Nintendo

Nintendo was founded as Yamauchi Nintendo by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto, Japan to produce handmade hanafuda playing cards. The business soon gained popularity and mass-produced cards.

In 1902, Mr. Yamauchi began manufacturing the first western-style playing cards in Japan, which were initially meant for export but gained popularity in Japan and worldwide.

In 1904, Marufuku made playing cards for Russian prisoners of war during the Russo-Japanese War when the soldiers wore out their decks.

In 1907, Nintendo Koppai partnered with Japan Tobacco & Salt Corporation, allowing Nintendo to sell their cards in cigarette shops across Japan.

A promotional calendar from 1915 revealed that the company was named 'Yamauchi Nintendo' and used the Marufuku Nintendo Co. brand for its playing cards.

In 1925, Marufuku began exporting Hanafuda cards to Japanese communities in South America, Korea, and Australia.

Fusajiro Yamauchi retired in 1929 and allowed his son-in-law, Sekiryo Kaneda, to take over as president of Yamauchi Nintendo & Co.

The company was formally established as an unlimited partnership titled Yamauchi Nintendo & Co. Ltd. in 1933.

In 1950, due to Sekiryo's deteriorating health, Hiroshi Yamauchi assumed the presidency and headed manufacturing operations, making important changes in the company's operation.

In 1951, the company was renamed Nintendo Playing Card Company.

Hiroshi Yamauchi assumed the role of President and led the manufacturing operations of Yamauchi Nintendo & Co.

In 1956, Hiroshi Yamauchi, grandson of Fusajiro Yamauchi, visited the U.S. to talk with the United States Playing Card Company, leading to the acquisition of the license to use Disney characters on playing cards.

Nintendo made a deal with Disney to use Disney's characters on playing cards, leading to a successful tie-in and increased sales.

Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd. achieved the milestone of being the first in Japan to mass-produce plastic playing cards.

In 1962, Nintendo became a public company, listed stock on exchanges, adopted its current name, and started manufacturing games in addition to playing cards.

The company began selling cards featuring Walt Disney characters, creating a new market for children's playing cards and leading to a surge in the card department.

In 1964, Nintendo opened its first research and development branch named Games after facing a decline in playing card sales.

In 1965, Nintendo hired Gunpei Yokoi to maintain the assembly-line machines used to manufacture its playing cards, marking the beginning of his significant contributions to the company.

In 1966, Nintendo released the Ultra Hand toy, developed by Gunpei Yokoi, which became one of the company's earliest toy blockbusters, selling over hundreds of thousands units.

By 1969, Nintendo built a new game production plant in Uji City, Kyoto, due to the success of its game department.

In 1970, Nintendo released Japan's first electronic toy, the Beam Gun, designed by Masayuki Uemura, which sold over a million units and marked a significant milestone in Nintendo's history.

In 1971, Nintendo released its first electronic, motorized game called Space Ball. Players could interact with the game by spinning a disc either on a hard surface or ejecting it into the air.

In 1972, Nintendo released the Ele-Conga, one of the first programmable drum machines, playing pre-programmed rhythms from disc-shaped punch cards, showcasing innovation in electronic toys.

In 1973, Nintendo shifted focus to family entertainment venues with the Laser Clay Shooting System, surpassing bowling in popularity.

In 1974, Nintendo released Wild Gunman, a skeet shooting arcade simulation that utilized innovative technology, contributing to the company's expansion into the arcade gaming market.

The company rebranded to Nintendo Co., Ltd. and expanded its business to include manufacturing games alongside playing cards.

Nintendo incorporated the microprocessor into a videogame system, marking a significant technological advancement.

Nintendo began producing its own hardware in 1977 with the Color TV-Game home video game consoles.

Nintendo created the first computer game, pioneering a new era in the gaming industry.

On December 1, 1979, Minoru Arakawa, the son-in-law of Nintendo's Japanese chief Hiroshi Yamauchi, opened Nintendo of America in New York City. This marked the beginning of Nintendo's operations division for coin-operated games.

Nintendo founded its North American subsidiary, Nintendo of America (NoA), in 1980. Hiroshi Yamauchi appointed his son-in-law Minoru Arakawa as president, who then hired his wife Yoko Yamauchi as the first employee.

Donkey Kong was released on December 1, 1981. It was a significant arcade game developed by Nintendo that introduced the iconic character of Mario. The game's success helped establish Nintendo as a major player in the video game industry.

In 1982, Nintendo of America Inc. moved its headquarters from New York to Redmond, Washington.

