PanasonicGeneration 5
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
1993
AU Release
1 January 1994
AU Launch Price
$1299 AUD
~$2850 today
Units Sold
2M
Technical Specifications
Processor
ARM60 @ 12.5 MHz
Memory
2 MB RAM, 1 MB VRAM
Storage
None
Media
CD-ROM
Best-Selling 3DO Interactive Multiplayer Games
Global lifetime sales
Cultural Impact
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer was the first 32-bit console to reach market and launched with one of the most ambitious business models in gaming history. Rather than manufacturing the hardware itself, The 3DO Company licensed the specification to any manufacturer willing to pay a $3 per-unit royalty — resulting in 3DO consoles from Panasonic, Goldstar, and Sanyo, all running the same software. This open model was ahead of its time but failed commercially. At an eye-watering launch price of US$699 (approximately AU$1,299), the 3DO was too expensive for mass adoption. Despite this, its legacy is significant: Need for Speed — one of the most successful racing franchises in history — debuted on 3DO. The console also demonstrated that CD-ROM was the future of gaming, paving the way for the PlayStation.
Did You Know?
The 3DO was the first major console to use an open licensing model — any hardware manufacturer could build a 3DO if they paid a $3 per-unit royalty to The 3DO Company
The original Need for Speed launched exclusively on 3DO in 1994 before appearing on other platforms — the franchise has since sold over 150 million copies
At US$699 at launch ($1,299 AUD approximate), the 3DO was the most expensive console ever released at that point — a price point that proved fatal to its commercial prospects
From the Same Generation (Gen 5)
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