Xbox is one of the three console brands that are widely available in the market today. From its inception in 2001, Microsoft has delivered innovative consoles with unique features with every new console release. What was once an unknown brand is now a prominent household name, with expansion to TV, multimedia, and its Xbox Game Pass subscription. As we enter the halfway point of this console generation, now is a perfect time to dive into the storied history of Xbox consoles.
Looking to save on an Xbox or new titles for your system? Be sure to check out the best Xbox deals available today.
How Many Xbox Consoles Have There Been?
In total, there have been nine total Xbox consoles across four different generations. The first Xbox was released in 2001, and ever since, Microsoft has released new consoles featuring new hardware capabilities, new controllers, and more. This list counts console revisions, which were updated models with better cooling and faster speeds, among other features.
Every Xbox Console in Order of Release
Xbox – November 15, 2001
The Xbox debuted in November 2001 as a competitor to the Nintendo GameCube and Sony PlayStation 2. This console was the first of its kind from Microsoft, which eventually kicked off the Xbox brand as we know it today. Halo: Combat Evolved served as the major launch title for Xbox, which ended up being the smash hit Xbox needed to take a portion of the console market. Today, both Halo and the Xbox have a legacy built upon for over 20 years. Some of the best original Xbox games are still well remembered alongside Halo to this day.
Xbox 360 – November 22, 2005
Xbox 360 was Microsoft’s second console, which launched as a known brand in the market. With this release, many were familiar with who and what Xbox was about, primarily with its focus on multiplayer titles. Xbox 360 brought many innovations from Microsoft, especially with accessories and peripherals. Notably, the company launched Kinect, which allowed for movement to be tracked in games. To date, this was the most successful Xbox console, with over 84 million units sold. Some of the best Xbox 360 games are still relevant today.
Xbox 360 S – June 18, 2010
The Xbox 360 S offered a slimmer design compared to the original model, with significant internal changes. As many may be familiar with, the Xbox 360 was notorious for overheating, often causing the “Red Ring of Death”. The Xbox 360 S aimed to fix that, with a revamped cooling system that was redesigned from the ground up. The new 360 S also featured more hard drive space, with up to 320GB available across the available models.
Xbox 360 E – June 10, 2013
The Xbox 360 E might just be the most unique Xbox release, as this system launched just months before the next generation Xbox One hit the market. The outside design of the Xbox 360 E was made to complement the Xbox One design, offering slimmer and less rounded edges. Additionally, this was the last Xbox to feature a disc drive that popped out, as all future models were laid inside the consoles.
Xbox One – November 22, 2013
Xbox One was the start of Microsoft’s third console generation. With more power and more applications, new possibilities were made for developers. The Kinect 2.0 launched alongside the system, featuring new ways to play and utilize the camera device. Additionally, the Xbox One Controller received a new redesign, with dozens of changes to allow for gamers to play more comfortably. To date, this design is still largely used, with minor modifications made for newer console generations.
Xbox One S – August 2, 2016
The Xbox One S was the first Xbox console to feature support for both 4K output and as a 4K Blu-ray player, which ultimately led to the One S operating as an entertainment system for many. Games on the console were upscaled to 4K, allowing for compatible displays to utilize a true 4K image. Alongside these features, the console itself was 40% smaller than the standard Xbox One, offering a slimmer design that is easier to fit into shelves or cabinets.
Xbox One X – November 7, 2017
Xbox One X marked the end of the Xbox One line, offering the first true 4K gameplay on an Xbox console. The GPU featured a 31% increase in performance over the standard Xbox One, with new cooling methods to offset an increase in heat. A major selling point of this console was improved performance on countless Xbox One titles, like Halo 5: Guardians, Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 4, and more.
Xbox Series X – November 10, 2020
Xbox Series X was revealed at The Game Awards 2019. The Series X is capable of 120 frames-per-second, Dolby Vision, and even the ability to boost frame rates and resolutions of older titles. One of the biggest software features Xbox elected to add to the console was Quick Resume, allowing players to transition between games simultaneously. As of now, the Series X is still Microsoft’s flagship console. You can check out some of our favorite Xbox Series X games on the modern console.
Xbox Series S – November 10, 2020
Xbox Series S launched alongside the Xbox Series X, offering a firm entry point to the Xbox ecosystem that was more approachable than the $499 price of Xbox’s flagship model. The Series S is a digital-only console, with no disc drive for Xbox Series X or Xbox One titles. At $299, the Series S features 512GB of storage with capabilities of up to 1440p. In 2023, Xbox released a 1TB model of the console, featuring more storage for players.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Super Mario is one the most popular video game series of all time. With the Nintendo Switch, Mario has had new releases every year, with multiple entries often released. So far, Nintendo has released almost 20 Mario titles for Nintendo Switch, with almost every genre represented. Whether you’re looking for an RPG, a platformer, or even some fun with friends, Mario is the one series on Nintendo Switch where you can’t go wrong.
For Memorial Day weekend, many retailers have discounted some of the most popular Mario titles on Nintendo Switch. Most of these do not go on sale too often, so pick up a new Mario adventure this weekend while it’s on sale!
Save on Hit Mario Nintendo Switch Titles
Each of the titles on sale this weekend is a guaranteed good time. If you are looking for a new platformer, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an excellent choice. The hit 2023 title introduced a plethora of new ideas into the Super Mario series, with the Wonder Flower causing all sorts of mayhem in the middle of levels.
