Editing Dreamcast (section)

{{Short description|Home video game console}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| logo = [[File:Dreamcast logo Japan.svg|frameless|130px|class=skin-invert]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE THE LOGO TO EITHER THE DARK-RED OR EUROPEAN ONE -->
| image = Dreamcast-Console-Set.png
| caption = North American Dreamcast with controller and [[VMU]]
| manufacturer = [[Sega]]
| type = [[Home video game console]]
| generation = [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|Sixth]]
| releasedate = {{vgrelease|JP|November 27, 1998|NA|September 9, 1999|EU|October 14, 1999}}
| price = {{JPY|29,000|1998|round=-2}}<br>{{USD|199|1999|round=-1}}<br>{{GBP|200|1999|round=-1}}
| discontinued = {{vgrelease|WW|March 31, 2001}}
| unitssold = 9.13 million<!-- Do NOT change to "10.6 million"; see talk page on the overall sales number --><ref name="Routledge" />
| media = [[GD-ROM|GD{{nbhyph}}ROM]], [[CD-ROM|CD{{nbhyph}}ROM]]
| cpu = [[SuperH#SH-4|Hitachi SH-4]]
| CPUspeed = 200&nbsp;MHz
| memory = 16&nbsp;MB&nbsp;RAM, 8&nbsp;MB&nbsp;[[video&nbsp;RAM]], 2&nbsp;MB&nbsp;audio&nbsp;RAM
| memory card = 128&nbsp;KB&nbsp;[[VMU]]
| display = {{hlist
| [[Composite video|Composite]]
| [[RF modulator]]
| [[SCART]]
| [[S-video]]
| [[VGA]] {{small|(via [[Dreamcast VGA|adaptor]])}}
}}
| GPU = [[PowerVR#Series2 (NEC)|NEC PowerVR2]] @ 100&nbsp;MHz
| sound = Yamaha AICA @ 67&nbsp;MHz with [[ARM7]] CPU, 64&nbsp;channels
| service = [[Dricas]], [[SegaNet]], [[Dreamarena]]
| dimensions = {{cvt|195.8|xx|190|xx|75.5|mm}}
| weight = {{cvt|1.5|kg}}
| topgame = ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (2.5&nbsp;million)
| predecessor = [[Sega Saturn]]
}}

The {{Nihongo foot|'''Dreamcast'''|ドリームキャスト|''Dorīmukyasuto''|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}<!-- See [[WP:JFN]] --> is the final [[home video game console]] manufactured by [[Sega]]. It was released in Japan on November 27, 1998, in North America on September 9, 1999 and in Europe on October 14, 1999. It was the first [[sixth generation video game console|sixth-generation video game console]], preceding [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[PlayStation 2]], [[Nintendo]]'s [[GameCube]], and [[Microsoft]]'s [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]. The Dreamcast's discontinuation in 2001 ended Sega's 18 years in the console market.

A team led by [[Hideki Sato]] began developing the Dreamcast in 1997. In contrast to the expensive hardware of the unsuccessful [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], the Dreamcast was designed to reduce costs with [[Commercial off-the-shelf|off-the-shelf]] components, including a [[Hitachi]] [[SuperH|SH-4]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] and an [[NEC]] [[PowerVR#Series2 (NEC)|PowerVR2]] [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]]. Sega used the [[GD-ROM]] media format to avoid the expenses of [[DVD-ROM]] technology. Developers were able to include a custom version of the [[Windows CE]] operating system on game discs to make [[porting]] PC games easy, and Sega's [[Sega NAOMI|NAOMI arcade system board]] allowed nearly identical conversions of [[arcade game]]s. The Dreamcast was the first console to include a built-in modular [[modem]] for internet access and [[Dreamcast online functionality|online play]].

Though its Japanese release was beset by supply problems, the Dreamcast had a successful US launch backed by a large marketing campaign. However, sales steadily declined as Sony built anticipation for the PlayStation 2. Dreamcast sales did not meet Sega's expectations, and attempts to renew interest through price cuts caused significant financial losses. After a change in leadership, Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, withdrew from the console business, and restructured itself as a [[third-party developer]]. A total of 9.13 million<!-- Do NOT change to "10.6 million"; see talk page on the overall sales number --> Dreamcast units were sold worldwide and [[List of Dreamcast games|over 600 games]] were produced. Its bestselling game, ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998)—the first [[3D computer graphics|3D]] game in Sega's ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series—sold 2.5 million copies.

The Dreamcast's [[List of commercial failures in video games|commercial failure]] has been attributed to several factors, including competition from the PlayStation 2, limited third-party support, and the earlier failures of the [[32X]] and Saturn having tarnished Sega's reputation. In retrospect, reviewers have celebrated the Dreamcast as one of the greatest consoles. It is considered ahead of its time for pioneering concepts such as online play and [[downloadable content]]. Many Dreamcast games are regarded as innovative, including ''Sonic Adventure'', ''[[Crazy Taxi (video game)|Crazy Taxi]]'' (1999), ''[[Shenmue (video game)|Shenmue]]'' (1999), ''[[Jet Set Radio]]'' (2000), and ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' (2000). The Dreamcast remains popular in the video game [[Homebrew (video games)|homebrew]] community, which has developed [[Server emulator|private servers]] to preserve its online functions and [[List of Dreamcast homebrew games|unofficial Dreamcast software]].