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{{articleabout|the Japanese company|the development team|[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development]]}}
{{about|the Japanese company|the console sometimes colloquially referred to as a Nintendo|[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]|the development team|[[Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development]]}}
{{company-infobo
{{company infobox
|logo=Nintendo.png
|logo=New Nintendo red logo.svg
|width=300px
|width=300px
|founded=September 23, 1889
|founded=September 23, 1889<ref>{{Cite|title=Corporate Information : Company History|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/en/history/index.html|accessdate=December 15, 2024|publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd.|language=en}}</ref>
|firstgame=''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]
|first_release=''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'' ([[List of games by date#1981|1981]])
|lastgame=''[[Mario Kart 7]]
|latest_release=''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns HD]]'' ([[List of games by date#2025|2025]])
|president=[[Satoru Iwata]]
|president=[[Shuntaro Furukawa]]
}}
}}
'''[[nwiki:Nintendo|Nintendo]]''' (Japanese: 任天堂 ''nintendō''; TSE: NTDOY) is a company in Japan which develops and manufactures its own line of video games and consoles. The name Nintendo means "leave luck to heaven."  They are the creators of many popular series, including ''[[ZeldaWiki:The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Bulbapedia:Pokémon|Pokémon]]'', as well as their most popular series, the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' series, plus many more. Nintendo's mascot is [[Mario]] himself. Nintendo revived the North American video game industry after the [[wikipedia:North American Video Game Crash of 1983|Video Game Crash of 1983]].
 
'''{{wp|Nintendo}}''' is a Japanese video game company and the creator of many popular franchises, including the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]], and the company's mascot is [[Mario]] himself.


==History==
==History==
The company was originally founded on September 23rd, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade [[wikipedia:Hanafuda|Hanafuda]] cards for use in a Japanese playing card game of the same name. Eventually, in 1929, the company was passed on to Yamauchi's son-in-law, Sekiryo Kaneda. He took up the Yamauchi name when he married Fusajiro's daughter, Tei Yamauchi. The company continued on to make Hanafuda cards. However, Kaneda decided to retire in 1949 and passed Nintendo down to his grandson, [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]]. Little did he know that Hiroshi would change the focus of Nintendo for the best. In the late 70's, Yamauchi decided to expand Nintendo into the United States, as arcade machines were becoming very popular. However, his plan did not go over as well as he had hoped. Many children in the U.S. did not show much interest in Nintendo's products, like ''Sheriff'' or ''Radar Scope''. Nintendo started to lose money, so in desperation, Yamauchi turned to one of his employees, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], for help.
{{multiple image|align=left|direction=vertical|image1=Nintendo - Obsolete logo.svg|image2=Nintendo Logo.svg|width=180|footer=The company's signature red logo from 1985 to 2008, used internationally outside Japan and East Asia (top), and gray logo from 2006 to 2016 (bottom). The gray logo is still used in corporate pages.}}
Originally founded as a ''{{wp|hanafuda}}'' playing card manufacturer in Kyoto, Japan, on September 23, 1889, Nintendo began exploring game-making after third president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] began diversifying the company's ventures. Nintendo entered the arcade industry in 1973 and the home console industry in 1977, simultaneously hiring [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] as a product designer. In 1978, Nintendo began making arcade video games, licensing titles to other companies for distribution outside Japan. In 1980, Nintendo established a North American division headed by {{wp|Minoru Arakawa}}, and the first game that would be distributed by the American division would be ''[[nwiki:Radar Scope|Radar Scope]]''. The game did not sell well in the United States, and a number of unsold cabinets remained in warehouses.
 
Arakawa asked Yamauchi if a new game could be developed and inserted into the unsold ''Radar Scope'' cabinets.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191109000531/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros "IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros."]</ref> Yamauchi went through Nintendo's entire talent pool to see who could head the designing of a potential ''Radar Scope'' replacement, and the result was Miyamoto designing ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]''. When ''Donkey Kong'' was released in 1981, it became a bestseller and marked the introduction of Mario. In 1983, Nintendo introduced the [[Family Computer]], distributing it abroad as the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] two years later. Its success in Japan and North America resulted in Nintendo becoming a dominant player in the video game industry and the revival of the industry in North America, which had been negatively affected by {{wp|video game crash of 1983|a crash in 1983}}. The most successful game for the NES, ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', further cemented Nintendo's dominance in the industry. The ''Super Mario'' franchise has since become Nintendo's flagship franchise and one of the most well-known brands to originate from video games.
 
==Supported regions==
[[File:Regiones comerciales de Nintendo.svg|thumb|Regions with official Nintendo websites]]


He only called Miyamoto in because he was the only employee who had any time on his hands. Yamauchi asked Miyamoto to make a product for the arcade machine that would become a best-seller. Shigeru Miyamoto worked on the project he was thinking of for a while: ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]''. When it entered the North American market, it did in fact become a best-seller. Nintendo started moving into video games and assigned Gunpei Yokoi to make a handheld console for enjoyment while traveling. Thus, Yokoi made the [[Game & Watch]], which became unusually popular in both Japan and the United States. Nintendo then made the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], which grew very popular among children, the most popular game being ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' The release of the system forever changed the focus of video game development from quantity to quality and cemented the company's place in history. Aside from video games, Nintendo is also the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners, a Major League Baseball team, which is now handled by Howard Lincoln. In 2002, Hiroshi Yamauchi stepped down from office, giving the position to [[Satoru Iwata]].
===First-party distribution===
As a {{wp|Multinational corporation|multinational company}}, Nintendo has established various regional divisions dedicated to marketing and sales of its products outside Japan, including ''Super Mario'' games, merchandise, and licensing, located in different gaming markets around the world, and all of them are wholly owned. Two major subsidiaries, Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe, have the authority to publish games autonomously. As of August 2024, these divisions include:


== Results of Their Work ==
*'''Nintendo Co., Ltd.''' (NCL)
[[File:NintendoOld.png|thumb|left|The company's red logo from 1983 to 2006.]]
**[[File:Flag of Japan.png|border|25px]] Japan
Nintendo is the longest running company in the history of the video game console market and historically the most influential and best known console manufacturer. However, they do have business rivalry in Sony, Microsoft, and formerly their biggest rival, Sega (which is now reduced to third-party work). Nintendo, as a video game company, began in the Japanese market in 1983, the U.S. market in 1985, and the European market in 1986. Over time Nintendo has manufactured five TV consoles and nine handheld portables. They have also developed, and published well over 300 games, and have sold over 2 billion games worldwide.  
*'''Nintendo of America, Inc.''' (NOA)
**[[File:Flag of Argentina.png|border|25px]] Argentina
**[[File:Flag of Brazil.png|border|25px]] Brazil
**[[File:Flag of Canada.png|border|25px]] Canada
**[[File:Flag of USA.png|border|25px]] United States
*'''Nintendo of Europe SE''' (NOE)
**[[File:Flag of Andorra.png|border|25px]] Andorra<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za">{{cite|quote=On 3rd March, Nintendo Switch will be available in the following European territories: Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hungary, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Vatican. It will also be available in South Africa at the same timing.|author=Nintendo|date=January 13, 2017|title=Nintendo Switch launches on 3rd March!|url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/News/2017/January/Nintendo-Switch-launches-on-3rd-March--1173122.html|publisher=Nintendo (official South African site)|language=English|accessdate=November 24, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124234336/https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/News/2017/January/Nintendo-Switch-launches-on-3rd-March--1173122.html}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Europe.png|border|25px]] European Union (select member states):
***[[File:Flag of Austria.png|border|25px]] Austria
***[[File:Flag of Belgium.png|border|25px]] Belgium
***[[File:Flag of France.png|border|25px]] France
***[[File:Flag of Germany.png|border|25px]] Germany
***[[File:Flag of Ireland.png|border|25px]] Ireland
***[[File:Flag of Italy.png|border|25px]] Italy
***[[File:Flag of Luxembourg.png|border|25px]] Luxembourg
***[[File:Flag of Malta.png|border|25px]] Malta
***[[File:Flag of Netherlands.png|border|25px]] The Netherlands
***[[File:Flag of Portugal.png|border|25px]] Portugal
***[[File:Flag of Spain.png|border|25px]] Spain
**[[File:Flag of LI.png|border|25px]] Liechtenstein<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za"/>
**[[File:Flag of Monaco.png|border|25px]] Monaco<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za"/>
**[[File:Flag of SM.png|border|25px]] San Marino<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za"/>
**[[File:Flag of Switzerland.png|border|25px]] Switzerland
**[[File:Flag of UK.png|border|25px]] United Kingdom (including Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies in Europe<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za"/>)
**[[File:Flag of Vatican.png|border|25px]] Vatican City State<ref name="switch_launch_announcement_za"/>
*'''Nintendo Australia Pty. Limited''' (NAL)
**[[File:Flag of Australia.png|border|25px]] Australia
**[[File:Flag of NZ.png|border|25px]] New Zealand
*'''Nintendo of Korea Co., Ltd.''' (NOK)
**[[File:Flag of South Korea.png|border|25px]] South Korea
*'''Nintendo (Hong Kong) Ltd.''' (NHK)
**[[File:Flag of HK.png|border|25px]] Hong Kong
**[[File:Flag of Macau.png|border|25px]] Macau
**[[File:Flag of ROC.png|border|25px]] Taiwan (Republic of China)