In 1983, Nintendo developed and started selling the unique, twin-screen interactive coin-operated videogame 'VS. System'. At the same time, the company launched the Famicom system in Japan, later renamed Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) when it launched worldwide.

Nintendo developed and distributed the coin-operated video game 'Donkey Kong,' which quickly became the hottest-selling individual coin-operated machine in the business.

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was released in North America, revitalizing the video game industry after the video game crash of 1983 and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Nintendo test marketed the NES in the New York area in October 1985 and expanded to Los Angeles in February 1986. By the end of 1986, the NES went national with 15 games, outselling competitors in the US and Canada.

In 1987, Nintendo Entertainment System was released, bringing fresh potential into the gaming market.

On December 4, 1987, Nintendo launched the Famicom Network, an online service for the Famicom system in Japan. This service allowed players to connect and access additional content for their games.

In July 1988, Nintendo of America Inc. published the first issue of Nintendo Power magazine. This magazine provided players with tips, reviews, and news about Nintendo games and products.

The Game Boy, the first portable, handheld game system with interchangeable game cartridges, is introduced in Japan along with Tetris.

The Super Famicom was released in Japan on November 21, 1990, and became widely successful, selling out across Japan within three days.

In August 1991, the Super Famicom was launched in the US under the name 'Super Nintendo Entertainment System' (SNES), following its success in Japan.

The Super Famicom was introduced.

Nintendo and Silicon Graphics announced a strategic alliance to develop the Nintendo 64, which was marketed as one of the first consoles with 64-bit architecture.

The Super Game Boy was released on December 4, 1994. It allowed players to play Game Boy games on their Super Nintendo Entertainment System, expanding the gaming library for players.

The Super Game Boy accessory was released, allowing a wider range of games to be played on the Super NES.

On June 23, 1996, Nintendo launched the Nintendo 64 in Japan, the world's first 64-bit home video game system. Thousands of people lined up to be the first to experience this new technology, with over 500,000 systems sold on the first day.

On September 29, 1996, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 gaming console in North America. The console introduced innovative 3D graphics and iconic games like Super Mario 64, revolutionizing the gaming industry.

Super Mario 64 was released on December 4, 1996, and is considered one of the greatest video games of all time, marking a significant milestone in the gaming industry.

Nintendo released the Rumble Pak in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, enhancing gameplay experience with vibration feedback.

The Game Boy Color was released in Japan, followed by North America and Europe a month later.

Nintendo launched the 64DD add-on peripheral for the Nintendo 64 exclusively in Japan.

On December 4, 1999, the Pokémon franchise continued to captivate fans worldwide with its unique creatures and engaging gameplay. The release of new Pokémon games and merchandise further solidified its place in popular culture.

Nintendo released Pokémon games in Europe, including titles like Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Pinball with a built-in rumble feature. Other popular games like Mario Golf, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark were also launched during this period.

Nintendo announced plans for a new system that would utilize IBM technology.

Nintendo introduced the Game Boy Advance in Japan, expanding to North America and Europe shortly after.

On April 6, 2001, Pokémon Gold and Silver were successfully launched in Europe, selling one million units over the launch weekend.

The Game Boy Advance system made its debut in the U.S. on June 11, selling 1 million units in six weeks.

On September 14, 2001, the Nintendo GameCube was launched in Japan, with 2.7 million units shipped by December.

The Nintendo GameCube home video game console was launched in the U.S. on November 18. It broke previous U.S. sales records and became the fastest-selling next-generation video game system.

The Game Boy Advance e-Reader hardware was launched in Japan on December 1, allowing for new portable gameplay experiences.

On March 15, 2002, the Pokémon mini, the world's smallest console, was launched in Europe with four titles.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was released for the Nintendo GameCube.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was released for the Nintendo GameCube on November 15, 2004.

Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo DS, a handheld console with touch-sensitive screens and 3D graphics capabilities.

Nintendo inaugurated its first retail store, Nintendo World Store, at the Rockefeller Center in New York City.

On January 26, 2006, Nintendo announced the Nintendo DS Lite, a smaller and lighter version of their handheld console with a brighter screen. It was launched in Japan on March 2, 2006.

Reggie Fils-Aimé was promoted to president and CEO of Nintendo of America on May 25, 2006. This change also saw Tatsumi Kimishima becoming the chairman of the board and CEO.

On July 7, 2006, Nintendo officially established Nintendo Korea, a subsidiary in Seoul, South Korea. This subsidiary replaced Daewon Media as the official distributor of Nintendo products in the country.

During press conferences in September 2006, Nintendo announced launch details for the Wii console and showcased the features of the 'Wii Menu' GUI. The Wii was released in the US on November 19, 2006.

