Nintendo is a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1889, Nintendo is one of the oldest and most influential entertainment companies in the world. Although it originally manufactured hanafuda (traditional Japanese playing cards), the company transformed itself over the 20th century into a global leader in video games, creating many of the industry’s most iconic consoles, franchises, and characters. Today, Nintendo develops and publishes video games, designs gaming hardware, and expands its intellectual properties into films, theme parks, museums, and merchandise. [1]

• Full Name: Nintendo Co., Ltd.

• Native Name: 任天堂株式会社 (Nintendō Kabushiki-gaisha)

• Founded: September 1889

• Founder: Fusajiro Yamauchi

• Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan

• Industry: Video games, consumer electronics, entertainment

• Business: Development, manufacturing, and publishing of video game hardware and software

• Current President: Shuntaro Furukawa

• Representative Director (Fellow): Shigeru Miyamoto

• Employees: Approximately 8,666 worldwide (as of March 2026) [1]

1889–1960s: Playing Card Company

Nintendo was founded on September 23, 1889, by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto, where it produced handcrafted hanafuda playing cards. During the early decades, Nintendo became one of Japan’s leading playing card manufacturers and later introduced Western-style playing cards and Disney-themed cards.

During the 1960s, the company experimented with various businesses—including taxis, toys, and other ventures—before ultimately focusing on entertainment products. [1]

1970s: Entering Electronic Entertainment

Nintendo shifted toward electronic entertainment by developing arcade machines and toy products.

Major milestones include:

• Laser Clay Shooting System

• Early arcade games

• TV Game 6

• TV Game 15

These products laid the groundwork for Nintendo’s future in video games. [1]

1980s: Rise of a Gaming Giant

The 1980s established Nintendo as a dominant force in gaming.

Important releases included:

• Game & Watch (1980)

• Donkey Kong (1981)

• Family Computer (Famicom) / Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1983)

• Super Mario Bros. (1985)

• Game Boy (1989)

During this period Nintendo introduced characters that became global icons:

• Mario

• Donkey Kong

• Link

• Princess Zelda

The NES played a major role in revitalizing the home video game industry after the North American market crash of 1983. [1] [2]

1990s: Innovation and Expansion

Nintendo continued to innovate with new hardware:

• Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990)

• Nintendo 64 (1996)

• Game Boy Color (1998)

Major game franchises flourished during this era, including:

• The Legend of Zelda

• Mario Kart

• Pokémon

• Kirby

• Star Fox [1]

2000s

Nintendo introduced several influential systems:

• Game Boy Advance

• Nintendo GameCube

• Nintendo DS

• Wii

The Wii became one of the best-selling consoles ever, popularizing motion-controlled gaming for a mainstream audience. [1] [2]

2010s

Nintendo launched:

• Nintendo 3DS

• Wii U

• Nintendo Switch (2017)

The Nintendo Switch combined home-console and handheld gaming into a single hybrid device and became one of the company’s most successful systems. Nintendo also introduced Nintendo Switch Online, expanded into mobile games, and opened its first flagship store in Japan. [1]

2020s

Nintendo broadened its entertainment business beyond games.

Recent developments include:

• Opening of Nintendo Museum (2024)

• Expansion of Super Nintendo World and other theme park attractions

• Release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie

• Launch of Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) [1] [2]

Nintendo’s business centers on both hardware and software.

Home Consoles

• NES / Famicom

• SNES / Super Famicom

• Nintendo 64

• GameCube

• Wii

• Wii U

• Nintendo Switch

• Nintendo Switch 2

Handheld Systems

• Game Boy

• Game Boy Color

• Game Boy Advance

• Nintendo DS

• Nintendo DSi

• Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo owns many of the highest-selling and longest-running game series in history, including:

• Mario

• The Legend of Zelda

• Pokémon (co-owned through The Pokémon Company)

• Donkey Kong

• Kirby

• Metroid

• Animal Crossing

• Splatoon

• Pikmin

• Fire Emblem

• Xenoblade Chronicles

• Luigi’s Mansion

These franchises have collectively sold billions of copies worldwide. [2]

Some of Nintendo’s best-known characters include:

• Mario

• Luigi

• Princess Peach

• Bowser

• Link

• Zelda

• Samus Aran

• Kirby

• Donkey Kong

• Yoshi

• Pikachu

• Inklings

• Isabelle

Nintendo emphasizes accessible, innovative, family-friendly entertainment. Rather than competing primarily on technical specifications, the company has often focused on unique gameplay experiences, introducing concepts such as motion controls, dual-screen handhelds, touch interfaces, and hybrid home-portable gaming. Its stated mission is to create experiences that “put smiles on the faces of everyone we touch.” [2]

Nintendo is widely regarded as one of the most influential companies in the history of video games. Since entering the gaming business, it has sold over 870 million hardware units and more than 6 billion video games worldwide. Beyond games, its characters and worlds have expanded into films, theme parks, museums, licensed merchandise, and other forms of entertainment. [2]

1. Corporate Information : Company History

2. Corporate | Nintendo UK