Nintendo has also sold very well among other consoles. Yamauchi, when he announced the [[Nintendo GameCube]], stated that people don't buy a console for the console, they buy it for the game they want. He also believes that a video game console should be solely for video games, never anything else, in opposition to the PlayStation 2's built-in DVD Player. These things are why he always makes Nintendo's consoles the cheapest, compared to other consoles. If one watches the Wii games and compares them with the NES, he or she will see firsthand Nintendo's progression from a manufacturer of Hanafuda cards to one of the most successful video game companies in the world.
===Third-party distribution===
In addition to the above subsidiaries, over the years Nintendo has officially assigned various third-party distribution companies to represent Nintendo and its products (including ''Super Mario'' products) in certain markets. These partners may have the authority to handle marketing and sales, but they may vary and are overviewed by one of the three major divisions (NCL, NOA, NOE). As of September 2023, the following partners include:


All current official Nintendo merchandise is marked with the [[Official Nintendo Seal]]. Originally, the seal was only applied to video games.
*'''Active Bokei K.K.'''<ref>{{cite|title=Active Bokei K.K.|url=https://www.activeboeki.com/|publisher=Active Bokei K.K.|language=English|accessdate=July 3, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603051424/https://www.activeboeki.com/}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Bahrain.png|border|25px]] Bahrain
**[[File:Flag of Indonesia.png|border|25px]] Indonesia
**[[File:Flag of Kuwait.png|border|25px]] Kuwait
**[[File:Flag of Malaysia.png|border|25px]] Malaysia
**[[File:Flag of Oman.png|border|25px]] Oman
**[[File:Flag of Philippines.png|border|25px]] The Philippines
**[[File:Flag of Qatar.png|border|25px]] Qatar
**[[File:Flag of Singapore.png|border|25px]] Singapore
**[[File:Flag of Thailand.png|border|25px]] Thailand
**[[File:Flag of UAE.png|border|25px]] United Arab Emirates
*'''Advanced Initiative Company Trading'''<ref>{{cite|title=Advanced Initiative|url=https://advancedinitiative.com/|publisher=Advanced Initiative Co. Trdg.|language=English|accessdate=July 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name="International_Distributors_2025">{{cite|title=Distributors Contact Details for Consumers|url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Contact/Distributors/Distributors-Contact-Details-for-Consumers-1557273.html|publisher=Nintendo UK|language=English|accessdate=February 27, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207010026/https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Contact/Distributors/Distributors-Contact-Details-for-Consumers-1557273.html}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png|border|25px]] Saudi Arabia
*'''Bergsala AB'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/><ref name=Skrebels_2019>{{cite|author=Joe Skrebels|date=December 9, 2019|url=www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/09/the-lie-that-helped-build-nintendo|title=The Lie That Helped Build Nintendo|publisher=IGN|language=English|archive=web.archive.org/web/20191221231714/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/09/the-lie-that-helped-build-nintendo|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=https://www.bergsala.eu/en/|title=Home|publisher=Bergsala|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614014301/https://www.bergsala.eu/en/|accessdate=September 26, 2024}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Denmark.png|border|25px]] Denmark
**[[File:Flag of Estonia.png|border|25px]] Estonia
**[[File:Flag of Finland.png|border|25px]] Finland
**[[File:Flag of Latvia.png|border|25px]] Latvia
**[[File:Flag of Lithuania.png|border|25px]] Lithuania
**[[File:Flag of Norway.png|border|25px]] Norway
**[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|border|25px]] Sweden
*'''CD Media S.E.'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/><ref>{{cite|author=Enes K.|date=July 24, 2018|url=www.webtekno.com/nintendo-switch-turkiye-h50307.html|title=Resmi Açıklama Geldi: Nintendo Switch Türkiye'de Satışa Çıkıyor|publisher=Webtekno|language=Turkish|archive=web.archive.org/web/20181017002049/https://www.webtekno.com/nintendo-switch-turkiye-h50307.html|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name="CD_Media_Website">{{cite|url=https://cdmediase.eu/partnerships.html|title=Partnerships|publisher=CD Media S.E.|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329115020/https://cdmediase.eu/partnerships.html|accessdate=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Albania.png|border|25px]] Albania
**[[File:Flag of BA.png|border|25px]] Bosnia and Herzegovina
**[[File:Flag of Bulgaria.png|border|25px]] Bulgaria
**[[File:Flag of Croatia.png|border|25px]] Croatia
**[[File:Flag of Cyprus.png|border|25px]] Cyprus
**[[File:Flag of Greece.png|border|25px]] Greece
**[[File:Flag of Montenegro.png|border|25px]] Montenegro
**[[File:Flag of MK.png|border|25px]] North Macedonia
**[[File:Flag of Romania.png|border|25px]] Romania
**[[File:Flag of Serbia.png|border|25px]] Serbia
**[[File:Flag of Slovenia.png|border|25px]] Slovenia
**[[File:Flag of Turkey.png|border|25px]] Turkey
*'''ConQuest Entertainment A.S.'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/>
**[[File:Flag of Czech Republic.png|border|25px]] Czech Republic
**[[File:Flag of Poland.png|border|25px]] Poland
**[[File:Flag of Slovakia.png|border|25px]] Slovakia
*'''Core Computer Business (PTY) LTD'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/><ref>{{cite|title=Core Group|url=https://core.co.za/|publisher=Core Group|language=English|accessdate=March 11, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309132628/https://core.co.za/}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Angola.png|border|25px]] Angola
**[[File:Flag of Botswana.png|border|25px]] Botswana
**[[File:Flag of Lesotho.png|border|25px]] Lesotho
**[[File:Flag of Malawi.png|border|25px]] Malawi
**[[File:Flag of Mozambique.png|border|25px]] Mozambique
**[[File:Flag of Namibia.png|border|25px]] Namibia
**[[File:Flag of Nigeria.png|border|25px]] Nigeria
**[[File:Flag of South Africa.png|border|25px]] South Africa
**[[File:Flag of Zambia.png|border|25px]] Zambia
**[[File:Flag of Zimbabwe.png|border|25px]] Zimbabwe
*'''Game Park'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/>
**[[File:Flag of Hungary.png|border|25px]] Hungary
*'''ERC'''<ref>{{cite|author=Ольга Карпенко|date=October 26, 2021|title=Консоли Nintendo Switch будут официально продаваться в Украине|url=https://ain.ua/ru/2021/10/26/nintendo-switch-oficzialno-v-ukraine/|publisher=AIN|language=Russian|accessdate=March 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418202442/https://ain.ua/ru/2021/10/26/nintendo-switch-oficzialno-v-ukraine/}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Nintendo|url=https://erc-distribution.kz/en/vendor/nintendo/list.html|publisher=ERC Kazakhstan|language=English|accessdate=March 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302225001/https://erc-distribution.kz/en/vendor/nintendo/list.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Nintendo|url=https://erc-distribution.uz/en/vendor/nintendo/list.html|publisher=ERC Uzbekistan|language=English|accessdate=May 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302225045/https://erc-distribution.uz/en/vendor/nintendo/list.html}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Kazakhstan.png|border|25px]] Kazakhstan
**[[File:Flag of Ukraine.png|border|25px]] Ukraine
**[[File:Flag of Uzbekistan.png|border|25px]] Uzbekistan
*'''JVLAT'''<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.jvlat.com/|title=Juegos de Video Latinoamérica – JVLAT – Empresa dedicada a la comercialización exclusiva de marcas mundiales en América Latina y el Caribe|publisher=JVLAT|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312051852/https://www.jvlat.com/|accessdate=March 11, 2025}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Chile.png|border|25px]] Chile
**[[File:Flag of Colombia.png|border|25px]] Colombia
**[[File:Flag of Costa Rica.png|border|25px]] Costa Rica
**[[File:Flag of Guatemala.png|border|25px]] Guatemala
**[[File:Flag of Mexico.png|border|25px]] Mexico
**[[File:Flag of Panama.png|border|25px]] Panama
**[[File:Flag of Peru.png|border|25px]] Peru
*'''Tencent'''<ref>{{cite|author=Takashi Moshizuki, Shan Li|date=April 18, 2019|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nintendo-seeks-to-sell-the-switch-in-china-11555581221?mod=article_inline|title=Nintendo, With Tencent's Help, to Sell Switch Console in China|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206201354/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nintendo-seeks-to-sell-the-switch-in-china-11555581221?mod=article_inline|accessdate=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of China.png|border|25px]] China (People's Republic of China)
*'''TorGaming, Ltd.'''<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/><ref>{{cite|author=|date=March 12, 2019|url=il.ign.com/nintendo/40693/news/lrshvnh-byshrl-tvr-gyymyng-mshyqh-t-nyntndv-brts-bybv-rshmy|title=לראשונה בישראל – תור גיימינג משיקה את נינטנדו בארץ ביבוא רשמ|publisher=IGN Israel|language=Hebrew|archive=web.archive.org/web/20190515033409/https://il.ign.com/nintendo/40693/news/lrshvnh-byshrl-tvr-gyymyng-mshyqh-t-nyntndv-brts-bybv-rshmy|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref>
**[[File:Flag of Israel.png|border|25px]] Israel


