Gaming has forever been changed once they were introduced and made accessible to households in the form of consoles. Rather than going out to arcades and other places where an arcade machine is present like in diners, families can purchase one and enjoy it in the comfort of their homes. Flash forward to a couple of decades and gaming has been stronger than ever, however, some experiences are hard to replicate thanks to nostalgia.
Nostalgic Gaming Moments Are Increasing The Demand For Rare And Retro Consoles
The current generation of gaming known as the ninth generation features Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S, the Nintendo Switch, and Sony’s PlayStation 5 is arguably the most advanced and immersive yet. Despite having all the newest and latest bells and whistles, nothing can compete with a good old Sega Dreamcast or even an Atari from the past decades, and now people are looking for retro gaming consoles and are more than willing to pay the price.
Someone’s attic full of vintage gaming consoles can now be a goldmine, a list of rare game consoles has made its way to the internet and shows the skyrocketing demand for classics and how well they have held their values and stood the test of time. Some worth keeping an eye out for:
- Nintendo Virtual Boy – £700/$880
- PlayStation 4 20th Anniversary Edition – £1,100/$1,400
- Atari 2600 ‘Air Raid’ Cartridge – £2,500/$3,150
- Sega Dreamcast ‘Segagaga Edition’ – £1,500+/$1,900+
Collectors are passionate and can get pretty aggressive when it comes to closing deals and bringing home what they believe to be the rarest item. Video game collectors are no different and it is a tough hobby to get into while also tracking down limited edition consoles like the PS4 20th Anniversary Edition which is extremely rare and had a limited volume. A similar situation with the Hello Kitty Xbox that was sold for a hefty $10000 despite its condition.
It is a ridiculous amount of money for a console that is not even functional but the cost was mainly for the aesthetics, rarity, and more importantly: nostalgia. Owning a rare item can give a person unique bragging rights of sorts.
Nostalgia And Aesthetics Is The Driving Factor For Retro Consoles Skyrocketing Demand
It is a clear indication that different publishers have their unique approaches to the gaming community and recent numbers have proven that games like Helldivers 2 can move units. Xbox users are forced to shell out their money to purchase a PS5 just to play the Sony title.
A handful of retro games and consoles are far more valuable than the $70 price tag of modern triple-A games which may sound absurd but quite justifiable. Games that are kept in packaging and air-tight sealed are considered to be extremely valuable based on the condition alone, and functioning retro consoles are the true holy grail of fortune in gaming.
Regardless of how others may feel about people’s obsession with older game consoles, it is quite humbling to see a great number of people who truly connect with the past on a personal level. Gaming helped shape childhoods and nurtured a safe household, while newer games and hardware may be technologically superior, nothing can trump nostalgia for vintage machines.
What are your thoughts on the appraisal of the value of retro gaming consoles? Let us know in the comments below!