The Nintendo Wii was launched in 2006 with motion-sensing controls and a focus on accessibility. It became one of the best-selling consoles of all time, appealing to a wide range of players with games like Wii Sports.

On September 17, 2007, Nintendo of America closed its official forums, the NSider Forums, indefinitely due to a site overhaul. This decision followed cutbacks in the online department and changes in community events.

On December 19, 2007, Nintendo opened a forum dedicated to technical support. This move aimed to provide assistance to users facing issues with Nintendo products.

On November 1, 2008, Nintendo launched the Nintendo DSi, an updated version of the Nintendo DS Lite with added features like cameras and downloadable gaming content. It was a significant advancement in handheld gaming.

In April 2009, Pokémon Platinum Version was released, continuing the success of the Pokémon franchise.

In November 2009, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was launched, offering a four-player experience and introducing the Super Guide feature.

In March 2010, Nintendo DSi XL was released in Europe, featuring larger screens and a wider viewing angle.

Nintendo introduced the 3DS system in the U.S., allowing users to experience 3D content without special glasses.

The Nintendo 3DS XL was released in the U.S. with larger screens and improved battery life.

The Nintendo 2DS system was introduced, providing the same features as the Nintendo 3DS system but without the stereoscopic 3D capability.

Mario Kart 8 was launched for the Wii U console, featuring compatibility with amiibo interactive figures for enhanced gameplay.

The game Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released on October 3rd. It is also compatible with amiibo figures.

Nintendo unveiled the amiibo interactive figures that could interact wirelessly with specific games on the Wii U GamePad controller when touched. Several amiibo compatible games were released throughout the year.

The New Nintendo 3DS XL system was launched in North America on February 13th. It offered new controls like a C Stick and ZL/ZR buttons, improved 3D technology, and NFC functionality for amiibo interaction.

On July 11, 2015, Satoru Iwata, the former President of Nintendo, passed away at the age of 55 due to a bile duct tumor, leaving a significant impact on the gaming industry.

Miitomo, a social app utilizing Mii characters, was introduced in Japan on March 17. It marked Nintendo's entry into the smart device application market, later expanding to the U.S. on March 31.

The NES Classic Edition, a smaller version of the original NES with 30 pre-installed games, was launched in November, bringing back classic NES games in a compact form.

On March 3, 2017, Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch, a revolutionary hybrid console that could be used both as a portable device and a home console, reshaping the gaming landscape.

On September 16, 2017, Tatsumi Kimishima was appointed as the President of Nintendo, succeeding Satoru Iwata and taking on the leadership role in the company.

Nintendo introduced Nintendo Labo, a series of interactive build-and-play experiences designed for the Nintendo Switch system.

Nintendo released the Nintendo Switch Online service, a paid subscription that enhances the gaming experience on the Nintendo Switch by offering features like online play, cloud saves, and a library of classic games.

Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch Lite, a portable version of the Nintendo Switch designed for handheld play, compatible with Nintendo Switch games in handheld mode.

In early 2020, Plan See Do announced plans to refurbish the former Nintendo headquarters from the 1930s into a hotel named Marufukuro, with 18 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, and gym. The hotel opened in April 2022.

In May 2020, a major leak of documents occurred, including source code and internal information related to Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii. The leak may have been related to BroadOn or Zammis Clark.

A second and larger leak occurred in July 2020, containing gigabytes of data related to the May 2020 leak. It includes source code and prototypes for several early 1990s Super NES games and Nintendo 64 games.

By August 2020, Nintendo was named the richest company in Japan.

Despite Apple's recent rule change, small developers are hesitant to release emulators on the App Store due to fears of facing consequences from Nintendo and other companies.

On October 8, Nintendo released the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model featuring a 7-inch OLED screen, adjustable stand, dock with LAN port, 64GB storage, and improved audio.

On October 25, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, offering a new membership plan with added benefits like classic games for Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis, along with Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise on November 5.

In April 2022, an anonymous QA worker filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Nintendo of America and contractor Aston Carter for engaging in union-busting activities and surveillance.

In May 2022, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia purchased a 5% stake in Nintendo, indicating growing international interest and investment in the company.

In July 2022, Nintendo acquired Dynamo Pictures, a Japanese CG company, to expand into animation. Dynamo was renamed Nintendo Pictures.

In February 2022, Nintendo acquired SRD Co., Ltd., a major contributor to Nintendo's first-party games, after 40 years of collaboration.

On 5 April 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide and setting box-office records.

In March 2024, Nintendo of America restructured its product testing teams, leading to the elimination of over 100 contractor roles, with some affected contractors being offered full-time positions.