==Appearances in the Mario Universe==
===Formerly supported regions===
The following regions are ones where Nintendo previously offered official distribution for its products, including ''Super Mario'' material, only to cease activity for various reasons:
 
*[[File:Flag of Belarus.png|border|25px]] Belarus (initially via Steepler<ref name="Steepler"/> and later through Belconsole, MyDevice and Gameclub;<ref>{{cite|author=Дмитрий Корсак|date=June 19, 2015|title=Эксперт рынка видеоигр Владимир Бычинов: итоги E3 — финала «Лиги чемпионов» для фанатов PlayStation, Xbox и Nintendo|url=https://people.onliner.by/opinions/2015/06/19/mnenie-234|publisher=Onliner|language=Russian|accessdate=March 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303034711/https://people.onliner.by/opinions/2015/06/19/mnenie-234}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Inkman|date=March 27, 2017|title=И снова о Nintendo Switch: решаем возможные проблемы|url=http://wii.by/review/nintendo-switch-solving-problems/|publisher=Wii.by|language=Russian|accessdate=March 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303034924/http://wii.by/review/nintendo-switch-solving-problems/}}</ref> suspended in 2022 due to sanctions against the country<ref>{{cite|author=Алексей Егоров|date=April 7, 2022|title=Гайд: как оплачивать подписку Nintendo Switch Online и покупать игры в условиях санкций|url=https://kanobu.ru/articles/gajd-kak-oplachivat-podpisku-nintendo-switch-online-i-pokupat-igryi-v-usloviyah-sanktsij-377187/|publisher=Канобу|language=Russian|accessdate=March 2, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623135419/https://kanobu.ru/articles/gajd-kak-oplachivat-podpisku-nintendo-switch-online-i-pokupat-igryi-v-usloviyah-sanktsij-377187/}}</ref>)
*[[File:Flag of Czech Republic.png|border|25px]] Czechoslovakia (via Stadlbauer;<ref name=Rogers_2020>{{cite|author=Joshua Rogers|date=December 26, 2020|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75Re7deJC0|publisher=PAX (via YouTube)|title=World of Nintendo: Exploring Nintendo in (Eastern) Europe|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605201614/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75Re7deJC0|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref> defunct due to the country's {{wp|Dissolution of Czechoslovakia|dissolution}} in 1992; distribution continued in the successor states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, initially through Stadlbauer and MPM<ref name=Rogers_2020/><ref name="The_Retro_Sofa">{{cite|author=The Retro Sofa|date=June 2, 2024|title=The Complete (ish) History of Nintendo's Arrival in Europe|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBXNsZOAsAw|publisher=YouTube|language=English|accessdate=November 15, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006160751/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBXNsZOAsAw}}</ref> and later through ConQuest Entertainment A.S.)
*[[File:Flag of India.png|border|25px]] India (initially via Samurai Electronics<ref>{{cite|author=Desai, Sameer|title="Nintendo Wii and DS to launch in India on September 30"|publisher=Rediff News|date=September 16, 2008|archive=web.archive.org/web/20220929140516/https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/sep/16wii.htm|accessdate=March 23, 2024}}</ref> and later through Sunder Electronics<ref>{{cite|author=Rishi Alwani|date=January 20, 2017|title=Want to Buy the Nintendo Switch In India? You Need to Read This First|url=https://www.gadgets360.com/games/features/buy-the-nintendo-switch-in-india-you-need-to-read-this-first-1650812|publisher=Gadgets 360|language=English|accessdate=March 1, 2025|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128044544/https://www.gadgets360.com/games/features/buy-the-nintendo-switch-in-india-you-need-to-read-this-first-1650812}}</ref>)
*[[File:Flag of Russia.png|border|25px]] Russia (initially via Steepler<ref name="Steepler">{{cite|author=Игорь Пичугин|date=November 1, 1994|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/94004|title=Соглашение Steepler и Nintendo|publisher=Газета "Коммерсантъ"|language=Russian|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427025842/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/94004|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Семён Костин|date=December 14, 2021|url=https://dtf.ru/games/970617-legenda-o-slone-kak-it-kompaniya-steepler-sozdala-dendy-i-osnovala-rossiiskii-konsolnyi-rynok|title=Легенда о слоне: как IT-компания Steepler создала Dendy и основала российский консольный рынок|publisher=DTF|language=Russian|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601223552/https://dtf.ru/games/970617-legenda-o-slone-kak-it-kompaniya-steepler-sozdala-dendy-i-osnovala-rossiiskii-konsolnyi-rynok|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Олег Хохлов|date=August 9, 2016|title=Приставка Dendy: Как Виктор Савюк придумал первый в России поп-гаджет|url=https://secretmag.ru/business/trade-secret/nintendo-so-slonom-kak-viktor-savyuk-pridumal-pristavku-dendy.htm|publisher=Секрет фирмы|language=Russian|accessdate=December 9, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201054908/https://secretmag.ru/business/trade-secret/nintendo-so-slonom-kak-viktor-savyuk-pridumal-pristavku-dendy.htm}}</ref> and later through Nintendo of Europe SE;<ref name="NOE_Leaves_Russia">{{cite|author=Leah J. Williams|date=June 1, 2023|title=Nintendo eShop to shut down in Russia|url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/nintendo-eshop-shut-down-russia-june-2023-2618374/|publisher=Gameshub|language=English|accessdate=July 6, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225053424/https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/nintendo-eshop-shut-down-russia-june-2023-2618374/}}</ref> suspended in 2023 due to the {{wp|Russian invasion of Ukraine}}<ref name="NOE_Leaves_Russia"/>)
*[[File:Flag of FR Yugoslavia.png|border|25px]] Yugoslavia (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)<ref name=Rogers_2020/> (via Beosoft;<ref name="The_Retro_Sofa"/> distribution later resumed in the successor states of Serbia and Montenegro through CD Media S.E.<ref name="International_Distributors_2025"/><ref name="CD_Media_Website"/>)
 
