Nintendo video game consoles

Color TV-Game (1977–1983) Color TV-Game is a series of five dedicated home consoles released only in Japan. Each of the consoles contained a small number of games and a built-in controller. In total, approximately 3 million units were sold. The Color TV-Game series consists of: • Color TV-Game 6, released June 1, 1977, with six variations of Pong: Tennis, Hockey, and Volleyball in Singles or Doubles mode. Sold approximately 1 million units. • Color TV-Game 15, released June 8, 1977, with 15 variations of Pong. This was the most popular console in the series, selling just over 1 million units. • Color TV-Game Racing 112, released June 8, 1978, with a racing game. Notable for being the first Nintendo project that Shigeru Miyamoto worked on. Sold approximately half a million units. • Color TV-Game Block Breaker, released April 23, 1979, with a game based on Breakout. Sold approximately half a million units. • Computer TV-Game, released December 12, 1980, with Computer Othello. Sold in limited quantities. Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System (1983 and 1985) The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit home video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 15, 1983, as the Family Computer (Famicom) and would become Nintendo's first home video game console released outside Japan. It was released in US test markets as the redesigned NES on October 18, 1985 and fully launched in North America on September 27, 1986. The NES was distributed in South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa throughout the 1980s under various names. Selling 61.91 million units worldwide, the NES helped revitalize the video game industry following the video game crash of 1983, and set the standard for subsequent consoles in everything from game design to business practices. The NES was the first console for which the manufacturer openly courted third-party developers. The console also launched many of Nintendo's most iconic franchises, such as The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. Nintendo continued to repair Famicom consoles in Japan until October 31, 2007, attributing the decision to discontinue support to an increasing shortage of the necessary parts. Nintendo released a software emulation-based version of the Nintendo Entertainment System on November 10, 2016. Called the NES Classic Edition, it is a dedicated console that comes with a single controller and 30 preloaded games. Super Famicom and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990 and 1991) The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), colloquially shortened to Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania, and 1993 in South America. It was first released in Japan on November 21, 1990, where it is known as the Super Famicom. In South Korea, it is known as the Super Comboy and was distributed by Hyundai Electronics. The SNES is Nintendo's third home console (second outside of Japan), following the Nintendo Entertainment System. Whereas the earlier console had struggled in the PAL region and large parts of Asia, the SNES was a global success, albeit one that could not match its predecessor's popularity in Northeast Asia and North America—due in part to increased competition from Sega's Genesis console. Despite its relatively late start, the SNES became the bestselling console of the 16-bit era, selling 49.10 million systems worldwide. The SNES library is known for upgrading some of Nintendo's most famous franchises, and making the games even more critically acclaimed, such as Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy IV and VI, Donkey Kong Country, and Super Mario World, as well starting some popular franchises such as Star Fox and Mega Man X. Similarly to the NES Classic Edition released prior, Nintendo released a software-emulation-based version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on September 29, 2017. Called the Super NES Classic Edition, it, like its predecessor, is a dedicated console that comes with two controllers and 21 preloaded games, one of which, Star Fox 2, is a title originally developed for the system that went unreleased. Nintendo 64 (1996) The Nintendo 64 (N64), is a 64-bit home video game console released on June 23, 1996 in Japan, September 29, 1996 in North America, and March 1, 1997 in Europe and Australia. The Nintendo 64 was Nintendo's third home video game console for the international market. It was released with three launch games in Japan (Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64, and Saikyo Habu Shogi) and two in North America (Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64). PAL regions also had three launch titles (Super Mario 64, Shadows of the Empire and Pilotwings 64) with Turok: Dinosaur Hunter delayed until three days after launch. Other key games included Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie, two games in The Legend of Zelda series, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros., and Star Fox 64. The Nintendo 64 sold 32.93 million systems. These aims were emphasized by the console's distinguishing feature, the Wii Remote—a handheld motion controller that can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions, using a mixture of internal sensors and infrared positioning. The controller includes an expansion port that can be used to connect other accessories, such