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The Beige Years

Sony Said One Number and the Sega Saturn Died

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The Sega Saturn launched as a surprise for $399, then Sony's Steve Race walked up and said one word: "$299."

How Tokyo rushed the Saturn out early, promised 600,000 by Christmas, and sold 237,317 while the PlayStation ran away with America.

Subject
The Sega Saturn, 1994
Chapters
8
Sources
8
Credits
77
Corrections
0

Sources

8
  • Interview4
  • Article3
  • Book1

The sources the story leans on most, primary sources first. Read dates are when the page was consulted; the live page may have changed since.

  1. [1]
    Article Sony and Nintendo keynotes at the Los Angeles Convention Center Anthony Parisi

    E3 1995

    No online copy on file
  2. [2]
  3. [3]
  4. [4]
  5. [5]
  6. [6]
  7. [7]
    Article Hideki Sato, oral-history interview for Hitotsubashi University's Institute of Innovation Research (2018), passages translated by Gryson

    Hideki Sato Discussing the Sega Saturn

    mdshock.com/2020/06/16/hideki-sato-discussing-the-sega-saturn/ ↗
  8. [8]

Image & music credits

77
  • License unknown60
  • CC BY-SA 3.05
  • CC BY-SA 4.04
  • CC BY 2.02
  • CC BY-SA 2.01

72 photos, from the hosts linked below. Each file name links to the file's page, which carries the full license terms.