==Appearances in the ''Super Mario'' universe==
{{multiple image
{{multiple image
|align=right
|align=right
|direction=horizontal
|direction=horizontal
|image1=MSM 1-1 Basketball.png
|footer=The Nintendo logo appearing on Diddy Kong's cap and on the walls at [[Nintendo GameCube (battle course)|Nintendo GameCube]] in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
|caption1=The Nintendo logo appearing next to a basketball at [[Mario Stadium (court)#Mario Sports Mix|Mario Stadium]] in ''Mario Sports Mix''.
|image1=Diddy Kong SSB4 - Artwork.png
|width1=260
|width1=170
|image2=NintendoGameCube-ShineSprite-MKDD.png
|image2=NintendoGameCube-ShineSprite-MKDD.png
|caption2=The logo appearing on the sides at [[Nintendo Gamecube (course)|Nintendo Gamecube]] in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''.
|width2=230
|width2=195
}}
}}
*The ''[[WarioWare]]'' character [[9-Volt]] calls himself "Nintendo's biggest fanboy," and, in fact, his [[Microgame]]s are based on or around various Nintendo games and systems.
*The ''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' character [[9-Volt]] calls himself "Nintendo's biggest fanboy," and his [[microgame]]s are based on or around various Nintendo games and systems such as ''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]''.
*[[Diddy Kong]]'s red hat has the Nintendo logo on it.
*[[Diddy Kong]]'s red cap has the Nintendo logo on it.
*In the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'']] series, the Nintendo logo, along with the [[Hudson Soft]] logo, appears on banners in various mini-games.
*Nintendo [[Gallery:Sponsors in the Mario Kart series|sponsors]] can be seen in the background of various ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' courses and battle arenas.
*In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', Nintendo, along with [[Rareware]], sponsors the boxing match between the [[Kongs]] and [[King K. Rool]] as mentioned by the [[Microbuffer]].
*In the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]], the Nintendo logo, along with the [[Hudson Soft]] logo, appears on banners in various [[minigame]]s.
*Nintendo advertisements can be seen in the background of various ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' race tracks and battle arenas.
*In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', Nintendo, along with [[Rare]]ware, sponsors the boxing match between the [[Kong]]s and [[King K. Rool]] as mentioned by the [[Microphone]].  
*In ''[[Mario Power Tennis (Nintendo GameCube)|Mario Power Tennis]]'', the Nintendo logo appears on the [[Peach Dome]] court.
*In ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', the Nintendo logo appears on the [[Peach Dome]] court.
*In ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' and ''[[Mario Power Tennis (Nintendo GameCube)|Mario Power Tennis]]'', [[Wario]] holds up the Nintendo sign when the game boots up while stating the company's name, laughing.
*In ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' and ''Mario Power Tennis'', [[Wario]] holds up the Nintendo sign when the game boots up while stating the company's name, laughing.
*In ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', the Nintendo logo, along with the [[Square Enix]] logo, appears on the arch next to the basket at [[Peach Field]] and on the banner and a large screen on the [[Mario Stadium (court)#Mario Hoops 3-on-3|Mario Stadium]] court.
*In ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', the Nintendo logo, along with the [[Square Enix]] logo, appears on the arch next to the basket at [[Peach Field]] and on the banner and a large screen on the [[Mario Stadium (Mario Hoops 3-on-3)|Mario Stadium]] court.
*In the ''[[Mario Baseball (series)|Mario Baseball series]]'', the Nintendo logo appears on some signs in [[Mario Stadium (baseball stadium)|Mario Stadium]].
*In the ''[[Mario Baseball (series)|Mario Baseball]]'' series, the Nintendo logo appears on some signs in [[Mario Stadium (baseball stadium)|Mario Stadium]].
*In ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]'', the Nintendo logo appears next to the sports equipment on the banners in [[Mario Stadium (court)#Mario Sports Mix|Mario Stadium]].
*In ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]'', the Nintendo logo appears next to the sports equipment on the banners in [[Mario Stadium (Mario Sports Mix)|Mario Stadium]].
*In ''[[Mario Tennis Open]]'', the Nintendo logo can be seen on the scoreboards in various courts.
 
==Home consoles==
[[File:Todas_las_consolas.jpg|thumb|A variety of Nintendo consoles]]
*[[nwiki:Color TV-Game|Color TV-Game]] series (1977–1982)
*[[Family Computer]] (1983–2003) / [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1985–1995)
*Super Famicom (1990–2003) / [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1991–1999)
*[[Nintendo 64]] (1996–2003)
*[[Nintendo GameCube]] (2001–2009)
*[[Wii]] (2006–2013)
*[[Wii U]] (2012–2017)
*[[Nintendo Switch]]{{footnote|main|1}} (2017–present)
*[[Nintendo Switch 2]]{{footnote|main|1}} (upcoming; set to release in 2025)
 
===Attachments and remodels===
*[[Family Computer Disk System]] (1986–1994)
*[[Satellaview]] (1995–2000)
*[[Nintendo 64DD]] (1999–2001)
*[[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]] (2011–2013)
*[[Wii#Wii mini|Wii mini]] (2012–2017)
*[[Nintendo Switch#Nintendo_Switch_.E2.80.93_OLED_Model|Nintendo Switch - OLED Model]]{{footnote|main|1}} (2021-present)
These consoles may have different names in different markets. The NES is known as the Family Computer (or Famicom) in Japan; the Super NES, subsequently as the Super Famicom. In 2003, a plug-in gamepad device called the iQue Player was released exclusively in China, and in simple terms, it is considered a variant of the Nintendo 64.
 
{{footnote|note|1|Although these can also function as handheld consoles, they are primarily marketed as home consoles by Nintendo.}}
 
==Handheld consoles==
*[[Game & Watch]] (1980–1991, 2020, 2021)
*[[Game Boy]] (1989–2003)
*[[Virtual Boy]] (1995–1996)
*[[Game Boy Color]] (1998–2003)
*[[Game Boy Advance]] (2001–2009)
*[[Nintendo DS]] (2004–2013)
*[[Nintendo 3DS]] (2011–2019)
 
===Remodels===
*Game Boy Play It Loud (1996)
*[[Game Boy#Game Boy Pocket|Game Boy Pocket]] (1996–1998)
*[[Game Boy#Game Boy Light|Game Boy Light]] (1997–2003)
*[[Game Boy Advance#Game Boy Advance SP|Game Boy Advance SP]] (2003–2009)
*[[Game Boy Advance#Game Boy Micro|Game Boy Micro]] (2005–2009)
*[[Nintendo DS#Nintendo DS Lite|Nintendo DS Lite]] (2006–2011)
*[[Nintendo DSi]] (2008–2013)
*[[Nintendo DSi#Nintendo DSi XL|Nintendo DSi XL]] (2009–2013)
*[[Nintendo 3DS#Nintendo_3DS_XL|Nintendo 3DS XL]] (2012–2015)
*[[Nintendo 3DS#Nintendo_2DS|Nintendo 2DS]] (2013–2020)
*[[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 3DS]] (2014–2017)
*[[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 3DS XL]] (2014–2019)
*[[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 2DS XL|New Nintendo 2DS XL]] (2017–2020)
*[[Nintendo Switch#Nintendo Switch Lite|Nintendo Switch Lite]] (2019–present)


==Home Consoles==
Between 2004 and 2018, Nintendo authorized the release of some of its portable consoles in the mainland Chinese market under the "[[iQue]]" brand. For example, the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS XL are referred to as the iQue DS and the iQue 3DS XL, respectively, in China.
*Color TV Game series (1977-1982)
*[[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1983-1994)
*[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (1991-2000)
*[[Nintendo 64]] (1996-2002)
*[[Nintendo GameCube]] (2001-2007)
*[[Wii]] (2006-Present)
*[[Wii U]] (in production)
These consoles may have different names in different markets. The NES is known as Famicom in Japan, the SNES subsequently as Super Famicom. In China, the Nintendo 64 was released under the name iQue Player.


