Back in the day, console wars weren’t fought by Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo – but there was another player that had some very interesting machines. Sega, the home to a certain blue-haired speedy hedgehog, released its very final console in 1999, the Dreamcast.
Unfortunately, the Dreamcast didn’t prove to be a major success – after all, there’s a reason it was Sega’s last console – but it has captured the hearts of many (retro) gamers and is considered to be a classic.
So how does that reflect in the value of the console? Perhaps you’ve still got a Dreamcast laying in your closet somewhere and you’re just curious to see how much it’d be worth today.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the current worth of a Sega Dreamcast in 2023, where we take things such as trade-in value and second-hand sales into account.
This article was last updated on July 27th, 2023. All prices have been gathered through extensive research by the writer and have also been updated to reflect current pricing.
How Much Is My Sega Dreamcast Still Worth in 2023?
Older retro consoles tend to have quite an unpredictable market value, and it’s quite possible that second-hand value will significantly fluctuate over time.
The Dreamcast was released for 199 USD in North America and around two hundred GBP in the UK, all the way back in 1999. If you’re feeling old yet, trust me, you’re not alone. If we take inflation into account, those $199 all those years ago actually equal roughly 360 dollars in today’s money (2023), which is a pretty standard price for consoles.
The second-hand pricing for a Dreamcast wildly varies based on its condition. For example, a tested working Dreamcast console (just the console, no cables, accessories, or games) has recently been sold for 55 USD. Modded Dreamcast consoles go for $180 – 350 (see below) and if you want a complete package with a controller, cables, and perhaps a few games, expect to find prices of $120 – $250. Still got the original packaging? It seems like these are in high demand because one recently sold for no less than $550.
And it’s not just the second-hand market that’s pretty big for Dreamcasts, because you can actually still buy refurbished consoles! Pretty crazy that you can purchase tech from literally the previous millennium in good working condition.
| Average sold price on eBay | Lowest available price on online retailers | |
| Only Dreamcast console | $60 | No longer available |
| Dreamcast + controller + cables | $100 | $210 (renewed) |
| Dreamcast bundle with games, controller, cables | $120 – $300 depending on contents | No longer available |
| Dreamcast in original packaging | $550 | No longer available |
Overview Sega Dreamcast value
- Introductory price: $199 (in 1999), $360 adjusted for inflation (2023)
- Average sold price on eBay: $60-100
- With cable, controller: $100
- Complete with some games: $120 – $300
- Lowest price on retailers: $210 (renewed)
- Pre-owned price on GameStop: no longer available
Value of a Sega Dreamcast console without a controller or cables
The Dreamcast is being sold pretty regularly as just the console – no cables or controllers included. Of course, you’ll need a controller and games to enjoy the consoles.
In any case, the prices on eBay vary based on the condition of the console. Consoles in decent condition and tested working will go for around $55 to $60. Untested consoles or consoles that have significant yellowing may go for around half that.
Value of a Sega Dreamcast console with controller and cables
If you’ve got all the necessary accessories of the Dreamcast and want to know what it’s worth, let’s take a look at some recently sold listings. This combo (usually with a VMU memory card that plugs into the controller) usually sells for around $80 – $120 dollars on eBay, based on its condition, of course.
Value of a Sega Dreamcast bundle with games
Of course, this wildly differs based on the bundle you have to offer. Consider a range of $120 to $300 depending on the state of the console and the amount and quality of games you have to offer. Not every Dreamcast game is the same – a copy of Sonic Adventure, Skies of Arcadia, or Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 will be much more valuable than for example Crazy Taxi. Of course, the condition of the console and controllers matters – a package with a yellowed console will be valued at a lower price.
Value of a Sega Dreamcast in original packaging
The older consoles get, the tougher it is to actually find them in the original packaging with all booklets intact. In these rare cases, expect to pay a hefty premium. Japanese Dreamcast consoles are quite popular on eBay, but EU or US-based consoles are more exceptional and thus, pricier. One Dreamcast in original packaging even recently sold for over 500 bucks. Not too shabby.
Value of a modded Sega Dreamcast
Here’s where things get interesting. As we’ll mention below, Sega did have quite a few privacy issues with their latest (and final) console, which certainly didn’t help to prevent its demise. These modded consoles – allowing you to play homebrew or burnt games – go for quite a bit higher on eBay. Pricing starts at $150 but can go up to $375 depending on the package.
Value of Special Edition Dreamcasts
Because the console wasn’t a huge success, there haven’t been many ‘special edition’ consoles of Sega’s fifth-generation machine. The black Sports Edition version of the Sega Dreamcast costs around $20 – $40 higher compared to the regular white version on eBay, and some bundles even go up to $371 for the darker model.
In Japan, Hello Kitty models of the Dreamcast were also released. Expect to pay (or ask) upwards of $400 for one of these.
Why did the Sega Dreamcast fail?
Personally – I loved having the Sega Dreamcast next to the television as a kid, as it was a console with a bunch of charm and some pretty decent 3D games on there as well. I remember the first time playing Shenmue and being absolutely stunned by the possibilities of video gaming. It was also one of the very first consoles to tout online gameplay.
For its time, it was definitely a technically very decent console and it was fairly noticeable that Sega was a company that dared to innovate. It wasn’t a major success in Sega’s home country of Japan, but an aggressive marketing push led the Dreamcast to relative success in the North American region. However, it was very short-lived.
In 2000, the PlayStation 2 from Sony was released, and it didn’t take long before Nintendo and even Microsoft would join the console industry with the GameCube and Xbox, respectively. With a lot more brand power behind them, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo quickly absorbed Sega’s user base and it never managed to gain a decent market share. The major success of the PS2 in particular led to Dreamcast’s demise – competing against this giant was a lost battle.
To make things worse, it didn’t take long before modded Dreamcast consoles started showing up, leading to a huge piracy problem. The gaming industry (and third-party developers) didn’t have faith in the Dreamcast anymore, leading to very few third-party releases later in its lifespan.
Only two years after its Western release, the Sega Dreamcast – as well as the company’s console hardware ambitions – were discontinued.
But hey, the Dreamcast lives on in the hearts of gamers and we can certainly say that Sega’s final console has left behind a legacy worth revisiting.
Can you still trade in a Sega Dreamcast at a retailer?
Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible to trade in Sega Dreamcast consoles at all major gaming retailers. GameStop, for example, still offers trade-in credit for a select few Dreamcast games, but they don’t accept consoles anymore.
In any case – trade-in values are honestly almost never worth it, and you’d be much better off putting a listing on a secondhand site.
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