Another great choice is the remake of Super Mario RPG, which is a must-play for any Nintendo Switch owner. The game was originally released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as a collaboration between Square and Nintendo, and it brought new characters, enemies, and worlds into the Mario universe. Yoko Shimomura, one of the most beloved video game composers of all time, returned to recreate and reimagine the soundtrack for this remake.
Lastly, both Mario Golf: Super Rush and Mario Tennis Aces are discounted to $39.99. Mario Sports titles are always a blast to play with friends, and these games are no exception. Mario Golf: Super Rush brought new modes to the series, with Speed Golf acting as a race to complete the course before your friends. Mario Tennis Aces offered a story mode for the first time in over a decade, where Mario squares off against an ancient tennis racket named Lucien.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has taken to X/Twitter to clarify that some of what made it into his interview with Sony was “not quite” what he said, including that the next game from The Last of Us developer could “redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”
In editing my rambling answers in my recent interview with SONY, some of my words, context, and intent were unfortunately lost. Well, here’s the full long rambling answer for the final question about our future game… pic.twitter.com/tVuxX3LYJF
“This is not quite what I said,” Druckmann said in regard to the “it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming” line. “In editing my rambling answers in my recent interview with Sony, some of my words, context, and intent were unfortunately lost. Well, here’s the full long rambling answer for the final question about our future game.”
You can read the full response below from Druckmann after he was asked, “As we discuss future innovation, is there like a personal vision or dream project, you hope to see realized in the realm of entertainment at this point?”
Below, you can read the answer that appeared in the interview from the question, “Could you share a personal vision or dream project you hope to see realized in the future of entertainment?”
So, while Druckmann said this new project is “maybe the most excited” he’s been for one yet and “something really fresh for us”, he didn’t quite say, “it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.” What he did additionally say was that he is “very excited to see what the reaction for this thing will be — and i’ve already said too much about it.”
Call of Duty publisher Activision and Facebook and Instagram owner Meta are being sued in a new suit filed today by several families of victims of the 2022 Uvalde elementary school shooting, The New York Times reports today.
The lawsuit, filed in California, comes alongside an additional suit filed in Texas targeting the manufacturer of the gunman’s AR-15-style rifle, Daniel Defense. Both suits arrive on the two-year anniversary of the shooting, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School. The documents claim that Activision, Meta, and Daniel Defense each took part in “grooming” the gunman to be a mass shooter.
Activision and Meta are being sued, essentially, for the roles the documents allege they played in promoting the gun used in the shooting to 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. The Uvalde families are being represented by lawyer Josh Koskoff, best known for reaching a $73 million settlement with the maker of another AR-15-style rifle that was used in the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting.
“Daniel Defense is a predator but can’t get to the prey without the help of these other third parties,” Koskoff says.
Ramos allegedly bought the gun a week before the shooting, just 23 minutes after his 18th birthday, the suit alleges. Koskoff argues that this came months after he started playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare which, according to the lawyer’s account, began a spiral of the teenager becoming obsessed with guns. The gun that Ramos did end up purchasing, a DDM4 V7, was featured on Modern Warfare’s opening title page, the lawsuit says.
“Within a week of downloading Modern Warfare on Nov. 5, 2021, the shooter’s phone indicates a growing obsession with weapons and accessories associated with the game,” Koskoff says, according to the NYT.
The suit goes onto allege that, by December 2021, Ramos was looking into Daniel Defense, reasearching what models he might use, and making several Instagram posts about weapons. In the process, Koskoff claims, the teenager was “targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense.”
“This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it,” Koskoff says.
“Daniel Defense is a predator but can’t get to the prey without the help of these other third parties.
In an interview with CBS News, Koskoff added that Instagram created a “connection” between the gunman and the gun manufacturer.
“And nobody exploited Instagram for this purpose more than Daniel Defense,” he said. “If Instagram can prevent people from posting pictures of their private parts, they can prevent people from posting pictures of an AR-15. And of course, Instagram doesn’t care. They don’t care. All they care about is driving traffic and generating attention, drawing attention and getting their ad revenue.”
Meta and Daniel Defense did not immediately respond to IGN’s request for comment. When reached by IGN, Activision issued the following statement:
The Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way, and we express our deepest sympathies to the families and communities who remain impacted by this senseless act of violence. Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has also issued the following statement, more broadly addressing violence in video games:
We are saddened and outraged by senseless acts of violence. At the same time, we discourage baseless accusations linking these tragedies to video gameplay, which detract from efforts to focus on the root issues in question and safeguard against future tragedies. Many other countries have similar rates of video gameplay to the United States, yet do not see similar rates of gun violence.
The new lawsuits come just days after the same 19 Uvalde families reached a $2 million settlement with the Texas city, in which they were also represented by Koskoff. They also announced a number of new lawsuits against the Texas Department of Public Safety officers and Uvalde’s school district, including one $500 million suit against nearly 100 state police officers.
