Modern Cubase Versions Timeline + Press Releases

[chrisNova777]

SX Versions
8/2/2002   Cubase SX
11/3/2003 Cubase SX2
6/1/2003   Cubase SL2
9/8/2004 Cubase SX3
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/steomberg-cubase-sl-for-pc/
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/software-update-steinberg-cubase-sx-sl-nuendo/
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/cubase-se-update/

12/6/2006 Cubase 4
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/121st-aes-convention-steinberg-cubase-4/
4.1 update : https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archiv/steinberg_press_room_archiv_2007/steinberg_cubase_cubase_studio.html
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2008/steinberg_cubase_essential_4.html

9/3/2008 Cubase 4.5
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2008/cubase_45_update.html

3/9/2009   Cubase 5
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2009/cubase_5_announced.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/winter-namm-2009-steinberg-cubase-5/
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2009/cubase_essential_5.html
https://www.long-mcquade.com/10338/Pro_Audio_Recording/Recording_Software/Steinberg/Cubase_Essential_5.htm

8/24/2009 Cubase 5.1
5/12/2010 Cubase 5.5
3/29/2011 Cubase 5.5.3

4/11/2011 Cubase 6
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2011/cubase_6_and_cubase_artist_6.html
https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/alte_seiten_pfade/cubase_6/cubase_elements_6.html
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2012/cubase_65_and_cubase_artist_65.html

2/13/2013 Cubase 7
https://www.steinberg.net/en/company/press/archive/2012/cubase_7_and_cubase_artist_7.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/steinberg-cubase-7-5/

12/3/2014 Cubase 8
https://ask.audio/articles/steinberg-announces-cubase-pro-8-and-cubase-artist-8
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/steinberg-cubase-pro-8-and-cubase-artist-8-announced/

12/2/2015 Cubase 8.5
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/cubase-pro-8-5-and-cubase-artist-8-5-are-here/

12/9/2016 Cubase 9
https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/what_is_new_in_cubase_9.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/steinberg-unveils-cubase-9/

11/15/2017 Cubase 9.5

11/15/2018 Cubase 10
https://new.steinberg.net/cubase/new-in-10/

[chrisNova777]

10 comparison

LE < AI < ELEMENTS < ESSENTIAL < ARTIST < STUDIO/PRO

LE : Limited to 24 Midi tracks, 16 Audio tracks
AI : Limited to 48 Midi tracks, 32 Audio tracks
Elements : Limited to 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks
Essential : unlimited Midi Tracks; 64 audio tracks,
Artist : Limited to 128 Midi Tracks, 64 Audio tracks;
Studio : unlimited Midi Tracks, unlimited Audio tracks
Pro : unlimited Midi Tracks, unlimited Audio tracks

old comparison here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080517070121/http://www.steinberg.net/fileadmin/redaktion/PDF/Cubase_SX3/cubase_feature_comparison.pdf

LE : 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks, 2 inst slots
SE : unlimited Midi Tracks, 48 Audio tracks, 16 inst slots
SL : unlimited Midi Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks, 32 inst slots
SX : unlimited Midi Tracks, 64 Audio tracks; 64 inst slots

the old Cubase LE 4 (which was free) supported the same track counts as the new Elements (whichhas to be bought)

Elements are limited to 64 midi tracks; whereas Essentials versions had unlimited midi tracks (like the full pro cubase product)

cubase 4 comparison:
Cubase LE 4 : 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks No Rewire!
Cubase AI 4 : 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks No Rewire!
Cubase Essential 4 : unlimited Midi Tracks, 64 audio ReWire Supported!
https://www.steinberg.net/fileadmin/redaktion/Supportteam/PDF_Dateien/Cubase_Version_Differentiation__Public__080211.pdf
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/steinberg-cubase-essential-4

cubase 5 comparison:
Cubase LE 5 : 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks No Rewire!
Cubase AI 5 : 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks No Rewire!
Cubase Essential 5 : unlimited Midi Tracks, 64 audio ReWire Supported!
https://www.steinberg.net/index.php?id=2407&L=1
http://ftp.qbssoftware.com/public/Info/Steinberg/CubaseFeatureComparison.pdf
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/steinberg-cubase-essential-5--educational
http://web.archive.org/web/20091216143826/http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/musicproduction/cubase5_product/cubase5_featuredetails100.html

cubase 6 comparison:
Cubase LE6 :  24 Midi tracks, 16 Audio tracks No Rewire!
Cubase AI6 : 48 midi tracks, 32 audio tracks ReWire Supported!
Cubase 6 Elements: 64 MIDI Tracks, 48 Audio Tracks ReWire Supported!
http://web.archive.org/web/20111120085758/www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/cubase6_feature_comparison.html

cubase 7 comparison:
https://www.steinberg.net/fileadmin/files/PRODUCTS/Cubase/Generation_7/Cubase_7/Downloads/Cubase_Comparison_Chart.pdf

cubase 9.5 comparison:
https://www.steinberg.net/fileadmin/files/PRODUCTS/Cubase/Generation_9/PDFs/List_of_included_instruments_and_effects_in_Cubase_9.5.pdf

[chrisNova777]

https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/206072604-Cubase-AI-10-Cubase-LE-10-update-offer
Useful info re ai and le versions

[Shredder11]

I remember back in 2002 installing a pre-release version of Cubase SX called "ESSEX", which is also a place in England    The full SX version came out a few weeks later I think.