==Handheld Consoles==
==Gallery==
*[[Game & Watch]] (1980-1991)
<gallery>
*[[Game Boy]] (1989-1998)
Nintendo-Blue logo.png|The blue Nintendo logo variant, used in Japanese versions of Nintendo games
*[[Virtual Boy]] (1995-1996)
Nintendo gold MK64 logo.png|The gold Nintendo logo from the start-up of ''[[Mario Kart 64]]''
*Game Boy Play it Loud (1996)
Nintendo logo DKRDS.png|Sprite of a Nintendo logo variant, from ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''
*[[Game Boy Pocket]] (1996-1998)
MP1-3 Nintendo logo.png|The white Nintendo logo in a black background as seen in the first three ''[[Mario Party (series)|Mario Party]]'' titles
*[[Game Boy Light]] (1998)
MarioNintendo.jpg|Mario and Nintendo's logo
*[[Game Boy Color]] (1999-2002)
Nintendo's Logo in Super Mario Maker.png|The Nintendo logo recreated in the ''Super Mario Bros.'' game style in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
*[[Game Boy Advance]] (2001-2008)
Bg-red.jpg|Background featuring characters of the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] created by Nintendo
*[[Game Boy Advance SP]] (2003-2008)
Nintendo recruitment book Nintendo Headquarters.jpg|Artwork of Nintendo's Kyoto headquarters from its recruitment book, showing a [[Warp Pipe]] at the bottom left corner
*[[Game Boy Micro]] (2005-2008)
</gallery>
*[[Nintendo DS]] (2004-2009)
*[[Nintendo DS Lite]] (2006-2009)
*[[Nintendo DSi]] (2008-Present)
*[[Nintendo DSi XL]] (2009-Present)
*[[Nintendo 3DS]] (2011-Present)
Releases of these consoles in China usually replace "Nintendo" in the name with "iQue". Examples are the iQue Game Boy Advance and the iQue Nintendo DS.


==See Also==
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=任天堂
|JpnR=Nintendō
|JpnM=The formal name of the company; in {{wp|hiragana}} it is written as 「にんてんどう」, two {{wp|Kana|kanas}} or {{wp|Mora (linguistics)#Japanese|moras}} {{wp|furigana|per kanji}}. Each of the {{wp|kanji}} that make up its formal name means the following:
*任 (''nin'') means "responsibility," "work," or "obligation."
*天 (''ten'') means "sky."
*堂 (''dō'') means "stately," "bless," or "sanctuary."
**天堂 (''tendō'') means "heaven."
|JpnN=This name comes from the Japanese saying 「運を天に任せる」 (''un o ten ni makaseru''), meaning "to leave one's luck to heaven." Consequently, Nintendo officially translates its name as "Leave Luck to Heaven." However, the historical validity of this is disputed, as the kanji for "Nintendo" can be translated in multiple other ways (e.g., "Temple of Free Hanafuda," referencing the company's origins as a playing card company); late president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] admitted in ''The History of Nintendo'' that he did not actually know what "Nintendo" meant, stating that the official translation was accepted by the company only because it sounded like "a plausible explanation."<ref>{{cite|author=Brian Ashcraft|date=August 3, 2017|title="Nintendo" Probably Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does|url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-probably-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-does-5649625|publisher=Kotaku|language=English|accessdate=September 16, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819115547/https://kotaku.com/nintendo-probably-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-does-5649625}}</ref>
|Jpn2=ニンテンドー
|Jpn2R=Nintendō
|Jpn2M=Rough katakana form
|Jpn2N=Used for the Japanese names of several systems and services such as [[Nintendo GameCube]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Nintendo eShop]], or [[Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo]]
|Jpn3=ニンテンドウ
|Jpn3R=Nintendō
|Jpn3M=Rough katakana form, written with the kana "u" (ウ) instead of the {{wp|chōonpu|long sound symbol}} (ー).
|Jpn3N=Used in the Japanese names of the [[Nintendo Power (cartridge)|Nintendo Power]] service, the [[Nintendo 64]], and ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''
|Ara=نينتندو
|AraR=Nintendo
|AraC=<ref>{{cite|title=نينتندو السعودية (الممثل الرسمي)|url=https://x.com/NintendoSaudi|publisher=X|language=Arabic|accessdate=July 6, 2024}}</ref>
|Chi=任天堂
|ChiR=Rèntiāntáng
|Fin=Nintendon
|FinN=''Captain N: The Game Master''
|Fin2=Nintendo
|Gre=Νιντέντο
|GreR=Ninténto
|Heb=נינטנדו
|HebR=Nintendo
|Kor=닌텐도
|KorR=Nintendo
|Rus=Нинтендо
|RusR=Nintendo
|Spa=Nintendo
}}
 
==See also==
*[[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
*[[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
*[[Satoru Iwata]]
*[[Satoru Iwata]]
*[[Hiroshi Yamauchi]]
*[[Yoshiaki Koizumi]]
*[[Tatsumi Kimishima]]
*[[Koji Kondo]]
*[[Gunpei Yokoi]]
*[[Gunpei Yokoi]]
*[[Reggie Fils-Aime]]
*[[Reggie Fils-Aimé]]
*[[Doug Bowser]]
 
==References==
<references/>
 
==External links==
{{NIWA|ARMSWiki=1|Bulbapedia=1|FZeroWiki=1|FireEmblem=1|GoldenSun=1|HardDrop=Category:Nintendo|Icaruspedia=1|Inkipedia=1|LylatWiki=1|MetroidWiki=1|NWiki=1|Nookipedia=1|Pikipedia=1|SmashWiki=1|StarfyWiki=1|StrategyWiki=Category:Nintendo|WarsWiki=1|WiKirby=1|WikiBound=1|ZeldaWiki=1}}
*[https://www.nintendo.com/jp Official Japan website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/us Official United States website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/en-ca Official Canada (English) website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/fr-ca Official Canada (French) website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb Official UK & Ireland website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/es-mx Official Mexico website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/pt-br Official Brazil website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/es-co Official Colombia website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/es-ar Official Argentina website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/es-cl Official Chile website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/es-pe Official Peru website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/eu Official Europe website]
*[https://www.nintendo.dk Official Denmark website]
*[https://www.nintendo.fi Official Finland website]
*[https://www.nintendo.no Official Norway website]
*[https://www.nintendo.se Official Sweden website]
*[https://www.nintendo.hu Official Hungary website]
*[https://www.nintendo.pl Official Poland website]
*[https://mojenintendo.cz Official Czechia website]
*[https://www.nintendo.sk Official Slovakia website]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.il Official Israeli website]
*[https://www.active-gulf.com/index.php Official U.A.E. website]
*[https://www.nintendo.sa/en Official Saudi website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/au Official Oceania website]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.kr Official South Korea website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com.hk Official Hong Kong website]
*[https://www.nintendo.tw Official Taiwan website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/sg Official Singapore website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/my Official Malaysia website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/ph Official Philippines website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/th Official Thailand website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/en-za Official South Africa website]
*[https://www.nintendoswitch.com.cn Official mainland China website]
*[https://www.nintendo.gr Official Greek website]
*[https://www.cdmedia.gr/nintendo-support/?ln=hr Official Croatian website]
*[https://www.cdmedia.gr/nintendo-support/?ln=bg Official Bulgarian website]
*[https://www.cdmedia.gr/nintendo-support/?ln=sl Official Slovenian website]
*[https://www.cdmedia.gr/nintendo-support/?ln=ro Official Romanian website]
*[https://www.cdmedia.gr/nintendo-support/?ln=sr Official Serbian website]