Thumbnail credit: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
XDefiant is an FPS with an identity crisis. This arcade-style arena shooter pulls characters and locations from various Ubisoft games, and it feels a little bit like a lot of different things as a result: It’s fast and twitchy in a way that’s similar to games like Call of Duty, but has class abilities that might put it closer to something like Overwatch. It’s got fast respawns and faster deaths, but offers objective-based modes that prioritize teamwork over straight killcount. That combination of disparate elements helps XDefiant play a little differently overall from most competitive shooters, but it also makes it feel a bit jumbled, like its parts aren’t always working together toward the same goals.
Call of Duty figured out the fun of grounded but fast-paced competitive play in this vein way back in the late 2000s, and XDefiant is clearly chasing that same success with its solid FPS design. Though the weapons are all pretty standard for military shooters like this, they still feel distinct and satisfying to use – the AK-47 hits harder and kicks a little differently than the M41A, for instance, and it feels meaningful to pick one over the other for your play style. Guns are also, for the most part, appropriately deadly, but you’ll get the most out of them when you spend time mastering the way recoil pulls your aim and what benefits you get from equipping a specific scope or stock. XDefiant pairs that with class abilities like healing teammates, dropping shields, and launching explosive drones, which can change the flow of a fight when they’re used well, but they’re not so powerful that they ever override the emphasis on its central shooting mechanics.
If nothing else, this is a fun shooter where the gunplay feels good, and you can do a whole lot worse than that as a solid foundation. It’s the other stuff layered on top of that gunplay, however, that XDefiant struggles to mix into a coherent whole.
The hook is that XDefiant is a sort of multiverse of different Ubisoft worlds combined into a single competitive shootout. When you jump into a match, you choose a character from one of four factions based on Ubisoft’s games (a fifth can be unlocked through gameplay or purchased), which function as your classes, and they’re all just distinct and interesting enough to play differently without feeling like they’re mismatched and shoehorned into the same game. The Libertad faction from Far Cry 6, for example, is essentially a medic class. They recover from damage faster and can either fire off a fast-heal charge in a radius around the player who activates it, or drop a stationary device that slowly heals anyone nearby. Meanwhile, the Ghost Recon Phantoms are tanks that don’t die quite as quickly as other factions. They’re able to either deploy a stationary barrier that they and their allies can shoot through, or pull out a personal riot shield that’s pretty effective at stopping bullets in both directions. There are also factions based on The Division, Watch Dogs, and Splinter Cell, and like in any class-based shooter, picking the right ability at the right time is important enough that it can change the flow of a fight. But you’re not locked into that choice for the whole match, so every time you kill an enemy you know they can adapt to your strengths and come back as a new class with a different set of skills. Knowing how and when to counter an enemy’s abilities is almost as important to your team as your aim.
Each faction mostly feels pretty distinct, but some definitely stand ahead of others.
The final major difference between each faction is their ultra ability: This big special power can only be used after you’ve charged it by racking up kills or scoring points toward objectives, but unlike many games’ ultimate abilities, there’s usually a way for the other team to shut them down if you’re not careful. For instance, the Phantoms’ ultra gives them a personal energy dome that protects them from all damage coming from outside of it, but opponents who are quick and smart – and avoid the defensive cannon – can slip through and kill whoever’s generating it, canceling the ability. The same is true of the Libertad healing device that pumps up anyone in its vicinity to double health. Enemies might seem nigh invulnerable while standing in its range, but you can shoot the device itself to destroy it and make them mortal again. In that way, ultras are generally strong without being ridiculous and require you to be smart about how and when to use them.
Still, it’s important to add a caveat: while each faction mostly feels pretty distinct, balanced, and fun, some definitely seem to stand ahead of others, and a few come off as completely useless (unless the community just hasn’t figured out how to use them yet). The biggest offender on this front is DedSec from Watch Dogs, whose gameplay style leans toward hacking enemy abilities. Their deployable spider drones automatically chase down the other team and shock or totally blind them, leaving them fully vulnerable – pretty cool. Their other ability, however, allows you to hijack the other team’s deployables, and I’ve yet to see a single person use it effectively. There just aren’t that many things to steal or many opportunities to do so, and every time I tried to sneak up to a shield or health station to try to hack it, I was killed – by the players who, of course, were currently using the thing I wanted to hijack. That’s especially egregious because you either need to pay $10 to unlock DedSec, or sink a whole lot of time into playing the other four factions to earn it for free.
On the flipside, other abilities feel overly strong. The Echelon faction, which is inspired by the stealthy gameplay of Splinter Cell, can either become nearly invisible or activate a pulsing sonar ability that lets your whole team see enemies through walls. Their ultra ability, Sonar Goggles, greatly increases the range of that legalized wallhack and gives you the 5.7 pistol, which fires slowly but takes enemies down in one or two hits. The only way to deal with the Sonar Goggles, as far as I can tell, is just to kill whoever’s using it. Where the other factions have abilities that are a lot more situational or team-oriented, there’s basically no drawback here – it’s never not to your advantage to see through walls. The lack of effective balance at launch means some classes are more popular than others in matches, and that weakens the faction system overall.
Generally, though, the larger issue with abilities is that they don’t really fit with XDefiant’s “the quick and the dead” approach to gunfights. Since shootouts are often over almost as soon as they begin, a lot of abilities are just a non-factor in most situations. Firing off a heal or launching an explosive drone delays you from shooting back, which means you’ll almost definitely die when all it takes to drop you is a couple of hits. That means you must have a Jedi-like sense of what will happen to make real use of them, like leaving a healing device or a shield where you think a fight is about to break out or launching an explosive drone toward where you anticipate someone to be.
