Founded in Kyoto on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, Nintendo began as a maker of handmade hanafuda playing cards. For decades the company refined card manufacturing, struck a pivotal Walt Disney licensing deal in 1959 to print character cards for children, and listed its stock in 1962—steps that professionalized the business and set up later expansions. In 1963 the firm adopted the name Nintendo Co., Ltd., the banner it still carries today.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Nintendo pivoted from cards to toys and novelty electronics, catalyzed by engineer Gunpei Yokoi. Hits like the Ultra Hand (1966) proved there was room for playful, gadget-driven design—an ethos that would characterize Nintendo’s future. The company also experimented with light-gun amusements like the Laser Clay Shooting System (1973) as it inched toward video entertainment.
Nintendo’s modern era arrived with games. After arcade successes like Donkey Kong (1981), the company launched the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan (1983) and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) abroad, helping revive the North American video-game market. From there Nintendo iterated through landmark platforms—Game & Watch (1980), Game Boy (1989), Super Famicom/SNES (1990/1991), Nintendo 64 (1996), Game Boy Advance (2001), Nintendo GameCube (2001), Nintendo DS (2004), Wii (2006), Nintendo 3DS (2011), Wii U (2012), and Nintendo Switch (2017)—each pairing distinctive hardware with character-led software from creators like Shigeru Miyamoto.
Under successive presidents—from Hiroshi Yamauchi (1949–2002) to Satoru Iwata (2002–2015), Tatsumi Kimishima (2015–2018), and current president Shuntaro Furukawa (since 2018)—Nintendo emphasized approachable design over raw specs. That philosophy paid off repeatedly, from DS and Wii’s “blue ocean” years to Switch, and into a broader IP strategy spanning mobile, film, and theme parks. Furukawa’s tenure has overseen a continued IP expansion and, in 2025, the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, extending the hybrid model to a new generation.
Nintendo now treats its characters as multimedia stars. Super Nintendo World opened first in Osaka (grand opening Mar 18, 2021), then Universal Studios Hollywood (Feb 17, 2023), and Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe (May 22, 2025). In film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) with Illumination became a billion-dollar hit and a global touchpoint for the brand.
Recent years also saw selective acquisitions to bolster development and content: Next Level Games (2021) joined as a wholly owned studio; long-time partner SRD (2022) was brought in-house; Dynamo Pictures (2022) was rebranded Nintendo Pictures to expand visual production; and in 2024 Nintendo purchased Shiver Entertainment to strengthen ports and support. Together these moves support a strategy of steady internal capability with tightly curated external partnerships.
Nintendo Corporate Snapshot
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 23, 1889 (Kyoto, Japan) — as a hanafuda card maker |
| Founder | Fusajiro Yamauchi |
| Headquarters | Kyoto, Japan |
| Public Listings | Listed on Osaka & Kyoto exchanges (1962); First Section Tokyo (1983); Prime Market since Apr 4, 2022 |
| Presidents (recent) | Hiroshi Yamauchi (1949–2002); Satoru Iwata (2002–2015); Tatsumi Kimishima (2015–2018); Shuntaro Furukawa (2018–present) |
| Signature Franchises | Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon*, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Animal Crossing, Splatoon |
| Theme Parks | Super Nintendo World — Osaka (Mar 18, 2021), Hollywood (Feb 17, 2023), Orlando (May 22, 2025) |
| Film & TV | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) grossed ~$1.36B worldwide; Nintendo Pictures established 2022 |
| Notable Subsidiaries/Acquisitions | Next Level Games (2021); SRD Co., Ltd. (2022); Nintendo Pictures (formerly Dynamo Pictures, 2022); Shiver Entertainment (2024) |
| Current Hardware | Nintendo Switch family (2017– ); Nintendo Switch 2 (launched 2025) |