45 Years of Console Launch Prices, Adjusted for Inflation
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This chart was inspired by Reddit’s most-upvoted post from 10 years ago today, originally posted to this subreddit, “[35 Years of Console Launch Prices, Adjusted for Inflation](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/zvbt9/35_years_of_console_launch_prices_adjusted_for/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share).”
I readjusted the prices from that chart, and updated the list to include a few new consoles that have been released since 2012!
Intellivision needed to chill.
But them games were obsession who could resist those classics like… What the fuck were on that shit👀? 😂
Yeah, I remember the NeoGeo being crazy expensive. Only reason I ever played it was because the local video game store had one that you could pay to play in 15 minute time slots. You could do the same with SNES. I usually chose SNES because it was cheaper and I liked the games better . NeoGeo was mostly fighting games and I wasn’t really into those at the time.
The video game store gave the arcade a good amount of competition because it was a a pretty good deal to pay a flat rate rather than have to shove more quarters in a machine if you weren’t very skilled.
This will be the only chart NeoGeo ever tops.
Wow, I had no idea consoles used to be that expensive back then. 400+ for Nintendo and SNES… Sega Genesis… Saturn… PS1.
Edit: ohhhhh “adjusted for inflation”. There’s the missing piece of the puzzle I finally got around to reading. My eyes went right to the numbers.
Edit 2: Well, I admitted my mistake long before the downvotes lol. What purpose does that serve now?
You forgot about the 50$ ps price hike
Cool, now do MSRP on launch titles as well! I remember SNES games going for $90 CDN in some places, in 1990 doll hairs. (204 today, which is insane)
I had no idea the Intellivision was so expensive at launch. That’s crazy. I actually bought the 3DO at launch, but at the time I was still a teenager living at home, so no real bills to pay for lol. Would’ve killed for a Neo Geo though.
Also, the Colecovision was fire, and apparently relatively inexpensive compared to the garbage-by-comparison Atari 2600.
Still want a fucking Neo-Geo.
Last Blade 2 is my jam!
Looks like Nintendo has always been a good buy
The PS5 released two years ago at $500 and it’s saying the adjusted for inflation price is $569? That seems strange. Unless there’s actually been that much inflation in such a short amount of time. But I dunno, I’m no economist. 🤷
So essentially all the people saying Nintendo games cost to much could have 5 free games you can sell for the price of a ps5,… Funny thought that.
I used to have a Sinclair ZX Spectrum which isn’t on the list, released in 1983 cost between 125 – 175 Pounds (UK) so about 550 after inflation or there about.
That’s why GameCube is the 🐐
So even though it doesn’t show it, the Xbox Series S is the cheapest launch console ever
more evidence that the dreamcast is the goat
Do the colors have any significance?
Edit: Got it. Manfacturers. ^(D’oh!)
God I miss GameCube
Would hate to see how much the pioneer laseractive would be with inflation. It launched at $970 in 1993. Had some really expensive add-ons to play genesis and turbografx titles on it
The only kid we knew who had an Intellivision definitely had rich parents, but he was also a nice guy and let us borrow it several times. AD&D was awesome back in the day.
More proud of myself for mowing lawns and saving up for that PS1 the summer after fifth grade now.
I remember when Panasonic 3D0 came out it was like $800. Insane.
Pretty awesome they’ve kept prices down, but can’t forget those early systems didn’t have subscription services that pay them another 60-100 every year. Def makes up for it.
I bought a 3DO. That’s where I first experienced and feel in love with The Need for Speed. I then started comparing every future open world highway driving experience to that game.
Grew up in the 90s, all the kids with rich parents in my city had a NeoGeo and 3DO. I was lucky enough to have most of the Nintendo/Sony/Sega consoles growing up, many a Christmas had a console under the tree, and many Friday nights were spent going to Blockbuster to rent the latest releases.
Price is apparently another area where the dreamcast quietly kicked ass
Dreamcast could’ve been so much more than it was.
Fuckn NeoGeo. Why were the so damn expensive?
Intellivision was awesome
Neo geo was ridiculous even back in the day. Idk a single person who had a neo geo.
The NeoGeo was so far ahead of its time. NeoGeo Games still look great nowadays.
GameCube: The ultimate value king.
Virtual boy isn’t on the list
I have an intellivision and most of the games released in a box, often think about finding an old tv to hook it up to for nostalgia
Glad to see NeoGeo is still the king, I remember that thing being absurdly expensive as a kid
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also love that the dreamcast/SNES two of my favorite systems are on the cheaper end
GameCube is our king!