Abilities don’t really fit its “the quick and the dead” approach to gunfights.
Why equip the moltov of The Division’s Cleaners faction, which you’ll only be able to use if you get within a few feet of an opponent, when you could choose the Phantom’s deployable shield and have several seconds of free shots at any distance? What good is the ability to hack a healing device from up close if sniping it from a distance is much more effective at neutralizing it without dying?
Balancing is an issue with some weapons at the moment, as well. The longer I played XDefiant, the more people started appearing in lobbies wielding sniper rifles, and it quickly became clear why: Sniping very often gets you a one-hit kill regardless of where the shot hits your target. Even at close ranges, if you can draw a bead on someone and snap off a shot, you’ll likely drop them before they have a chance to double-tap you. Skilled players picked up on this very quickly, and if you jump in today you’ll probably find yourself getting taken out instantly, regardless of how far away the enemy is. It quickly made me feel like a chump for opting for a different gun. So I guess I’m a sniper now.
It’s only partly because of the sniper advantage that shotguns and light machine guns feel a bit useless at the moment. Both have significant drawbacks; shotguns have very short range and slow firing rate, while LMGs seem to be tuned more to destroy enemy devices like shields and appear to do less damage to actual enemies. Both weapon types seem to punish you for choosing them over assault rifles or submachine guns, which have fewer drawbacks.
None of that is a dealbreaker, though, because XDefiant doesn’t care if your kill:death ratio is negative, so long as you’re helping your team get closer to the match objective. You don’t have to be among the fastest guns on the internet to grab a riot shield and focus on surviving long enough to push a payload from one end of a map to the other, or play support or defense on capture points by helping to keep your more lethal teammates alive. All of that is good fun, but it could certainly use a few more game modes with more imaginative and interesting approaches to shaking up gameplay in order to prevent us from falling into a routine for a bit longer.
XDefiant has only five modes at the moment, all of which are fairly standard fare for this kind of shooter. Those modes all support six-on-six unranked play – XDefiant will also have a four-on-four ranked mode, which will use skill-based matchmaking, but it’s only available as a preview right now. Zone Control, Domination, and Occupy are variations on capture-point modes, with Occupy taking place on a linear map while the other two are played in XDefiant’s big, dense arenas. That cuts down on variety, and a lot of the matches you’ll play during any given session start to feel repetitive pretty quickly. Whether you’re capturing one control point that moves around the map, three simultaneously, or several in a specific order, it doesn’t change the gameplay enough to really differentiate those modes from each other.
The modes don’t excite, but the maps themselves are largely standouts.
Meanwhile, Hotshot is a version of Call of Duty’s Kill Confirmed in which you only score if you pick up a dropped item after a kill, but there’s an added VIP twist: The person with the most items becomes speedier and scores more points for every item they pick up, so you want to protect your own team’s Hotshot and hunt down opposing ones. Escort, on the other hand, is a straight-up payload mission on a linear map, with no meaningful differences from the mode that’s been in Overwatch for years (and in Team Fortress 2 before that), so it’s not terribly novel or innovative. Neither of these options do much to play to XDefiant’s particular strengths or help differentiate it from other games.
The maps themselves, on the other hand, are largely standouts. Ten are arenas and four are linear, and they all borrow liberally from the same games from which XDefiant pulls its factions to make for visually interesting and varied spaces. For the most part they’re highly open, with multiple pathways in and out of any given place. That means you’re as likely to get shot in the back as you are to get the drop on someone, but it’s nice that they encourage fast movement and a minimal amount of camping, and facilitate a lot of different types of engagements with just about every step. That helps make all of the factions and weapons feel viable (except maybe DedSec), at least from a playstyle perspective; running around with a shotgun is just as fun as hanging back with a sniper rifle, even if the power of the guns themselves are a little uneven. The open design also keeps things fair, as there are no locations where someone can hide and dominate alone with a sniper rifle or where a team can hunker down to make themselves nearly invulnerable.
There’s also a fairly expansive (if basically standard at this point) progression system that unlocks weapons, weapon attachments like scopes, and various faction characters as you play. Additional pieces for are unlocked for a weapon just by using it, so you can start to kit out guns to your liking after a few rounds with them. Additional guns and characters require completing challenges by using the weapons you have in specific ways, like earning point-blank SMG kills or notching a certain number of one-shot snipes. The challenges help encourage you to vary your playstyle, and none of them are arduous to unlock – they perfectly balance pushing you to experiment with different loadouts and gear, while quickly rewarding you with new weapons for your trouble.
The same can’t be said of the grind to unlock the DedSec faction, however. Four factions are available when you start in XDefiant, but the fifth requires earning some 700,000 experience points from completing objectives, scoring kills, finishing and winning matches, and completing daily challenges. To put that in perspective, a kill gets you 100 XP, a finished match earns 2,000 – and another 2,000 if you win – while the four challenges available each day range from 5,000 to 10,000 XP. That makes it a fairly intense grind to do for free, but of course you can unlock DedSec instantly if you’re willing to fork over $10. But again, given how weak that faction seems to be with the current balance, neither the grind nor the cost seems especially worth it.
