A current-gen console is a weird used product: demand stays high while the generation is alive, then falls off a cliff when the next box ships and exclusive games move. Mid-cycle “slim” refreshes nibble the original launch model. Handhelds (Switch class) have their own curve tied to Nintendo’s next hardware.
Live catalog: 37 gaming consoles · offers $10–$260 · average $81 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working gaming console: about 25%. Year two lands near 40%; year three near 55%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −8% | $920 | $75 |
| 6 months | −15% | $850 | $69 |
| 9 months | −21% | $790 | $64 |
| 1 year | −25% | $750 | $61 |
| 1.5 years | −33% | $670 | $54 |
| 2 years | −40% | $600 | $49 |
| 2.5 years | −48% | $520 | $42 |
| 3 years | −55% | $450 | $37 |
| 5 years | −78% | $220 | $18 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why gaming consoles lose value
- Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo control the store, the online pass, and the exclusive list. When they leave a generation, software demand follows.
- Launch stock shortages can make a one-year-old console look “too expensive” on the used market until supply catches up — then it normalizes.
- Drift, HDMI ports, and disc drives are the failure points buyers inspect first.
What still holds a price
- Complete set: console, matching power supply, HDMI, at least one original controller.
- Current generation, no ban on the console account / no YLOD-style faults.
- Switch-class units with working rails and a clean screen.
When to sell
The worst week is the week the next generation is revealed. If you already pre-ordered the new one, sell the old set before that stream.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed gaming consoles. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- AssetPanda IT asset depreciation guide
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
Instant quote · free prepaid label · paid after inspection.
FAQ
Do games in the box help?
A little. We quote hardware first. Loose sports titles add less than a second original controller.
Does cosmetic wear change the depreciation table?
The percentages describe typical working devices in good shape. Heavy wear, missing parts, account locks, or dead boards are extra deductions on top of age. A clean, unlocked unit tracks the curve much more closely.