Although the Saturn debuted before the PlayStation in both Japan and the United States, its surprise U.S. The Saturn was a CD-ROM-based console that displayed both 2D and 3D computer graphics, but its complex dual- CPU architecture made it more difficult to program for than its chief competitor, the Sony PlayStation. The successor to the Genesis, the Sega Saturn, was released in Japan in 1994. Selling 30.75 million units worldwide, the Genesis was the most successful console Sega ever released. Released in 1988, the Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive in most countries outside North America) was Sega's entry into the fourth generation of video game consoles. The Dreamcast was also the first console to include a built-in modular modem for Internet access and online play. Its library contains many games considered innovative, including Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Phantasy Star Online, and Shenmue, as well as high-quality ports from Sega's NAOMI arcade system board. In total, 9.13 million Dreamcast units were sold worldwide.Īlthough the Dreamcast had a short lifespan and limited third-party support, reviewers have considered the console ahead of its time. After a change in leadership, Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, withdrawing from the console business and restructuring itself as a third-party publisher. Sales did not meet Sega's expectations despite several price cuts, and the company continued to incur significant financial losses. launch backed by a large marketing campaign, but interest steadily declined as Sony built hype for its upcoming PlayStation 2. Released in Japan to a subdued reception, the Dreamcast enjoyed a successful U.S. In contrast to the expensive hardware of the unsuccessful Sega Saturn, the Dreamcast was designed to reduce costs with 'off-the-shelf' components, including a Hitachi SH-4 CPU and an NEC PowerVR2 GPU. The Dreamcast was Sega's final home console, marking the end of the company's eighteen years in the console market. It was the first in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube, and Microsoft's Xbox. The Dreamcast is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan, September 9, 1999, in North America, and October 14, 1999, in Europe.

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