Retro hardware timeline

Dates follow the named manufacturer history or region. This is a selected hardware reference, not a complete retro game or performance archive.

1. 1983

   Family Computer / Famicom

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   Known as the NES outside Japan; regional launch dates differ.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Family Computer / Famicom
2. 1989

   Game Boy

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   Nintendo’s original Game Boy launch year.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Game Boy
3. 1990

   Super Famicom

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   The SNES name and launch year differ by region.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Super Famicom
4. 1994

   PlayStation

   Japan; North America followed in 1995

   Platform notes

   R3000 CPU and CD-ROM game media are described by Sony.

   Sony Interactive Entertainment source
   Hardware record for PlayStation
5. 1996

   Nintendo 64

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   A hardware-history year, not a claim that every region launched together.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Nintendo 64
6. 1998

   Dreamcast

   SEGA corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   SEGA’s history records the platform’s 1998 release.

   SEGA source
   Hardware record for Dreamcast
7. 2000

   PlayStation 2

   Japan; March 4, 2000

   Platform notes

   Sony identifies the Emotion Engine CPU and DVD media.

   Sony Interactive Entertainment source
   Hardware record for PlayStation 2
8. 2001

   Game Boy Advance

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   A distinct platform from the original Game Boy.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Game Boy Advance
9. 2001

   Nintendo GameCube

   Nintendo corporate timeline

   Platform notes

   Linked to the existing hardware record.

   Nintendo source
   Hardware record for Nintendo GameCube
10. 2001

    Xbox

    North America; November 15, 2001

    Platform notes

    The original Xbox launch, not the Xbox One or Series family.

    Microsoft source
    Hardware record for Xbox
11. 2004

    Nintendo DS

    Nintendo corporate timeline

    Platform notes

    The original DS, not DSi or 3DS.

    Nintendo source
    Hardware record for Nintendo DS
12. 2004

    PlayStation Portable

    Japan; North America followed in 2005

    Platform notes

    Sony documents the UMD format. Exact regional days are not normalized here.

    Sony Interactive Entertainment source
    Hardware record for PlayStation Portable
13. 2006

    PlayStation 3

    Japan and North America; Europe followed in 2007

    Platform notes

    Sony’s history distinguishes the regional launch years.

    Sony Interactive Entertainment source
    Hardware record for PlayStation 3
14. 2006

    Wii

    Nintendo corporate timeline

    Platform notes

    Original Wii platform; this does not establish Wii U game support.

    Nintendo source
    Hardware record for Wii
15. 2011

    Nintendo 3DS

    Nintendo corporate timeline

    Platform notes

    A distinct platform from DS and DSi.

    Nintendo source
    Hardware record for Nintendo 3DS
16. 2012

    Wii U

    Nintendo corporate timeline

    Platform notes

    Game editions and controller requirements need their own documentation.

    Nintendo source
    Hardware record for Wii U