==External Links==
{{Companies}}
*[http://www.nintendo.com/ Official American website]
[[de:Nintendo]]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ Official Japanese website]
[[it:Nintendo]]
*[http://www.nintendo.com.au/ Official Australian website]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/ Official European website]
*[[wikipedia:Nintendo|Wikipedia]]
{{br}}
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Nintendo|*]]

Latest revision as of 01:22, March 12, 2025

This article is about the Japanese company. For the console sometimes colloquially referred to as a Nintendo, see Nintendo Entertainment System. For the development team, see Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development.
Nintendo
Current Nintendo logo (2016-present): On May 11, 2016, several months after when Tatsumi Kimishima took the company helm, Nintendo's logo was changed to white-on-red.
Founded September 23, 1889[1]
First Super Mario game Donkey Kong (1981)
Latest Super Mario game Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)
Current president Shuntaro Furukawa

Nintendo is a Japanese video game company and the creator of many popular franchises, including the Super Mario franchise, and the company's mascot is Mario himself.

History

The company's signature red logo from 1985 to 2008, used internationally outside Japan and East Asia (top), and gray logo from 2006 to 2016 (bottom). The gray logo is still used in corporate pages.
The company's signature red logo from 1985 to 2008, used internationally outside Japan and East Asia (top), and gray logo from 2006 to 2016 (bottom). The gray logo is still used in corporate pages.
The company's signature red logo from 1985 to 2008, used internationally outside Japan and East Asia (top), and gray logo from 2006 to 2016 (bottom). The gray logo is still used in corporate pages.

Originally founded as a hanafuda playing card manufacturer in Kyoto, Japan, on September 23, 1889, Nintendo began exploring game-making after third president Hiroshi Yamauchi began diversifying the company's ventures. Nintendo entered the arcade industry in 1973 and the home console industry in 1977, simultaneously hiring Shigeru Miyamoto as a product designer. In 1978, Nintendo began making arcade video games, licensing titles to other companies for distribution outside Japan. In 1980, Nintendo established a North American division headed by Minoru Arakawa, and the first game that would be distributed by the American division would be Radar Scope. The game did not sell well in the United States, and a number of unsold cabinets remained in warehouses.

Arakawa asked Yamauchi if a new game could be developed and inserted into the unsold Radar Scope cabinets.[2] Yamauchi went through Nintendo's entire talent pool to see who could head the designing of a potential Radar Scope replacement, and the result was Miyamoto designing Donkey Kong. When Donkey Kong was released in 1981, it became a bestseller and marked the introduction of Mario. In 1983, Nintendo introduced the Family Computer, distributing it abroad as the Nintendo Entertainment System two years later. Its success in Japan and North America resulted in Nintendo becoming a dominant player in the video game industry and the revival of the industry in North America, which had been negatively affected by a crash in 1983. The most successful game for the NES, Super Mario Bros., further cemented Nintendo's dominance in the industry. The Super Mario franchise has since become Nintendo's flagship franchise and one of the most well-known brands to originate from video games.

Supported regions

Nintendo's commercial zones, divided by colors (languages) and borders (regions), and according to Nintendo's region selector (https://www.nintendo.com/regionselector/)
Regions with official Nintendo websites

First-party distribution

As a multinational company, Nintendo has established various regional divisions dedicated to marketing and sales of its products outside Japan, including Super Mario games, merchandise, and licensing, located in different gaming markets around the world, and all of them are wholly owned. Two major subsidiaries, Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe, have the authority to publish games autonomously. As of August 2024, these divisions include:

  • Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NCL)
    • Flag of Japan, used officially since August 13, 1999 and in a de facto capacity since February 27, 1868. For Japanese release dates. Japan
  • Nintendo of America, Inc. (NOA)
    • Flag of Argentina. For Argentine release dates. Argentina
    • Flag of the Federative Republic of Brazil since May 11, 1992. For Brazilian release dates. Brazil
    • The flag of Canada since February 15, 1965. For Canadian {{flag list}} dates. Canada
    • Flag of the United States of America since July 4, 1960. For North American (and sometimes South American) release dates. United States
  • Nintendo of Europe SE (NOE)
    • Flag of the Principality of Andorra since 1993. For Andorran release dates within this time frame. Andorra[3]
    • Flag of the European Union (previously the European Economic Community). For European release dates. European Union (select member states):
      • Flag of the Republic of Austria since May 1, 1945. For Austrian release dates. Austria
      • Flag of the Kingdom of Belgium since January 23, 1831. For Belgian release dates. Belgium
      • Flag of France. For French release dates. France
      • Flag of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949. For West German and reunified German release dates. Germany
      • Flag of the Republic of Ireland. For Irish release dates. Ireland
      • Flag of the Italian Republic since June 18, 1946. For Italian release dates. Italy
      • Flag of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since 1993. For Luxembourgish release dates. Luxembourg
      • Flag of the Republic of Malta since September 21, 1964. For Maltese release dates. Malta
      • Flag of the Netherlands. For Dutch release dates. The Netherlands
      • Flag of the Portuguese Republic since June 30, 1911. For Portuguese release dates. Portugal
      • Flag of the Kingdom of Spain since October 5, 1981. For Spanish release dates. Spain
    • Flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein since June 30, 1982. For Liechtensteiner release dates within this time frame. Liechtenstein[3]
    • Flag of the Principality of Monaco since April 4, 1881. For Monégasque release dates. Monaco[3]
    • Flag of the Republic of San Marino since July 22, 2011. For Sammarinese release dates. San Marino[3]
    • Flag of the Swiss Confederation. For Swiss release dates. Switzerland
    • Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from January 1, 1801 to December 6, 1922 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the latter date. For British release dates. United Kingdom (including Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies in Europe[3])
    • Flag of the Vatican City State since June 7, 2023. For Vatican release dates. Vatican City State[3]
  • Nintendo Australia Pty. Limited (NAL)
    • Flag of the Commonwealth of Australia since December 8, 1908. For Oceanian release dates. Australia
    • Flag of New Zealand since March 24, 1902. For New Zealander release dates. New Zealand
  • Nintendo of Korea Co., Ltd. (NOK)
    • Flag of the Republic of Korea since May 30, 2011. For South Korean release dates. South Korea
  • Nintendo (Hong Kong) Ltd. (NHK)
    • Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since July 1, 1997, for Hongkonger {{flag list}} dates within this timeframe. Hong Kong
    • Flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since December 20, 1999. For Macau release dates. Macau
    • Flag of the Republic of China since 1928, used as the flag of Taiwan since 1949. For Taiwanese release dates. Taiwan (Republic of China)

Third-party distribution

In addition to the above subsidiaries, over the years Nintendo has officially assigned various third-party distribution companies to represent Nintendo and its products (including Super Mario products) in certain markets. These partners may have the authority to handle marketing and sales, but they may vary and are overviewed by one of the three major divisions (NCL, NOA, NOE). As of September 2023, the following partners include:

