Amstrad GX4000

GX4000
GX4000 with gamepad
ManufacturerAmstrad
TypeHome video game console
GenerationThird
Lifespan
  • EU: September 1990
Discontinued1991
Units sold15,000
MediaROM Cartridge
CPUZ80 @ 4 MHz
Memory64 kB RAM, 16 kB VRam
DisplayRGB and composite out
160×200, 16 colours
320×200, 4 colours
640×200, 2 colours
12-bit colour depth
GraphicsASIC
SoundAY-3-8912
Best-selling gameBurnin' Rubber (pack-in)

The Amstrad GX4000 is a short-lived home video game console developed and marketed by Amstrad. It was released exclusively in Europe in September 1990, and was the company's only attempt at entering the console market. As part of the third-generation of consoles, it was the first British-manufactured games console.

Development was based heavily on Amstrad's existing CPC Plus home computer range, sharing much of the same hardware architecture. This allowed for an easier transition of software, although many of the console's games were direct ports with minimal enhancements. The system featured improved graphical capabilities compared to earlier Amstrad computers and came with custom-designed gamepads, a sleek futuristic design, and support for RGB output—a feature uncommon among consoles at the time.

Despite its technical advantages and a marketing budget of £20 million, the GX4000 suffered from a poor commercial performance, selling fewer than 15,000 units. Critics and consumers cited its limited and unimpressive game library, many of which were simplistic CPC ports, as a major drawback compared to the richer offerings from Sega and Nintendo. The console was quickly discontinued within a year of release, and it has since become a curiosity of British gaming history, often cited as an example of a commercial failure in the home console market.