Bethesda and id Software’s next Doom game is reportedly called Doom: The Dark Ages and is expected to be revealed at next month’s Xbox Games Showcase, according to Insider Gaming.
A report from the site says fans will see the next entry in the classic first-person shooter franchise when Microsoft holds its gaming event come June 9. It adds that the title has been in development for at least four years and judging by early details from last year, it may feature a medieval theme.
id’s next mainline Doom game has been rumored for years, though it has been called a different name in the past. Leaked Microsoft court documents from 2023 revealed something known as Doom: Year Zero. If Doom: The Dark Ages is real, it’s likely the final name for that same project. While Bethesda has never officially confirmed that such a project exists, a recent “IDKFA” trademark filing from ZeniMax Media had many fans hoping an announcement could be on the horizon.
It’s been four years since id unleashed its modern Doom sequel, Doom Eternal, for PC and consoles in March 2020. It’s not been completely quiet in the time since, though, as the studio also released The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two in late 2020 and early 2021, respectively. Without confirmation that Doom: The Dark Ages is real, it’s probably best to keep expectations low. Either way, we won’t have to wait much longer to see if the rumors hold any weight.
For more on Doom, you can read our review of Doom Eternal. We loved the way the follow-up brought the FPS franchise into the future, awarding it a 9/10 at the time. We said, “Whether you’re a new Doom fan or a veteran one, Doom Eternal is bound to delight & entertain you. It’s gloriously fun.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Nintendo is the most recognizable name in history when it comes to video games. From the beginning, Nintendo has been at the forefront of creativity and innovation in the home console space. Nintendo is known for its vast library of treasured IPs, with many offering the same charm dozens of years later. With so many upcoming titles, the company is showing no signs of slowing down. Below, we’ve rounded up every single console Nintendo has ever released. Journey through the ages and discover how Nintendo has continued to push the gaming medium forward!
Looking to save on a new Nintendo Switch or new titles for your system? Be sure to check out the best Nintendo deals available today.
How Many Nintendo Consoles Have There Been?
In total, thirty-two Nintendo consoles have been released throughout Nintendo’s history of releasing games. We’ve included revision models for both home and handheld consoles, which include brandings like XL and Mini.
Every Nintendo Console in Order of Release
Color TV-Game – June 1, 1977
The Color TV-Game line of systems was Nintendo’s first foray into gaming hardware and one that you might not necessarily be aware of. These devices were a joint venture by Nintendo and Mitsubishi Electronics, with the latter involved as Nintendo was inexperienced at developing hardware. These systems were a major success at the time and ultimately led Nintendo to divert its focus to developing more gaming hardware. Almost fifty years later, the Color TV-Game’s legacy is still felt, with Nintendo invested more than ever in gaming.
Game & Watch – April 28, 1980
Nintendo’s first foray into the handheld market was with its Game & Watch devices, each loaded with a different game. While you might not think much of it, the Game & Watch series sold over 40 million units worldwide. These devices brought many gaming revelations that are still utilized today, such as the D-Pad in the Donkey Kong Game & Watch. These consoles made a comeback somewhat recently when Nintendo released limited edition models in 2020 and 2021 to celebrate the anniversaries of Mario and Zelda.
Nintendo Entertainment System – October 18, 1985
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is the first Nintendo home console to be released in North America. Known as the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, this console implemented cartridges to allow users to purchase and play as many games as they’d like on the system. Almost all of the major Nintendo franchises we know and love got their starts here, with series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Overall, the NES is one of the most important consoles in video game history, as it established a pipeline for generations to come.
Game Boy – July 31, 1989
The first true Nintendo handheld video game console is the Game Boy, which released in North America during the Summer of 1989. Game Boy took a major step forward from the Game & Watch, offering cartridges so you could play as many games as you’d like on the system. For many, the Game Boy’s most well-known game is Tetris, which was bundled in with the system in every region with the exception of Japan.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System – August 23, 1991
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought 16-bit graphics to a Nintendo platform for the first time. This console was when Nintendo began crafting major evolutions for their biggest series, with games like Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and more. Despite launching toward the latter part of this console generation, the SNES still managed to be the best-selling console of this time period with its profound software lineup and generational appeal.
Virtual Boy – August 14, 1995
The Virtual Boy is quite possibly Nintendo’s weirdest console. This portable device was the first ever video game console that could properly display 3D visuals. A mere 22 titles were ever released for the system, with games like Mario’s Tennis, 3D Tetris, and Virtual Boy Wario Land among the most popular. Virtual Boy only lasted on the market for one year, with just under 800,000 units sold in its lifetime.
Game Boy Pocket – September 3, 1996
The Game Boy Pocket is a smaller version of the Game Boy, featuring a definitive black and white screen instead of the Game Boy’s green tinted display. One of the biggest improvements of this release was the new hardware inside that improved the response time of the display on screen. However, with the smaller design, the Game Boy Pocket had a shorter battery life than the Game Boy.
Nintendo 64 – September 29, 1996
Nintendo 64 brought 3D graphics to a Nintendo home console for the very first time. This revolutionary device offered two of the most influential titles ever with Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The N64 completely refreshed what the NES and SNES offered, with a bold new controller that featured an analog stick for the first time. N64 is one of the few consoles where Nintendo offered many iconic special editions, with multiple translucent variants available.
