Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • EDGE GTAVI exclusive
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • RPG Hub
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Want more Switch 2 news?

Sign up to our Switch 2 newsletter to make sure you get the very latest news on Nintendo's new console and its games every week


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Platforms
  2. Dreamcast System

These consoles are fake!

Features
By David Meikleham
Published 24 June 2009

A collection of gaming's coolest and crappiest mocked-up machines

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Over the next three pages you're going to find some of the best and worst fake consoles to ever grace the ‘nets. Some have been rendered quite professionally by respectable publications. Others look like they've been knocked up by some kid in his room using Photoshop. While the most dedicated have gone that extra mental mile and physically built crude contraptions in an effort to fool folk.


Above: We’re gutted the BS never saw the light of day. We had our pre-orders in and everything

Fake Xbox 360

Hmmmm, an interesting attempt. Even if it looks more like a Guilty Spark-style curiosity than cutting edge console. This was one of the earliest designs to be leaked out from mysterious sources before the console's official unveiling.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

Fake PS3



Alright, so its looks like a DAB radio and supports 'death in disc format' UMDs. Still, there's a certain sleekness about this PS3 mock-up we sort of like. It had a lot of us fooled, too. Well, at least until the story broke that one of our sister mags in the UK, PSM2, had mocked-up the images themselves.

Fake Xbox portable

We're not sure which mag published this design, but it was certainly brave. The worst D-pad ever complimented with an equally shitty looking stick?



Published by technology mag, T3, this ain't a bad attempt. It looks a little too much like a GPS for our liking, though. Maybe it can help Niko find a quiet spot to get away from all those heckling phone calls.

Just what every good portable console needs: a keyboard that's bigger than the actual screen. Fail.

Want more Switch 2 news?

Sign up to our Switch 2 Spotlight newsletter to make sure you get the very latest news on Nintendo's new console and its games every week

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Talk about hitting every branch of the ugly tree. Twice. This is one hideous handheld. Unsurprisingly, it was apparently created by a fan. For shame shoddy Photoshop design.

Fake iGame

This was originally printed in EGM, as part of a prank for their April issue in 2006.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Current page: Page 1

Next Page Page 2
CATEGORIES
Nintendo PlayStation Xbox
David Meikleham
David Meikleham
Social Links Navigation
Google AMP Stories Editor

David has worked for Future under many guises, including for GamesRadar+ and the Official Xbox Magazine. He is currently the Google Stories Editor for GamesRadar and PC Gamer, which sees him making daily video Stories content for both websites. David also regularly writes features, guides, and reviews for both brands too. 

Latest in Platforms
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Take-Two boss isn't worried about GTA 6 players jailbreaking PS5 consoles and modding it
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake child Link laying on ground with eyes closed and Navi flying above
Tech Nintendo "bearing" Switch 2 manufacturing costs to avoid price hikes – for now
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 CEO says AI will make creating games easier, but "making a big hit" will be as hard as ever
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Rockstar's owner expected GTA 6 to be big, but not this big: "The numbers will speak for themselves"
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Purah stands in a doorframe
Games Nintendo of America invests in game preservation to save its history for "future generations"
 
 
Silksong Sea of Sorrow trailer showing Hornet silhouette amid waves
Action Games Hollow Knight: Silksong players jump at word of "free content packs" and "first giant expansion"
 
 
Latest in Features
Duardin miniatures from the Khazalite Holds army range
Tabletop Gaming The new Khazalite Holds range proves that Age of Sigmar has some of Warhammer's best models
 
 
Cid smirks with his spear on his shoulders in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
Final Fantasy FF7 Revelation's first dungeon is enough to impress me with its tighter combat
 
 
Link takes lava damage in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's Dodongo Cavern
The Legend of Zelda I keep forgetting to jump in Ocarina of Time remake, and two dungeons in I'm yearning for classic controls
 
 
Godzilla with blue energy in Godzilla Minus Zero
Sci-Fi Movies Does Godzilla Minus Zero have a post-credits scene?
 
 
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect Mass Effect can still live on – Baldur's Gate 3 and Fable are proof
 
 
Godzilla being Godzilla
Sci-Fi Movies Godzilla Minus Zero ending explained: what happens to Ghidorah, who dies, and does it set up a sequel?
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Software "is not necessarily favorable either." In case you were wondering
    1
    Nintendo "bearing" Switch 2 manufacturing costs to avoid price hikes – but that may have to change if "we cannot absorb the costs through our own efforts"
  2. 2
    Prepare for another DC reboot, as Skydance will reportedly "dismantle" the James Gunn DCU
  3. 3
    Original Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe doesn't think he'll watch the HBO show, but wants to meet new Potter Dominic McLaughlin
  4. 4
    New DC boss said one of his “guiding lights” is a single question: would my grandma like the movie?
  5. 5
    James Gunn was working on Superman 3 and a Justice League team-up when he was ousted at DC

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...