as the Nunchuk—an attachment with an analog stick and additional buttons, a "Classic Controller" gamepad providing a traditional control scheme, and Wii MotionPlus—an accessory designed to enhance the motion detection capabilities of the original Wii Remote models. The Wii also featured internet-enabled features; the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allowed supported games to offer online multiplayer and other features, while the WiiConnect24 feature allowed messages and updates to be downloaded while the console was in standby. Through Wii Shop Channel, additional games and apps could be downloaded or purchased for the console, including Virtual Console—a selection of classic video games emulated from older consoles. That service has been discontinued as of January 30, 2019. Early models of the Wii also had backwards compatibility with GameCube games and controllers, but this was dropped from later hardware revisions, namely the Wii Family Edition and the Wii Mini. The Wii was a major success for Nintendo; in April 2007, the Wall Street Journal declared that Nintendo had "become the company to beat in the games business", citing the success of the Wii and the portable Nintendo DS line. , the Wii has sold 101.63 million consoles worldwide. Wii Sports—a collection of sports minigames that were designed to leverage the Wii Remote, was bundled with the console outside of Japan, and had a major cultural impact as the console's "killer app" among the mainstream audience. Wii U (2012) (left) and Wii U console (right)|alt= The Wii U was released on November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, and December 8, 2012 in Japan, as a direct successor to the Wii, and the first entry in the eighth generation of home video game consoles. The Wii U's distinguishing hardware feature is the GamePad, a tablet-like controller which contains a touchscreen that wirelessly streams a video output from the console. The GamePad's display can be used to provide alternative or complementary perspectives within a game, or as the main display instead of a television. In particular, Nintendo promoted the concept of "asymmetric" multiplayer, where a player with the GamePad would have a different objective and perspective than that of other players. Alongside the GamePad, the Wii U supports Wii controllers and games. A conventional gamepad known as the Wii U Pro Controller was also released. Nintendo also attempted to provide second screen experiences for television programming for the Wii U through a feature known as Nintendo TVii, but it was discontinued outside of Japan in August 2015. Unlike the Wii, the Wii U's hardware is capable of high-definition graphics. However, some critics argued that the Wii U still had advantages over PS4 and Xbox One, including its lower cost and notable early exclusives such as Super Mario 3D World. Sales steadily increased following the release of several notable first-party exclusives, including new entries in the Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. franchises, and the new franchise Splatoon. On January 31, 2017, a Nintendo spokesperson stated that production of the console had ended, with 13.56 million units sold worldwide. == Handheld consoles ==

Game & Watch (1980–1991) as pre-installed game The Game & Watch series of handheld electronic games made by Nintendo and created by its game designer Gunpei Yokoi from 1980 to 1991. Each featured a single game that could be played on a segmented LCD screen, in addition to a clock and an alarm. Most titles had a "GAME A" (easy mode) and a "GAME B" (hard mode) button. Game B is usually a faster, more difficult version of Game A. Different models were manufactured, with some consoles having two screens (the Multiscreen Series) and a clam-shell design. The Nintendo DS later reused this design. The Game & Watch made handhelds vastly popular. Many toy companies followed in the footsteps of Game & Watch, such as Tiger Electronics and their Star Wars themed games. Nintendo's Game & Watch units were eventually superseded by the original Game Boy. Each Game & Watch was only able to play one game, due to the use of a segmented LCD display pre-printed with an overlay. The speed and responsiveness of the games was also limited by the time it took the LCD to change state. The Game & Watch series sold units worldwide, including units in Japan and overseas. Game Boy (1989) The Game Boy is an 8-bit handheld game console, the first such device developed by Nintendo, featuring interchangeable ROM cartridges, allowing it to act more like a portable version of a home console. It was released on April 21, 1989 in Japan, July 31, 1989 in North America, and September 28, 1990 in Europe. The device features a dot-matrix display, a directional pad, four game buttons, a single speaker, and uses Game Pak cartridges. Despite mixed reviews criticizing its monochrome graphics compared to competitors, the Game Boy's affordability, battery life, and extensive game library propelled it to market dominance. The Game Boy received several redesigns during its lifespan, including the smaller Game Boy Pocket (1996) and the Japan-only Game Boy Light (1998). By the time sales ended in March 2003, all variants of the monochrome Game Boy and the Game Boy Color combined had sold 118.69 million units worldwide, making them the fourth best-selling system of all time. Its best-selling