Game Boy Light – April 14, 1998
Game Boy Light is a console you might not be too familiar with, and a large part of that is likely due to it being exclusive to Japan. This Game Boy revision was bigger than the Game Boy Pocket, but added a new backlight so players could play in low-light areas. Ultimately, this change allowed for the Game Boy Light to feature longer battery life than the Game Boy Pocket, with around 20 hours in total.
Game Boy Color – November 18, 1998
Game Boy Color finally brought color to Nintendo’s handheld side, offering a new way to experience portable gaming. The device is backwards-compatible with all Game Boy games, so it was an easy upgrade for many. Some Game Boy games had support for color already, so titles like Tetris could be experienced anew with bright and beatuiful colors. With the new hardware inside, hundreds of new games were also released exclusively for the system.
Game Boy Advance – June 11, 2001
Game Boy Advance (GBA) was the first massive technological leap forward in the Game Boy brand for Nintendo. In a major shakeup to the previous Game Boy models, GBA flipped the device orientation to a horizontal, rectangular shape versus the portrait-designed Game Boy. 16-bit graphics were now available portably, with a major upgrade from the Game Boy’s 8-bit graphics support. Of course, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were also supported via backwards compatibility. This opened the number of games available on GBA into the thousands.
Pokémon mini – November 16, 2001
Pokémon mini released in 2001 with a major focus on Pokémon games (as the name implies). This device is so incredibly small that you can fit multiple in your pocket. Only 10 games were ever released for Pokémon mini, with just four in North America. Pokémon mini featured a built-in clock function, an infrared port for communication, and built-in rumble.
Nintendo GameCube – November 18, 2001
Nintendo GameCube built upon the success of the Nintendo 64 and followed up with sequels to many of the beloved titles found on the system. Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are all three titles that shined on the system. GameCube made a major departure from Nintendo’s prior home consoles, as it utilized discs instead of cartridges. Additionally, the controller made major improvements from N64, with built-in rumble, analog/digital triggers, and a staggered design for the sticks. The legacy of the GameCube still lives on today, with many of the franchises that debuted on the title more popular than ever. Looking at you, Animal Crossing.
Panasonic Q – December 14, 2001
Panasonic Q is a collaborative console between Panasonic and Nintendo. This device combined a traditional GameCube with a DVD player, allowing for users to play GameCube titles, watch DVDs, and listen to CDs. Its design is striking, with a stainless steel exterior and a front LCD panel. Due to a steep price point and low sales, the console only lasted two years on the market.
Game Boy Advance SP – March 23, 2003
Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) was the first revision of the Game Boy Advance. A major change from the previous model was the hinge design, which placed the screen on the top panel and the controls on the bottom panel. Additionally, the GBA SP featured a chargeable battery and a backlit screen (exclusive to later models), which were both major improvements from its predecessor. Nintendo opted to omit a headphone jack on this model but offered an adapter for players to listen to audio through headphones.
Nintendo DS – November 21, 2004
Nintendo DS was the first unit in the DS line, which marked the start of Nintendo’s best-selling console. The DS featured Wi-Fi support for the first time, with a standout clamshell design that expanded upon the Game Boy SP. With two screens, games on Nintendo DS were quite unique, with many developers creating experiences unlike anything on the market previously. The bottom screen was a touchscreen that players could use with the included stylus pen.
Game Boy Micro – September 19, 2005
Game Boy Micro was famously revealed by Reggie Fils-Aimé during E3 2005, with many shocked at the small size of the system. The rectangular design featured a D-pad and two buttons on the front, with Start and Select buttons on the bottom side of the unit. Like previous GBA models, Game Boy Micro was backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, in addition to playing Game Boy Advance titles. Game Boy Micro featured a backlit screen that allowed for adjustable brightness and even lighting across the screen. The system only sold 2.42 million units across 18 months, where production was then ended.
Nintendo DS Lite – June 11, 2006
Nintendo DS Lite was the first revision of the Nintendo DS. This model released just under a year and a half after the initial launch of the Nintendo DS, and it brought a few changes to the fold. First, the DS Lite is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The screens are also both noticeably brighter than the standard DS, which made games easier to see regardless of lighting conditions. Lastly, the battery life was much improved on Nintendo DS Lite to allow for more playtime without the need for a charge.
Nintendo Wii – November 19, 2006
Nintendo Wii marked a huge resurgence for Nintendo’s home console business, with a unique focus on motion controls that sold many on the system. The unique Wii Remote relied heavily on motion to control the system, utilizing both infrared and digital technology to input motion from all directions. Nintendo released all sorts of accessories for the system from the Nunchuk to the Wii MotionPlus. Wii was backwards compatible with both GameCube titles and controllers, since the Wii utilized optical discs once again. One of the defining software offerings of Wii was Virtual Console, which allowed players to purchase NES, SNES, and N64 titles for digital download.
Nintendo DSi – November 1, 2008
Nintendo DSi made a few changes to the Nintendo DS, acting as the second major revision of the model. It added two cameras, one on the hinge inside and one on the outside panel, which were utilized in games and in certain software. An SD card slot was also added to provide additional storage for downloaded games. Unfortunately, the Nintendo DSi also removed the Game Boy Advance slot that was present on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite.