  • Active Bokei K.K.[4]
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Bahrain since February 14, 2002. For Bahraini release dates. Bahrain
    • Flag of the Republic of Indonesia since August 17, 1945. For Indonesian release dates. Indonesia
    • Flag of the State of Kuwait since September 7, 1961. For Kuwaiti release dates. Kuwait
    • Flag of Malaysia since 1964. Malaysia
    • Flag of the Sultanate of Oman since April 25, 1995. For Omani release dates. Oman
    • Flag of the Republic of the Philippines since February 12, 1998. For Filipino release dates. The Philippines
    • Flag of the State of Qatar since July 9, 1971. For Qatari release dates. Qatar
    • Flag of the Republic of Singapore. For Singaporean release dates. Singapore
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Thailand since September 30, 2017. For Thai release dates. Thailand
    • Flag of the United Arab Emirates since December 2, 1971. For Emirati release dates. United Arab Emirates
  • Advanced Initiative Company Trading[5][6]
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For Saudi release dates. Saudi Arabia
  • Bergsala AB[6][7][8]
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1625. For Danish release dates. Denmark
    • Flag of the Republic of Estonia since August 7, 1990. For Estonian release dates within this time frame. Estonia
    • Flag of the Republic of Finland since May 28, 1918. For Finnish release dates. Finland
    • Flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic from February 27, 1990 to May 4, 1990 and of the Republic of Latvia since the latter date. For Latvian release dates within this time frame. Latvia
    • Flag of the Republic of Lithuania since July 8, 2004. For Lithuanian release dates. Lithuania
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Norway since July 13, 1821. For Norwegian release dates. Norway
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Sweden since June 22, 1906. For Swedish release dates. Sweden
  • CD Media S.E.[6][9][10]
    • Flag of the Republic of Albania since July 22, 2002. For Albanian release dates. Albania
    • Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina since February 4, 1998. For Bosnian/Herzegovinian release dates. Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Flag of the Republic of Bulgaria since November 27, 1990. For Bulgarian release dates. Bulgaria
    • Flag of the Republic of Croatia since December 21, 1990. For Croatian release dates. Croatia
    • Flag of the Republic of Cyprus since April 24, 2006. For Cypriot release dates. Cyprus
    • Flag of the Hellenic Republic since December 22, 1978. For Greek release dates. Greece
    • Flag of Montenegro since June 3, 2006. For Montenegrin release dates within this time frame. Montenegro
    • Flag of the Republic of North Macedonia since October 5, 1995. For North Macedonian release dates. North Macedonia
    • Flag of Romania (not to be confused with the flag of Chad) since December 27, 1989. For Romanian release dates. Romania
    • Flag of the Republic of Serbia since 2004. For Serbian release dates since the nation achieved independence on June 5, 2006. Serbia
    • Flag of the Republic of Slovenia since June 25, 1991. For Slovenian release dates. Slovenia
    • Flag of the Republic of Türkiye since May 29, 1936. For Turkish release dates. Turkey
  • ConQuest Entertainment A.S.[6]
    • Flag of Czechoslovakia from March 30, 1920 to December 31, 1992 and of the Czech Republic since the latter date. For Czech release dates. Czech Republic
    • Flag of the Polish People's Republic from January 31, 1980 to December 31, 1989 and of the Republic of Poland since the latter date. For Polish release dates. Poland
    • Flag of the Slovak Republic since September 3, 1992. For Slovak release dates. Slovakia
  • Core Computer Business (PTY) LTD[6][11]
    • Flag of the People's Republic of Angola from November 11, 1975 to August 25, 1992 and of the Republic of Angola since the latter date; for Angolan release dates. Angola
    • Flag of the Republic of Botswana since September 30, 1966. For Batswana release dates. Botswana
    • Flag of the Kingdom of Lesotho since October 4, 2004. For Basotho release dates. Lesotho
    • Flag of the Republic of Malawi from July 6, 1964 to July 28, 2010 and since May 28, 2012; for Angolan release dates within this time frame. Malawi
    • Flag of the People's Republic of Mozambique from May 1, 1983 to November 30, 1990 and of the Republic of Mozambique since the latter date; for Mozambican release dates. Mozambique
    • Flag of the Republic of Namibia since March 21, 1990. For Namibian release dates. Namibia
    • Flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria since October 1, 1960. For Nigerian release dates. Nigeria
    • Flag of the Republic of South Africa since April 27, 1994. For South African release dates within this time frame. South Africa
    • Flag of the Republic of Zambia since October 24, 1964. For Zambian release dates. Zambia
    • Flag of the Republic of Zimbabwe since April 18, 1980. For Zimbabwean release dates. Zimbabwe
  • Game Park[6]
    • Flag of the Hungarian People's Republic from May 23, 1957 to October 23, 1989 and of Hungary since the latter date. For Hungarian release dates. Hungary
  • ERC[12][13][14]
    • Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan since June 4, 1992. For Kazakh release dates within this time frame. Kazakhstan
    • Flag of Ukraine since January 28, 1992. For Ukrainian release dates within this time frame. Ukraine
    • Flag of the Republic of Republic of Uzbekistan since November 18, 1991; for Uzbek release dates within this time frame. Uzbekistan
  • JVLAT[15]
    • Flag of the Republic of Chile since October 18, 1817. For Chilean release dates. Chile
    • Flag of the Republic of Colombia since November 26, 1861. For Colombian release dates. Colombia
    • Flag of the Republic of Costa Rica since September 29, 1848. For Costa Rican release dates. Costa Rica
    • Flag of the Republic of Guatemala since August 17, 1871. For Guatemalan release dates. Guatemala
    • Flag of the United Mexican States since 1975, for Mexican {{flag list}} dates. Mexico
    • Flag of the Republic of Panama since March 25, 1925. For Panamanian release dates. Panama
    • Flag of the Republic of Peru since March 31, 1950. For Peruvian release dates. Peru
  • Tencent[16]
    • Flag of the People's Republic of China since October 1, 1949. For Mainland Chinese release dates. China (People's Republic of China)
  • TorGaming, Ltd.[6][17]
    • Flag of the State of Israel. For Israeli release dates. Israel

Formerly supported regions

The following regions are ones where Nintendo previously offered official distribution for its products, including Super Mario material, only to cease activity for various reasons:

  • Flag of the Republic of Belarus since February 10, 2012; for Belarusian release date. Belarus (initially via Steepler[18] and later through Belconsole, MyDevice and Gameclub;[19][20] suspended in 2022 due to sanctions against the country[21])
  • Flag of Czechoslovakia from March 30, 1920 to December 31, 1992 and of the Czech Republic since the latter date. For Czech release dates. Czechoslovakia (via Stadlbauer;[22] defunct due to the country's dissolution in 1992; distribution continued in the successor states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, initially through Stadlbauer and MPM[22][23] and later through ConQuest Entertainment A.S.)
  • Flag of the Republic of India since July 22, 1947. For Indian release dates. India (initially via Samurai Electronics[24] and later through Sunder Electronics[25])
  • Flag of the Russian Federation since December 11, 1993 (also the national flag of Russia from 1896 to 1922). For Russian release dates within this time frame. Russia (initially via Steepler[18][26][27] and later through Nintendo of Europe SE;[28] suspended in 2023 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine[28])
  • Flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from April 27, 1992 to February 4, 2003 and of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro from the latter date until June 3, 2006. For Yugoslav, Serbian, and Montenegrin release dates within this timeframe. Yugoslavia (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)[22] (via Beosoft;[23] distribution later resumed in the successor states of Serbia and Montenegro through CD Media S.E.[6][10])

Appearances in the Super Mario universe

The Nintendo logo appearing on Diddy Kong's cap and on the walls at Nintendo GameCube in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
The Nintendo logo appearing on Diddy Kong's cap and on the walls at Nintendo GameCube in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
The Nintendo logo appearing on Diddy Kong's cap and on the walls at Nintendo GameCube in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Home consoles

A collage of Nintendo consoles
A variety of Nintendo consoles

Attachments and remodels

These consoles may have different names in different markets. The NES is known as the Family Computer (or Famicom) in Japan; the Super NES, subsequently as the Super Famicom. In 2003, a plug-in gamepad device called the iQue Player was released exclusively in China, and in simple terms, it is considered a variant of the Nintendo 64.

