Nintendo History
Whether you grew up with Nintendo games and systems or you’re just hearing about us for the first time, we’re glad you’re here.
Our Timeline
1889
1889
Fusajiro Yamauchi began a small business manufacturing "Hanafuda" playing cards in Kyoto, Japan.
1963
1963
Changed company name to Nintendo Co. Ltd. and started manufacturing games in addition to playing cards.
1978
1978
Created and started selling coin-operated video games using microcomputers.
1980
1980
Announced a wholly-owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA). Started selling the Game & Watch™ product line.
1981
1981
Developed and began distribution of the coin-operated video game, Donkey Kong™. This video game quickly became the hottest selling individual coin-operated machine in the business.
1982
1982
Merged New York subsidiary into NOA and headquartered in Redmond, WA.
1983
1983
Established Nintendo Entertainment Centers Ltd. in Vancouver, B.C., Canada to operate a family entertainment center.
1985
1985
Launched the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America, revitalizing the video game industry after the 1983 crash.
1985
1985
Mario was first introduced in the Super Mario Bros. game.
1986
1986
The character Link made his first appearance in The Legend of Zelda game.
1989
1989
Introduced Game Boy™, the first portable handheld game system. Originally bundled with the Tetris™ game, it was an instant phenomenon.
1991
1991
The 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System™ (Super NES™) was released in the U.S.
1992
1992
The powerful pink puff known as Kirby made his debut in the Kirby's Dream Land game.
1996
1996
Nintendo 64™ (N64) launched in the U.S. on Sept. 29th, along with the critically-acclaimed Super Mario 64™ game.
1998
1998
Nintendo introduced Game Boy Color™. Pokémon™, a breakthrough game concept for Game Boy, was introduced to the world and generated a nationwide craze to "Catch 'em All!"'
2001
2001
Launched the Game Boy™ Advance and the Nintendo GameCube™ systems. The Nintendo GameCube was the first Nintendo system to use optical discs instead of cartridges for its games.
2004
2004
Launched the Nintendo DS™, an innovative, dual-screen handheld gaming system.
2006
2006
Nintendo introduced the Wii™ system and with it several advanced features. Wireless motion-sensitive controllers, built-in Wi-Fi capability, and a host of other features made Wii the best-selling latest generation console system in the world. Reggie Fils-Aime was appointed President and COO of NOA.
2008
2008
Wii also became the first system purchased by more than 10 million Americans in a single year.
2011
2011
The Nintendo 3DS™ system also launched, letting users view and play 3D content without special 3D glasses.
2012
2012
The Wii U™ system launched with an innovative Wii U GamePad controller that offered users new ways to play together, including off-TV. This system also introduced support for amiibo™ accessories.
2015
2015
The Splatoon game launches, introducing the squid-kids known as Inklings.
2016
2016
Launched the first Nintendo mobile app, Miitomo™. Over 10 million users downloaded this app.
2017
2017
The Nintendo Switch™ system launches, along with hits including Super Mario Odyssey™ and The Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild.
2019
2019
The Nintendo Switch Lite system launched. Designed specifically for portable play, the compact system plays the library of Nintendo Switch games that work in handheld mode.
2021
2021
The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system launched, featuring a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio.
2023
2023
Release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first animated movie produced in partnership with Nintendo.
2025
2025
Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO opens - the second official store in the United States - offering an immersive shopping experience designed to deliver smiles to visitors from all over.
2025
2025