Nintendo DSi XL – November 21, 2009
Nintendo DSi XL was a larger model of the DSi that launched a year after the main model. This device featured larger, wide-view screens that both sat at 4.2 inches. Two speakers were added to the top panel to provide better, clearer sound for players, and a bigger battery for longer playtime. With the larger screens, Nintendo DS games were brighter and easier to experience than ever.
Nintendo 3DS – March 27, 2011
Nintendo 3DS was the successor to the Nintendo DS line, offering a wide variety of new features, games, and hardware capabilities. The key feature of 3DS was the 3D capabilities, which were powered by stereoscopy so no eyewear was required. Interestingly enough, this is the same technology that was used to power the Virtual Boy, which only lasted on the market for one year in 1995. 3DS was a massive upgrade from Nintendo DS, with many impressive titles like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Super Mario 3D Land.
Nintendo 3DS XL – August 19, 2012
Nintendo 3DS XL (known as Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan) featured a screen that was 90% larger than the original 3DS. This console retained every feature of the Nintendo 3DS and simply offered a larger screen. Many games were much easier to view with this model, especially with the bottom screen.
Nintendo Wii U – November 18, 2012
The Nintendo Wii U was the successor to Nintendo Wii, featuring an all-new GamePad controller. This controller featured a screen and could be used to play titles off of the TV. All previous Nintendo Wii games, accessories, and controllers were compatible with the system. Wii U was Nintendo’s first-ever console to support HD, which was a major step up from the 480p capabilities of the Wii. There were some incredible titles released for the system, including Xenoblade Chronicles X, Super Mario 3D World, Splatoon, and Bayonetta 2 to name a few. Ultimately, a combination of poor marketing and confusion led to poor sales of the Wii U, which left Nintendo in a crucial state prior to the launch of Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Wii Mini – December 7, 2012
Wii Mini was a smaller, lighter Wii unit that was released at the very tail end of the Wii’s life cycle. Wii Mini featured a top-facing disc drive, which was a huge departure from the standard Wii. Additionally, it removed support for GameCube, Wi-Fi connectivity, 480p resolution, and SD cards. This console launched in Canada during December 2012, with releases in Europe and the United States in 2013.
Nintendo 2DS – October 12, 2013
Nintendo 2DS offered exactly what it sounds like – fun, 2D content. This device removed the 3D capability present on 3DS models and instead flattened out the console to a square-like shape. All 3DS titles are playable on 2DS, with all features minus 3D intact. The console did lose considerable sound quality, as the speaker onboard was swapped for a mono speaker versus a stereo speaker. However, with the extremely low price point, Nintendo had to cut costs somewhere.
New Nintendo 3DS – October 11, 2014
New Nintendo 3DS made significant upgrades to the standard 3DS, with new controls, features, and platform support. Nintendo added the C-Stick, ZR and ZL buttons, and NFC support for amiibo with this release. While the New Nintendo 3DS launched across Japan, Australia, and Europe in late 2014 to early 2015, North America did not receive this standard version until September 25, 2015.
New Nintendo 3DS XL – February 13, 2015
Released before New Nintendo 3DS in North America, New Nintendo 3DS XL was a larger version of the revised 3DS model. Although the standard model did feature bigger screens than the standard 3DS, the 3DS XL had even bigger displays, which allowed for more immersive games. The New 3DS XL made a major change from the smaller model as it removed the ability to change face plates. Many felt this limited customization, though Nintendo did offer mutliple special editions for players to purchase.
Nintendo Switch – March 3, 2017
Nintendo Switch fully realized the vision of the Wii U and completely propelled Nintendo to the top of the industry once again. The Switch operates as both a home and portable console, with the ability to play games wherever you go. The same grand experiences you were used to on consoles can now be played in a park, on a plane, or in your bed. With arguably the best first party library of any Nintendo console, Switch has seen some of the greatest games of all time be released on it. There have also been quite a few special edition Nintendo Switch consoles that have been released throughout the years.
New Nintendo 2DS XL – July 28, 2017
New Nintendo 2DS XL was a major update to the 2DS. Additions for this model included an analog stick, shoulder buttons, amiibo support, and more. 2DS XL also moved back to the signature clamshell-hinge design, which was a departure from the flat panel used for 2DS. This console was also able to play New 3DS titles, which included games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Fire Emblem Warriors.
Nintendo Switch Lite – September 20, 2019
Nintendo Switch Lite shrunk down the body of the Nintendo Switch, utilizing a 5.5 inch LCD screen. The major change with this model was the removal of Joy-Con, as the controllers are now built-in on the sides of the console. As a result of these changes, the Nintendo Switch Lite is only playable in handheld mode and cannot be docked to a TV. This allowed Nintendo to cut costs and charge $100 less for the Lite model.
Nintendo Switch OLED model – October 8, 2021
Nintendo Switch OLED debuted alongside Metroid Dread in October 2021. This premium Switch increased the size of the screen to 7 inches, while also adding a new premium OLED panel. In addition to these features, the speakers and kickstand were also reworked for this device. The OLED model released alongside a new dock, featuring rounded corners and a built-in LAN port.
Upcoming Nintendo Consoles
With the Nintendo Switch in the midst of its seventh year on the market, Nintendo’s next console is on the horizon. In fact, current Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed in May 2024 that Nintendo would reveal details on its next generation console sometime during Fiscal Year 2025.
