We've been huge fans of Console Variations for a long time, so much so that we even flew out to the Netherlands to meet with the site's owner, Don, so that we could hang out with him and film his Nintendo collection, the largest in Europe, as part of our Retroad Show series.
So when it was announced that the site had been hacked and they were having to shut down, we felt it hard. Don has worked incredibly hard to curate an absolute treasure trove of rare and exciting consoles for the retro gaming community to peruse over the years, and to see all of his work damaged by a PHP script uploaded by a user was just cruel.
THE NEW CV IS LIVE!!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 pic.twitter.com/LhPD3t0EdO
— consolevariations (@consolevariant) May 10, 2026
But, we have some good news - like the phoenix rising from the ashes, Console Variations is back. After the site was put into a basic 'read-only mode', Don has been working tirelessly to bring Console Variations back to its former glory, putting in 12-hour shifts and clocking in over 60 hours last week alone. It's still in read-only mode, but it has a brand new look and some cool new features for you to explore.
In a recent X post, Don explained that the Console of the Day feature will be returning for fans to check out, alongside a new feature that he's kept secret for the time being. There will be a 'Surprise Me' button that brings you a random console variation, and a support section where everyone who has supported Console Variations will be listed.
Don has also added an 'On This Day' page, so users can see what variation of a console came out on that day. There's also a secret code Easter egg too, the purpose of which I'm sure will be revealed soon enough!
Because of the hack, Console Variations has had to remove community uploads, user accounts, the marketplace, and collections. It's still a virtual fact-a-thon of all of the different variants of every console known to gaming kind, however, and I love the new look. Together, we can help to bring Console Variations back to the site that it was by supporting Don in his work, whether that's a friendly boost on his socials or donating to the site as a paid member.
Head to Console Variations to check out the new look and fall down a rabbit hole of Sega Saturn variations like I just did now!
