• 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 23 September 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto, where it produced handcrafted hanafuda playing cards. During its early decades, the firm became one of Japan’s leading playing card manufacturers and later introduced Western-style playing cards as well as Disney-themed cards. In 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 towards electronic entertainment by developing arcade machines and toy products. Major milestones included the Laser Clay Shooting System, early arcade games, TV Game 6 and TV Game 15. These products laid the groundwork for the company’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) and Game Boy (1989). During this period, Nintendo introduced characters that became global icons, including Mario, Donkey Kong, Link and Princess Zelda. The NES played a major role in revitalising the home video game industry following the North American market crash of 1983.12

1990s: Innovation and expansion

Nintendo continued to innovate with new hardware, releasing the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990), Nintendo 64 (1996) and Game Boy Color (1998). Major game franchises flourished during this era, including The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Pokémon, Kirby and Star Fox.1

2000s

The company introduced several influential systems during this decade, namely Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS and Wii. The Wii became one of the best-selling consoles ever, popularising motion-controlled gaming for a mainstream audience.12

2010s

Nintendo launched the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U and 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. During this decade, Nintendo also introduced Nintendo Switch Online, expanded into mobile games and opened its first flagship store in Japan.1

2020s

Nintendo has broadened its entertainment business beyond games. Recent developments include the opening of Nintendo Museum (2024), the expansion of Super Nintendo World and other theme park attractions, the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 (2025).12

Nintendo’s business centres 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.

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 emphasises 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.”

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.

1. Corporate Information : Company History
2. Corporate | Nintendo UK