This console, referred to by many as Nintendo Switch 2, is expected to offer power somewhere between a PlayStation 4 Pro and an Xbox Series S. Additionally, backwards compatibility and 4K support through DLSS are two major features expected to be available. Nintendo Switch 2 will likely release in early 2025 based on multiple reports from this Spring.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Sony is rumored to be gearing up to announce a new Astro Bot game for PlayStation 5 soon.
The details come from Dealabs and reliable leaker Billbil-kun, which say that developer Team Asobi will apparently reveal the next entry in its cutesy robot platformer series sometime in the next 15 days. Part of the unannounced title is said to take place in a desert area with a new character described as a “fennec fox in the form of a robot” that shares some similarities with Astro. IGN understands the rumor to be accurate.
With Summer Game Fest set to kick off in the next few weeks, it’s no surprise to hear that PlayStation has some announcements in the cards. A PlayStation showcase of some kind has been rumored for weeks as well, with many believing that Sony will announce a summer presentation sooner rather than later. However, it’s probably best to keep expectations tempered until a PlayStation event is officially revealed.
Astro Bot has appeared only a handful of times in the last decade and is usually used to highlight PlayStation hardware features. Astro Bot Rescue Mission, a game we gave a 9/10, wowed PSVR users upon its release in 2018. Then, with the launch of the PS5 in 2020, users were treated to Astro’s Playroom, a platformer that dived into PlayStation history while putting a spotlight on the DualSense controller’s features. We gave it an 8/10 in our review, saying, “Astro’s Playroom is a great showcase for the varied, impressive ways the DualSense can immerse you in next-gen games.”
It’s hard to say exactly how the next Astro game will build upon Asobi’s previous work, but the team seems to at least be confident in what it’s been working on for the last few years. For more, you can check out our list of the 25 best PS5 games.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
XDefiant launched its pre-season this week and Ubisoft’s free-to-play first-person Call of Duty competitor appears to be going down well with competitive shooter fans hankering for an old-school experience. But there’s one issue with the game that sticks out more than any other: hit registration.
Hit registration is a video game’s ability to detect the impact of projectiles accuracy. Soon after XDefiant launched this week across PC via Ubisoft Connect, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, players took to social media, subreddits and Discord to say the game was doing a poor job of hit registration, letting characters avoid fire more than they’re used to in other similar games.
Redditor ChuckedBankForFbow called XDefiant’s hit registration “the worst I’ve seen in a long time.” “I’m surviving way longer running and jumping around bullets than I would in any other games cuz their shots just won’t connect lol,” they explained. “M16a4 feels like im shooting hopes and dreams at the enemies,” BlOoDy_PsYcHo666 added.
When XDefiant launched, Ubisoft asked the playerbase to keep in mind that the game is currently in preseason, and that Season 1 will likely provide a more robust playing experience. Now, in a tweet responding to more complaints about hit registration, XDefiant development chief Mark Rubin said “it’s something we are working on.”
You don’t need a petition. 🤣 It’s something we are working on.
XDefiant also launched with matchmaking issues, although those seem to be ironed out for the most part as the game heads into its first weekend. XDefiant is not available on Steam, so we do not have an idea of concurrent player numbers, but according to a report from Insider Gaming, XDefiant hit 1.5 million players within just a few hours of launch.
Of course, Ubisoft’s hope is XDefiant proves popular enough long-term to make its free-to-play live service a money-spinner throughout the rest of 2024 and beyond, with Activision reportedly preparing Call of Duty Black Ops 6 for release in late October.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The developer behind Wuthering Waves has apologized for its rocky launch and offered players compensation.
Wuthering Waves is an open-world Genshin Impact-style Gacha game from Chinese developer Kuro that launched globally in free-to-play form across PC and mobile this week.
But the launch has seen a number of issues since, including a raft of bugs and lag problems. In a tweet, Kuro said it was actively working on solutions to these problems. “We are committed to constant self-reflection and improvement, with your satisfaction as our top priority,” the developer said. “We are incredibly grateful for your understanding and patience during our recent technical issues.”
The scale of the technical issues is laid out in a post on the Wuthering Waves website. There was a login timeout issue, now said to be fixed, a problem with age authentication, which is under investigation, forced logins every time the game client is relaunched on PC, crash issues, glitches on certain Android devices, poor quality localization, and performance issues including lag, freezes, frame-rate drops, devices overheating, blurry graphics, and force quits.
An emergency patch was issued to address the most urgent issues, but Kuro advised those still experiencing serious overheating or frequent crashes lower the graphics settings “in the case of an overload for a smoother gaming experience.”
“Please rest assured that we are dedicated to providing the best possible experience for our players, and we take performance concerns seriously,” Kuro said. “In future updates, we will continue to optimize the game’s performance to improve your gaming experience. Please stay tuned to our upcoming notices and announcements. “
Compensation now offered includes Lustrous Tide*10 for Rovers (player characters) who reach Union Level 2 or above by July 3.
Similar to Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves features a gacha mechanic for obtaining new characters and weapons — see our guide for more details on how to unlock pulling, plus our in-progress walkthrough to help you get started. To celebrate Wuthering Waves’ launch, Kuro Games is also issuing in-game rewards via promo codes.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