games are Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow which collectively shipped 46 million units worldwide. Game Boy Color (1998) The Game Boy Color (GBC or CGB) was a transitional upgrade of the original Game Boy, part of the fifth generation of handheld consoles, made to better compete with the Neo Geo Pocket Color and the Japan-only WonderSwan Color. It was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 18, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe, and November 27, 1998 in Australia. Compared to the original Game Boy, the Game Boy Color features a color TFT screen rather than monochrome, a processor that can operate twice as fast, and four times as much memory. It retains backward compatibility with games initially developed for its predecessor. While the handheld was slightly thicker, taller and had a smaller screen than its immediate predecessor, the Game Boy Pocket, the Color was significantly smaller than the original Game Boy. By the time sales ended in March 2003, all variants of the monochrome Game Boy and the Game Boy Color combined had sold 118.69 million units worldwide, making them the fourth best-selling system of all time. Its best-selling games are Pokémon Gold and Silver, which collectively shipped 23 million units worldwide. The system was known as "Project Nitro" during development. Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesigned model of the Nintendo DS, on March 2, 2006 in Japan, June 1, 2006 in Australia, June 11, 2006 in North America, and June 23, 2006 in Europe. A second redesign of the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo DSi, was released on November 1, 2008, in Japan, on April 2, 2009, in Australia, April 3, 2009, in Europe, and April 5, 2009, in North America. It contains two cameras and downloadable software capabilities, plus a built-in flash memory and web browser. An SD card slot replaces the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot. A similar model, known as the Nintendo DSi XL, was released on November 21, 2009 in Japan, March 5, 2010 in Europe, March 28, 2010 in North America, and April 15, 2010 in Australia. It features the same configurations as its predecessor, but is slightly larger and features a large stylus designed for home use. As of December 31, 2013, Nintendo DS consoles have sold 154.98 million units, including 93.86 million Nintendo DS Lites, and the Nintendo DSi consoles have sold 41.33 million units. ==Hybrid and tabletop consoles==

Virtual Boy (1995) The Virtual Boy was the first portable game console capable of displaying true 3D graphics. Most video games are forced to use monocular cues to achieve the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional screen, but the Virtual Boy was able to create a more accurate illusion of depth through an effect known as parallax. The Nintendo 3DS also uses this technology. In a manner similar to using a head-mounted display, the user looks into an eyepiece made of neoprene on the front of the machine, and then an eyeglass-style projector allows viewing of the monochromatic (in this case, red) image. It was released on July 21, 1995, in Japan and August 14, 1995, in North America and at a price of around US$180. It was never released in Europe, although a release schedule was initially planned. The system met with a lukewarm reception that was unaffected by continued price drops. Exactly 14 titles were released for Virtual Boy in North America, but only a few were met with positive reception. Nintendo discontinued the Virtual Boy within a few months of release. Nintendo Switch (2017) controllers attached controllers attached The Nintendo Switch was released on March 3, 2017, and is Nintendo's second entry in the eighth generation of video game consoles. The system was code-named "NX" prior to its official announcement. It is a hybrid device that can be used as a home console inserted to the Nintendo Switch Dock attached to a television, stood up on a table with the kickstand, or as a tablet-like portable console. It features two detachable wireless controllers called Joy-Con, that can be used individually or attached to a grip to provide a more traditional gamepad form. Both Joy-Con are built with motion sensors and HD Rumble, Nintendo's haptic vibration feedback system for improved gameplay experiences. However, only the right Joy-Con has an NFC reader on its analog joystick for Amiibo and an IR sensor on the back. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a traditional style controller much like that of the GameCube. The Nintendo Switch has currently sold 155.37 million units as of December 31, 2025, outselling all of Nintendo's previous video game consoles, making it the second best-selling video game console of all time, behind Sony's PlayStation 2. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a more affordable version of the Nintendo Switch released by Nintendo on September 20, 2019. The Switch Lite console is similar to a regular Nintendo Switch and can play almost all standard Switch games, but is a handheld portable-only version and is also slightly smaller. It comes in five color variations: grey, turquoise, coral, yellow, and blue, as well as some special editions. Its Joy-Con controllers cannot be detached like in the original Nintendo Switch model. A second variation, the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, was released on October 8, 2021, which makes several adjustments and improvements over the original, including an improved kickstand, a larger OLED screen, and more storage (64 GB instead of the regular 32 GB present in the original Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite). Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) controllers attached On January 16, 2025, Nintendo announced the successor to the Nintendo Switch after almost 8 years, the Nintendo Switch 2 was revealed. The Switch 2 is backwards compatible with most physical and digital Switch games. The console was released on June 5, 2025. Like the original Switch, it can be used as a portable handheld, as a tablet, or connected via the dock to an external display. The Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used while attached to or detached from the device. It has a larger liquid-crystal display and more internal storage than the original Switch. It has updated graphics, controllers, and social features. It supports 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate in handheld or tabletop mode, and 4K resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate when docked. Nintendo reported on June 10, 2025, four days from release, that the Switch 2 had sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide, which made it the company's fastest selling console to date. Famitsu reported that the console had sold 947,931 units in Japan within the first four days of its release, surpassing the Switch's launch of 329,152 units sold in the region. IGN said that launch sales of the Switch 2 in these first four days were twice as much as the launch sales of the Switch in all regions. ==Other hardware==

• Game Boy Camera – a monochrome camera cartridge for the original version of the Game Boy which includes a picture editor and the ability to print pictures via Game Boy Printer. • Satellaview – only released in Japan, an add-on for the Super Famicom (Japanese SNES) which allowed anyone to download games by a satellite. • Game Boy Player – an adapter for playing Game Boy games on the GameCube. • Game Boy Printer – an adapter designed for printing things from the Game Boy onto adhesive stickers. For example, it was used for printing out Game Boy Camera pictures and Pokémon information from the Pokédex in the Game Boy Pokémon games. • e-Reader – an add-on for the Game Boy Advance for scanning special "e-Reader cards", paper cards with specially encoded data printed on them. • iQue Player – a version of the Nintendo 64, with double the clock speed and downloadable games, released only in China. • Nintendo 64DD – only released in Japan, this add-on system's games are on rewritable magnetic disks. Games released include a paint and 3D construction package, F-Zero X Expansion Kit, for creating new F-Zero X tracks, a sequel to the SNES version of SimCity, SimCity 64 and others. • Mobile Adapter GB – only released in Japan, this peripheral allowed a Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance to connect to a mobile phone and utilize its cellular network to connect to the Mobile System GB service. Together, they enabled online functionality for roughly 20 games, most notably Pokémon Crystal. • Pokémon Pikachu – a handheld device similar to the popular Tamagotchi toy which allows the user to take care of Pikachu in the manner of a pet. • Super Game Boy – adapter for playing Game Boy games on the Super NES, displayed in color. • Triforce – an arcade system based on GameCube hardware, developed in partnership with Sega and Namco. • Computer Mah-jong Yakuman – a handheld Japanese mahjong game released in 1983 that featured the ability to connect two devices together with a cable, which inspired the Game Boy's Game Link Cable. • GameCube Microphone – used in Karaoke Revolution Party, Mario Party 6, Mario Party 7 and Odama for the GameCube. It recognizes basic sounds and incorporates them into gameplay. • Nintendo Gateway System – a proprietary hardware/software console available on commercial aircraft and hotel properties, providing shopping, information, and interactive entertainment. • Panasonic Q – a version of the GameCube which could play DVDs developed by Panasonic released only in Japan. • Visteon Dockable Entertainment System – a portable DVD player containing officially licensed Game Boy Advance hardware. • Pokéwalker – a Pedometer used in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver that can be used to enhance a Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver game by giving some special Pokémon and items as well as other added benefits that reward depending on how many steps one can take. • Activity Meter – an infrared (IR) pedometer for use the Nintendo DS game, Personal Trainer: Walking. • Fit Meter – a portable accessory for use with the Wii U game, Wii Fit U, that tracks the number of steps taken and the elevation climbed. It can also be synced with the game using the Wii U GamePad. • Poké Ball Plus – a Joy-Con replacement used with ''Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!'' that can be used similarly to it, and can also be used to bring the player's Pokémon character with them for in-game rewards. • Game Boy Pocket Sonar – only released in Japan, a fishing sonar peripheral for the Game Boy developed by Bandai. • Barcode Boy – only released in Japan, a barcode scanner peripheral for the Game Boy developed by Namco. ==References==