1 - Although these can also function as handheld consoles, they are primarily marketed as home consoles by Nintendo.

Handheld consoles

Remodels

Between 2004 and 2018, Nintendo authorized the release of some of its portable consoles in the mainland Chinese market under the "iQue" brand. For example, the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS XL are referred to as the iQue DS and the iQue 3DS XL, respectively, in China.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 任天堂
Nintendō
The formal name of the company; in hiragana it is written as 「にんてんどう」, two kanas or moras per kanji. Each of the kanji that make up its formal name means the following:
  • 任 (nin) means "responsibility," "work," or "obligation."
  • 天 (ten) means "sky."
  • 堂 () means "stately," "bless," or "sanctuary."
    • 天堂 (tendō) means "heaven."
This name comes from the Japanese saying 「運を天に任せる」 (un o ten ni makaseru), meaning "to leave one's luck to heaven." Consequently, Nintendo officially translates its name as "Leave Luck to Heaven." However, the historical validity of this is disputed, as the kanji for "Nintendo" can be translated in multiple other ways (e.g., "Temple of Free Hanafuda," referencing the company's origins as a playing card company); late president Hiroshi Yamauchi admitted in The History of Nintendo that he did not actually know what "Nintendo" meant, stating that the official translation was accepted by the company only because it sounded like "a plausible explanation."[29]
ニンテンドー[?]
Nintendō
Rough katakana form Used for the Japanese names of several systems and services such as Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo eShop, or Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo
ニンテンドウ[?]
Nintendō
Rough katakana form, written with the kana "u" (ウ) instead of the long sound symbol (ー). Used in the Japanese names of the Nintendo Power service, the Nintendo 64, and Super Smash Bros.
Arabic نينتندو[30]
Nintendo
-
Chinese 任天堂[?]
Rèntiāntáng
-
Finnish Nintendon[?] - Captain N: The Game Master
Nintendo[?]
Greek Νιντέντο[?]
Ninténto
-
Hebrew נינטנדו[?]
Nintendo
-
Korean 닌텐도[?]
Nintendo
-
Russian Нинтендо[?]
Nintendo
-
Spanish Nintendo[?] -

See also

References

  1. ^ Corporate Information : Company History. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (English). Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros."
  3. ^ a b c d e f "On 3rd March, Nintendo Switch will be available in the following European territories: Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hungary, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Vatican. It will also be available in South Africa at the same timing." – Nintendo (January 13, 2017). Nintendo Switch launches on 3rd March!. Nintendo (official South African site) (English). Retrieved November 24, 2024. (Archived November 24, 2024, 23:43:36 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  4. ^ Active Bokei K.K.. Active Bokei K.K. (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024. (Archived June 3, 2024, 05:14:24 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  5. ^ Advanced Initiative. Advanced Initiative Co. Trdg. (English). Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Distributors Contact Details for Consumers. Nintendo UK (English). Retrieved February 27, 2025. (Archived February 7, 2025, 01:00:26 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  7. ^ Joe Skrebels (December 9, 2019). The Lie That Helped Build Nintendo. IGN (English). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived December 21, 2019, 23:17:14 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  8. ^ Home. Bergsala (English). Retrieved September 26, 2024. (Archived June 14, 2024, 01:43:01 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  9. ^ Enes K. (July 24, 2018). Resmi Açıklama Geldi: Nintendo Switch Türkiye'de Satışa Çıkıyor. Webtekno (Turkish). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived October 17, 2018, 00:20:49 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  10. ^ a b Partnerships. CD Media S.E. (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024. (Archived March 29, 2023, 11:50:20 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  11. ^ Core Group. Core Group (English). Retrieved March 11, 2025. (Archived March 9, 2025, 13:26:28 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  12. ^ Ольга Карпенко (October 26, 2021). Консоли Nintendo Switch будут официально продаваться в Украине. AIN (Russian). Retrieved March 2, 2025. (Archived April 18, 2024, 20:24:42 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  13. ^ Nintendo. ERC Kazakhstan (English). Retrieved March 2, 2025. (Archived March 2, 2025, 22:50:01 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  14. ^ Nintendo. ERC Uzbekistan (English). Retrieved May 2, 2025. (Archived March 2, 2025, 22:50:45 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  15. ^ Juegos de Video Latinoamérica – JVLAT – Empresa dedicada a la comercialización exclusiva de marcas mundiales en América Latina y el Caribe. JVLAT (English). Retrieved March 11, 2025. (Archived March 12, 2025, 05:18:52 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  16. ^ Takashi Moshizuki, Shan Li (April 18, 2019). Nintendo, With Tencent's Help, to Sell Switch Console in China. The Wall Street Journal (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024. (Archived December 6, 2019, 20:13:54 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  17. ^ March 12, 2019. לראשונה בישראל – תור גיימינג משיקה את נינטנדו בארץ ביבוא רשמ. IGN Israel (Hebrew). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived May 15, 2019, 03:34:09 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  18. ^ a b Игорь Пичугин (November 1, 1994). Соглашение Steepler и Nintendo. Газета "Коммерсантъ" (Russian). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived April 27, 2019, 02:58:42 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  19. ^ Дмитрий Корсак (June 19, 2015). Эксперт рынка видеоигр Владимир Бычинов: итоги E3 — финала «Лиги чемпионов» для фанатов PlayStation, Xbox и Nintendo. Onliner (Russian). Retrieved March 2, 2025. (Archived March 3, 2025, 03:47:11 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  20. ^ Inkman (March 27, 2017). И снова о Nintendo Switch: решаем возможные проблемы. Wii.by (Russian). Retrieved March 2, 2025. (Archived March 3, 2025, 03:49:24 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  21. ^ Алексей Егоров (April 7, 2022). Гайд: как оплачивать подписку Nintendo Switch Online и покупать игры в условиях санкций. Канобу (Russian). Retrieved March 2, 2025. (Archived June 23, 2023, 13:54:19 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  22. ^ a b c Joshua Rogers (December 26, 2020). World of Nintendo: Exploring Nintendo in (Eastern) Europe. PAX (via YouTube) (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived June 5, 2024, 20:16:14 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  23. ^ a b The Retro Sofa (June 2, 2024). The Complete (ish) History of Nintendo's Arrival in Europe. YouTube (English). Retrieved November 15, 2024. (Archived October 6, 2024, 16:07:51 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  24. ^ Desai, Sameer (September 16, 2008). "Nintendo Wii and DS to launch in India on September 30". Rediff News. Retrieved March 23, 2024. (Archived September 29, 2022, 14:05:16 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  25. ^ Rishi Alwani (January 20, 2017). Want to Buy the Nintendo Switch In India? You Need to Read This First. Gadgets 360 (English). Retrieved March 1, 2025. (Archived January 28, 2025, 04:45:44 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  26. ^ Семён Костин (December 14, 2021). Легенда о слоне: как IT-компания Steepler создала Dendy и основала российский консольный рынок. DTF (Russian). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived June 1, 2024, 22:35:52 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  27. ^ Олег Хохлов (August 9, 2016). Приставка Dendy: Как Виктор Савюк придумал первый в России поп-гаджет. Секрет фирмы (Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2024. (Archived December 1, 2024, 05:49:08 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  28. ^ a b Leah J. Williams (June 1, 2023). Nintendo eShop to shut down in Russia. Gameshub (English). Retrieved July 6, 2024. (Archived February 25, 2024, 05:34:24 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  29. ^ Brian Ashcraft (August 3, 2017). "Nintendo" Probably Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does. Kotaku (English). Retrieved September 16, 2024. (Archived August 19, 2024, 11:55:47 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  30. ^ نينتندو السعودية (الممثل الرسمي). X (Arabic). Retrieved July 6, 2024.

External links