Company
Nintendo
The Kyoto playing-card house that reinvented itself into the most storied name in video games, twice pulling the entire industry back from the brink (1889-present).
2 projects
Next release
254 days
The Legend of Zelda
Apr 9, 2027
About
Nintendo began in 1889 when Fusajiro Yamauchi started producing hand-painted hanafuda playing cards in Kyoto. For most of a century it dabbled in toys, taxis, and love hotels before an electronics gamble under Hiroshi Yamauchi turned it toward games. Its arcade hit Donkey Kong (1981), designed by a young Shigeru Miyamoto, introduced Mario and funded a hardware push.
The Famicom, launched in Japan in 1983 and reworked as the Nintendo Entertainment System for the West in 1985, revived a North American market gutted by the 1983 crash. Strict quality control, a lockout chip, and killer software rebuilt consumer trust. Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid became foundational franchises. The Game Boy (1989), paired with Tetris, made portable gaming a mass phenomenon that would dominate handhelds for decades.
Nintendo's fortunes swung with its consoles. The Super Nintendo won the 16-bit generation in many markets; the Nintendo 64 (1996) and GameCube ceded ground to Sony's PlayStation, and a fateful falling-out with Sony over a CD add-on birthed a lifelong rival. Rather than chase raw power, Nintendo pivoted to accessibility: the touch-screen DS and the motion-controlled Wii (2006) sold to audiences no one else reached, becoming two of the best-selling systems ever.
After the Wii U stumbled, the hybrid home-and-portable Switch (2017) reunited Nintendo's strengths and became one of the best-selling consoles in history, carried by Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart, and Animal Crossing. The company also expanded its characters into film, theme parks, and mobile.
Still headquartered in Kyoto and fiercely independent, Nintendo remains one of gaming's most valuable and profitable companies, famous for prioritizing playful design over spec-sheet dominance. It is the rare firm to have been present at the medium's dawn and to still define it more than a century after its founding, a toymaker that never stopped chasing fun.
Related News
- AI · ReviewedJul 23, 2026
Hasbro releases affordable Zelda action figure line
Hasbro announced a new "Heroes of Hyrule" action‑figure collection to coincide with the Legend of Zelda franchise's 40th anniversary. The lineup includes six‑inch Link, Zelda and Ganondorf figures with multiple joints and accessories, priced at $28 for Link and Zelda and $43 for Ganondorf. Pre‑orders begin today on Amazon and Hasbro’s website, with shipments expected in spring 2027. The figures were showcased at San Diego Comic‑Con 2026 and are part of a multi‑year licensing agreement between Nintendo and Hasbro, suggesting more Zelda collectibles may follow, especially ahead of the upcoming live‑action film.
Kotaku
- AI · ReviewedJul 23, 2026
John Romero to Keynote Gamescom Asia Thailand 2026
Veteran game designer John Romero, co‑creator of Doom and Quake, will deliver the headline keynote at this year’s Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok. His talk, titled “Why We Still Make Games,” will reflect on his decades‑long career and the evolving challenges of the industry. Romero also expressed sympathy for recent id Software layoffs and noted setbacks at his own studio after Xbox funding cuts. The event, running Oct. 29–Nov. 2, expands to four halls and features major publishers such as Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Capcom and Sega, alongside a dedicated indie showcase.
IGN
- AI · ReviewedJul 23, 2026
Lego releases $200 Donkey Kong arcade set
Lego has launched a new $200 Donkey Kong arcade machine building set, designed by veteran Lego designer Carl Merriam. The set recreates the classic 1981 arcade cabinet and includes functional joystick and buttons that allow players to simulate the original gameplay. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto reportedly expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting the nostalgic appeal of seeing his iconic game rendered in bricks. The product joins a series of recent Lego‑Nintendo collaborations such as the Game Boy and Piranha Plant sets.
The Verge — Film & TV
- AI · ReviewedJul 22, 2026
Splatoon Raiders designs added to Animal Crossing
Nintendo has released two Splatoon Raiders‑themed custom designs for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The patterns are downloadable through the in‑game Custom Design Portal and require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Players can also tap compatible Splatoon amiibo figures to invite characters such as Cece or Viché to their island, while additional collaboration items provide new decorative options.
Nintendo — What's New
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