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We’ve compiled a list of SEGA console generations and models breaking down each and every device in the company’s roster.
Between 1983 and 2001 Sega released a total of five home games consoles. The company made its name with arcade gaming machines but broke into the home console market in the mid-eighties with its first console, the SG-1000. It was launched the same day as Nintendo launched the NES in Japan, kickstarting a decades-long tussle for market share with their competition, a fight that Nintendo eventually won.
Sega ultimately disappeared from the console market, just 15 years after breaking onto the scene and before the list Of Xbox Console Generations even begins. Despite its cult popularity, the Sega Dreamcast was the final nail in the coffin for Sega consoles, with its commercial failure leading the company to shift to third-party development.
With the innovative yet fateful Sega Dreamcast console recently turning 25, we thought now was the perfect time to break down each and every major console release in Sega’s history. This list has everything from the obscure to certified classics, from duds to underrated gems. Let’s get into it.
1. SG-1000 (1983)
General information
- Generation: Third
- Launch price: ¥15,000 (about $100)
- Units Sold: 2 million
- Release date: July 1983
Sega started its console journey in the 8-bit era. Their very first was the SG-1000. It was launched exclusively in Japan, on July 15, 1983, the exact same day that Nintendo released its Famicom (or NES in the US), kickstarting the third generation of console wars.
It had 76 compatible ROM games cartridges, and 29 Sega My Card games, making for a library of just over 100 titles. Some notable games include 007 James Bond, and Space Invaders. They also released a redesigned SG-1000 II in 1984 which did away with the hardwire joystick, replacing it with a pair of detachable joypads.
2. Master System
General information
- Release date: September 1986 (North America)
- Generation: Third
- Launch price: $200
- Units Sold: ~10 million
Still facing heavy competition from Nintendo, SEGA then released the SEGA Mark III. This was rebranded as the Master System, and in 1986, became the company’s first console to launch in North America, with the device coming to Europe the following year.
This was superior to its direct competition, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in terms of its hardware. However, it lacked the recognizable characters and iconic games that Nintendo had in spades. What’s more, thanks to Nintendo’s licensing rules that required exclusive releases, SEGA had no way to get in on the action. Despite this, however, the console did perform sufficiently in the US, and even outsold Nintendo in the growing European market.
3. Genesis / Mega drive
General information
- Release date: August 1988 (North America)
- Generation: Fourth
- Launch price: $189
- Units Sold: 30 million
The Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive as it was known outside of North America) was Sega’s first 16-bit game console. This gave it a huge level up in terms of performance and made the way for more fluid 2D graphics.
The company was still very much in competition with Nintendo and was losing in terms of market share. This led to an extensive promotional campaign for the console that included slogans such as ‘Genesis does what Nintendon’t’, and even a console adaptation based on a popular Michael Jackson game.
It was also with the Sega Genesis that the company finally got an iconic character and mascot of their own, Sonic the Hedgehog. This boosted sales and cemented the Genesis as a classic console and arguably Sega’s crowning achievement.
4. Game Gear
General information
- Release date: April 1991 (North America)
- Generation: Fourth
- Launch price: $149
- Units Sold: 10.5 million
Sega’s first handheld console, the Game Gear, was released in 1991. It was an impressively powerful device for its time, boasting superior processing power and a whopping 24 more colours, than its main competition the Nintendo Game Boy.
Over its lifetime, 300 games became available on the Game Gear including Sonic the Hedgehog, The GG Shinobi, and Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Despite all of this, however, the Gameboy significantly outsold the Sega counterpart, thanks in part to its far superior battery life.
5. Sega Saturn
General information
- Release date: May 1995 (North America)
- Generation: Fifth
- Launch price: $399
- Units Sold: 9.2 million
By 1994, when the Sega Saturn was released in the US, videogame technology was moving fast. The Saturn was 32-bit console that ran games from CD-ROMs and boasted a dual CPU architecture. It’s remembered for a unique roster of games that included Duke Nukem 3D, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, and Resident Evil.
The system itself was arguably more powerful than the PlayStation, however, its hardware was complex to code for, making it harder for developers to get the most out of it. This coupled with the popularity of the newly released Nintendo 64, led to Sega struggling for sales in the US and Europe, though the console was a success in Japan. It was also significantly pricier than Sony’s PlayStation which debuted a full $100 cheaper.
6. Dreamcast
General information
- Release date: September 1999
- Generation: Sixth
- Launch price: $199
- Units Sold: 9 million
The Dreamcast was the fifth and final home console launched by Sega. As the first console ever to feature proper internet access built in and the online play that came with it, it is regarded today as ahead of its time. This is reflected in its list of games, which features the likes of Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Phantasy Star Online, and Jet Set Radio, all of which are now regarded as forward-thinking and inventive.
Despite this, the Sega Dreamcast was a significant commercial failure for the company. After a change in leadership at Sega the console was discontinued after just three years, and the company made the decision to move away from creating home consoles.
Final word
Though Sega may have ultimately lost the console wars, the impact the company had on the industry is hard to understate. They made breakthroughs in design, online play, gameplay, and computing power and some of their devices remain cult classics. Many of them, such as the Dreamcast, still boast a significant gaming community today.
The company is still a player in the videogame industry, too. Since leaving the console market you can now find its iconic characters across gaming systems, and it’s unlikely franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog will be going anywhere anytime soon.
If you’re looking for more nostalgic console throwbacks check out our articles celebrating the Nintendo Wii turning 17, the original Xbox at 22, and 18 years with the Xbox 360, ah the memories.
