shutoff. Inflation was determined since August 2025, utilizing data from the U.S.read about it click here from Our Articles Bureau of Labor Stats.
Release years are for North America, and console prices are for launch versions of consoles unless otherwise kept in mind.
- For the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the 20GB versions were used.
- For the PlayStation 5, the disc compatible variation was utilized.
- For the Heavy steam Deck, the 64GB variation was utilized.
Which Console Had the Most Expensive Release Rate?
Below, we show the launch rate for each and every console in its original cost and in 2025 dollars, together with its launch year, and its manufacturer.
| Console | Release Year | Initial Cost | Readjusted Cost (August 2025) | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atari 2600 | 1977 | $199 | $1,020 | Atari |
| Intellivision | 1980 | $299 | $1,193 | Mattel |
| Atari 5200 | 1982 | $269 | $864 | Atari |
| ColecoVision | 1982 | $175 | $564 | Coleco |
| NES | 1985 | $199 | $576 | Nintendo |
| Master System | 1986 | $200 | $571 | Sega |
| Atari 7800 | 1986 | $139 | $402 | Atari |
| TurboGrafx-16 | 1989 | $199 | $503 | Hudson Soft & Nec Home Electronic Devices |
| Sega Genesis | 1989 | $189 | $477 | Sega |
| Atari Lynx | 1989 | $179 | $451 | Atari |
Looking back, several of the earliest consoles were fairly expensive when changed for inflation, making them luxury things for numerous households at a time when gaming consoles were matching the supremacy of galleries in both popularity and quality.
Adjusted for inflation, SNK’s Neo Geo console was one of the most costly video game console at launch. Released in 1990, the Japanese console cost $649, which is about $1,552 in 2025 dollars.
The Neo Geo game system referred to both the firm’s arcade system and home video game console, and was commended for its high-quality hardware and 2D graphics at the time. Neo Geo video game titles often retailed for over $200 each at the time, and were implied to be specifically the same as its game equivalents.
The 3DO Company’s Interactive Multiplayer console was available in at a close second, selling for $699 in 1993, which has to do with $1,510 today, readjusted for inflation. The 3DO Firm was an American computer game company established in 1991 by Electronic Arts creator Journey Hawkins, and declared bankruptcy in 2003.
One of the most affordable computer game console at launch was Nintendo’s Game Child Shade, an 8-bit handheld console launched in 1998 for $79, which is about $153 in 2025 dollars.
The Game Boy Color was the follower to the widely effective initial Game Kid, and its most notable brand-new feature was the intro of full-color gameplay.
PS5 Pro Includes a Hefty Price Tag
The forthcoming PlayStation 5 Pro is priced at $699, making it one of the most pricey console in the PlayStation schedule, significantly more than the PS5, which went for $499, and the PS4 Pro, which debuted at $399.
In contrast, both the PS4 and PS4 Pro were launched at the exact same price factor of $399, highlighting a stark increase in pricing for the most up to date generation of gaming consoles.
Also when readjusting costs for rising cost of living, the PS5 Pro’s launch price is only beaten by the Playstation 3, which had an infamously high launch cost in 2006 of $499 ($780 when changed for rising cost of living).
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To read more concerning the video gaming market, have a look at this graphic that shows the most popular pc gaming genres by generation.
 Video Game Console Release Costs Adjusted for Rising Cost Of Living (1975-2025) |