#UseFileAuthorLicense
1 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PSX-Console-wController.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
2 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-007/page/n19 archive.org License unknown
3 Photo https://i0.wp.com/factrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/28.Hayao-Nakayama.jpg?fit=620,330&ssl=1 Fact Republic License unknown
4 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Genesis-Mod1-Set.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
5 Photo https://archive.org/details/sega-fiscal-year-1997-brand-review/page/n47 archive.org License unknown
6 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-JP-Console-Mk1-03.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
7 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-Console-Set-Mk1.png Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
8 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PlayStation SCPH-1000 and PlayStation Controller 20070713.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
9 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n37 archive.org License unknown
10 Photo https://www.memoriabit.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/hayao-nakayama-biografia.webp Memória Bit License unknown
11 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n38 archive.org License unknown
12 Photo https://www.memoriabit.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/shoichiro-irimajiri.webp Memória Bit License unknown
13 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega Genesis second model.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
14 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Genesis-32X-01.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
15 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Genesis-Model-2-Monster.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
16 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Olaf Olafsson 1130265.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
17 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-CD-Model1-Set.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
18 Photo https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Sega dark blue.svg/3840px-Sega dark blue.svg.png Sega, via Wikimedia Commons License unknown
19 Photo https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/hideki-sato-image-1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2 Game Rant License unknown
20 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n39 archive.org License unknown
21 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Hitachi-HD6417604F28-SH-2.webp Wikimedia Commons License unknown
22 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-US-Motherboard-M1-02.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
23 Photo Hitachi-HD6417604F28-SH-2.webp ZyMOS CC BY-SA 4.0
24 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-JP-Console-Mk1-Breakdown-01.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
25 Photo Hakone lake 01.JPG Kamix CC BY-SA 3.0
26 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-JP-Console-Mk1-Breakdown-03.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
27 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-JP-Console-Mk1-Breakdown-04.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
28 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-US-Motherboard-M1-03.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
29 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n42 archive.org License unknown
30 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Yu Suzuki - Game Developers Conference 2011 - Day 3.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
31 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n44 archive.org License unknown
32 Photo https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/BAZKV2LX6VJXTFGYHHVI4SFR3M.jpg?auth=1ca4602ef04cddefdce8a37aec34d679c86440f451247422474428d3a1f10907&width=375 MeriStation License unknown
33 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Scph 1001 mother board.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
34 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-005/page/n12 archive.org License unknown
35 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n40 archive.org License unknown
36 Photo PlayStation SCPH-1000 outputs 20070713.jpg Nicholas Wang CC BY-SA 2.0
37 Photo https://www.gamerevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/02/SEGA HQ.jpg?w=640 GameRevolution License unknown
38 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-005/page/n15 archive.org License unknown
39 Photo https://www.hardware.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/e3 1995 polygon man.webp www.hardware.com.br License unknown
40 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-007/page/n17 archive.org License unknown
41 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-013/page/n8 archive.org License unknown
42 Photo https://assets.fontsinuse.com/static/use-media-items/138/137437/upto-700xauto/69b56dd3/Sega Saturn video game console launch ads (1995) 2.jpg assets.fontsinuse.com License unknown
43 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-Console-NA-Mk-I-FL.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
44 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-Controller-Mk-I-NA-FL.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
45 Photo https://archive.org/details/Sega Saturn Instruction Manual 1995 Sega US/page/n5 archive.org License unknown
46 Photo Sega-Saturn-Console-Set-Mk2.jpg Evan-Amos CC BY-SA 3.0
47 Photo Suyu CR2032-1490.jpg Raimond Spekking CC BY-SA 4.0
48 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-Backup.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
49 Photo Arcade Games (52985119958).jpg Choo Yut Shing from Singapore, Singapore CC BY 2.0
50 Photo 315-5687 01.jpg unknown author CC BY-SA 3.0
51 Photo Tokyo by night 2011 (cropped).jpg Nalilord CC BY-SA 3.0
52 Photo Sega-Saturn-Console-Set-Mk2.png Evan-Amos CC BY-SA 3.0
53 Photo https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-072-july-1995 20210613/page/n28 Electronic Gaming Monthly, July 1995, p. 29 License unknown
54 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sony Computer Entertainment (Aoyama Yasuda Bldg.).jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
55 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PlayStation-SCPH-1000-with-Controller.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
56 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/SEGA Saturn americano (1).jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
57 Photo Sony Playstation (1994) 2.jpg Jzh2074 CC BY-SA 4.0
58 Photo https://cdnx.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/japantimes/uploads/images/2026/09/12/562658.jpg&q=100&f=webp&t=1.53 The Japan Times License unknown
59 Photo https://gamesrelated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bernie.png Games Related License unknown
60 Photo https://archive.org/details/egm2-1997-11/page/n17 archive.org License unknown
61 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Dreamcast-Motherboard-Top.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
62 Photo https://preview.redd.it/just-heard-that-engineer-hideki-sato-who-was-74-one-of-the-v0-a523jinf3ijg1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=4fc33c62032fd3efcbea229f142c3de3308c45f6 via Reddit r/SEGA License unknown
63 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Dreamcast-Console-FL.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
64 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-JP-Mk1-Controller.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown
65 Photo Jensen Huang (cropped).jpg Prime Minister's Office License unknown
66 Photo NVIDIA Headquarters.jpg Coolcaesar CC BY-SA 4.0
67 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Nvidia SLI GTX280.jpg Wikimedia Commons License unknown
68 Photo https://scifi.radio/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/hideki-sato-1280x640.jpg Sci-Fi Radio License unknown
69 Photo https://external-preview.redd.it/on-this-day-30-years-ago-steve-race-made-a-big-announcement-v0-dmI5bGk4anF5eHplMRCdS7MCLUw3 kIL3CQeRG6eFNocNuV2fFW8hyrQnDbB.png?width=640&crop=smart&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb956e5fb3fa69b356708ce063323a6aca00bb76 E3 1995, via Reddit r/playstation License unknown
70 Photo 486 Wafer.jpg Bill Smith CC BY 2.0
71 Photo https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-008/page/n29 archive.org License unknown
72 Photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Saturn-Console-NA-Mk-I-FL.jpg Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) License unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, unknown — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/SEGA Saturn americano (1).jpg

Music: Virtua Fighter (Sega AM2), the Saturn's arranged soundtrack — https://archive.org/download/virtua-fighter-soundtrack_202604

Music: Panzer Dragoon Zwei (Sega, 1996), original soundtrack — https://archive.org/download/pdzwei-soundtrack

Music: Sega Rally Championship (Sega AM3), the Saturn's CD audio — https://archive.org/download/4_20250509_202505

Music: NiGHTS into Dreams (Sonic Team, 1996), from the Perfect Album — https://archive.org/download/1-12.-the-amazing-water-complete-ver.

Corrections

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