Ninth generation of video game consoles

The ninth generation of video game consoles began in November 2020 with the releases of <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Gaming/zp3BGyF9">Microsoft</a>'s <a href="/facts/Xbox_Series_X_and_Series_S/gkN9VjV2">Xbox Series X and Series S</a> console family and <a href="/facts/Sony_Interactive_Entertainment/tnH01NqQ">Sony</a>'s <a href="/facts/PlayStation_5/vJ2ahUoK">PlayStation 5</a>.
Compared to the <a href="/facts/Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles/ATJVb6Sf">eighth-gen</a> <a href="/facts/Xbox_One/Nom1XYbe">Xbox One</a> and <a href="/facts/PlayStation_4/wMtdFnoP">PlayStation 4</a>, the new consoles add faster computation and graphics processors, support for <a href="/facts/Real-time_ray_tracing/n6qpap2q">real-time ray tracing</a> graphics, output for <a href="/facts/4K_resolution/Ehhhg0rD">4K resolution</a>, and in some cases, <a href="/facts/8K_resolution/9JXu8uoG">8K resolution</a>, with rendering speeds targeting 60 <a href="/facts/Frames_per_second/sbRkc9xa">frames per second</a> (FPS) or higher. Internally, both console families introduced new internal <a href="/facts/Solid-state_drive/aMHBy8gU">solid-state drive</a> (SSD) systems to be used as high-throughput memory and storage systems for games to reduce or eliminate loading times and support <a href="/facts/In-game_streaming/jj3NuhAx">in-game streaming</a>. The Xbox Series S and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition lack an optical drive while retaining support for online distribution and storing games on external <a href="/facts/USB_device/XcIKWLyg">USB devices</a>.
Despite much weaker processing power and already previously competing with eighth-generation consoles, the <a href="/facts/Nintendo_Switch/UPy7Bcyu">Nintendo Switch</a> has also been noted as a competitor to ninth-generation consoles, particularly with the introduction of the "OLED Model" revision in 2021; a successor, the <a href="/facts/Nintendo_Switch_2/3QmGIeem">Nintendo Switch 2</a>, was released in June 2025. Other handheld personal computer devices such as the <a href="/facts/Steam_Deck/E6VmDMWV">Steam Deck</a> introduced means to play <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a> games, as well as most <a href="/facts/Windows/bwhAhuSL">Windows</a> games through <a href="/facts/Proton_(software)/0Woex24z">Proton</a>, on-the-go, further expanding hardware competition in the generation.

Ninth generation of video game consoles open-in-new

Ninth generation of video game consoles