Sixth generation of video game consoles

Lore & Background

The sixth generation began with the Dreamcast, which featured internet gaming through a built-in modem and a web browser. It was credited with restoring Sega's reputation after earlier failures, but was discontinued prematurely due to factors including the impending PlayStation 2, which had a built-in DVD player and backward compatibility with PlayStation games. Sega's decision to use a GD-ROM for storage did not compare well against the PS2's DVD capabilities, and the company was unable to compete with Sony's marketing spending. With the announcements of the Xbox and GameCube in late 2000, the Dreamcast was considered outdated, and Sega announced its discontinuation in early 2001, leaving the console market and transitioning to third-party software development.

The PlayStation 2 achieved sales dominance, becoming the best-selling console in history with over 160 million units sold. Its success was driven by the brand established by the original PlayStation, backward compatibility, DVD playback, and securing key game licenses such as Final Fantasy X, Grand Theft Auto III, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The Xbox introduced innovations including an internal ethernet port and an internal hard disk drive for storing game data, enabling faster load times and direct game downloads. The GameCube emphasized Game Boy Advance connectivity and had few online-capable games, failing to match the sales of its predecessor, the Nintendo 64.

The generation ended gradually: the Xbox was succeeded by the Xbox 360 in late 2005, GameCube production ceased after the Wii's release in late 2006, and the PlayStation 2 continued to sell strongly through 2010. The last official Dreamcast games were released in 2002 (North America and Europe) and 2007 (Japan). The last PlayStation 2 games were released in 2013, marking the end of the generation.

Reader's Guide

The sixth generation's significance lies in its establishment of online gaming as a standard feature. While earlier consoles had internet connectivity, they had little market penetration. Microsoft's Xbox Live became an industry standard, and the Xbox's internal hard disk drive allowed for storing program data and downloading games directly, innovations that later became common. The PlayStation 2's dominance, selling over 160 million units, made it the best-selling console of all time, driven by its DVD player, backward compatibility, and strong third-party support. The Dreamcast, though first to market, was discontinued early due to competition and Sega's financial struggles, leading to Sega's exit from console hardware. The GameCube and Xbox were modestly successful, with the Xbox introducing features that shaped future consoles. Bit ratings largely fell by the wayside during this era, as performance depended on more varied factors than word size. The generation was the second longest of all time, with the PlayStation 2 still being produced after the launch of the Wii U in 2012.

Did You Know?

• The Dreamcast was the first console of the generation, released on November 27, 1998.
• The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console of all time, with over 160 million units sold.
• The Xbox was the first console with an internal ethernet port and an internal hard disk drive.
• The last PlayStation 2 games were released in 2013, including FIFA 14 in North America and Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 in Europe.