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Retro Grenade Timeline

A dated list of key moments covered across Retro Grenade's pages.

After a few rounds of clay-tablet noughts and crosses (probably), the Royal Game of Ur, one of the oldest known board games, is played in Mesopotamia. The first console, if you squint. No controller required.
Date: c. 2600 BC · ancient ·
Nintendo founded in Kyoto as a playing-card maker
Date: 1889-09-23 · early years ·
Tennis for Two shown at Brookhaven National Laboratory open day
Date: 1958-10-18 · early years · Read the page →
Spacewar! created for the PDP-1 at MIT
Date: 1962-04 · early years · Read the page →
Computer Space, the first commercial arcade video game
Date: 1971 · early years · Read the page →
Atari, Inc. incorporated in California
Date: 1972-06-27 · early years · Read the page →
Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console, released
Date: 1972-09 · early years · Read the page →
Atari's Pong becomes an arcade hit
Date: 1972-11 · early years · Read the page →
Taito releases Space Invaders
Date: 1978 · golden age · Read the page →
Asteroids and Galaxian released
Date: 1979 · golden age · Read the page →
Sinclair ZX80 launches
Date: 1980-01-29 · 8 bit ·
Space Invaders on Atari 2600, the first licensed home arcade port
Date: 1980-03 · golden age · Read the page →
First Game & Watch, Ball, launches in Japan
Date: 1980-04-28 · golden age ·
Puck Man (Pac-Man) released in Japan
Date: 1980-05-22 · golden age · Read the page →
Pac-Man released in the US by Midway
Date: 1980-10 · golden age · Read the page →
Sinclair ZX81 launches
Date: 1981-03-05 · 8 bit ·
Donkey Kong released in Japan
Date: 1981-07-09 · golden age · Read the page →
Donkey Kong released in North America
Date: 1981-10 · golden age · Read the page →
BBC Micro released
Date: 1981-12-01 · 8 bit ·
Commodore 64 unveiled at the Winter CES in Las Vegas
Date: 1982-01-07 · 8 bit ·
ZX Spectrum launches in the UK, starting the Spectrum vs Commodore 64 rivalry
Date: 1982-04-23 · 8 bit ·
Arcade and North American home console crash ends the golden age
Date: 1983 · golden age · Read the page →
Famicom launches in Japan
Date: 1983-07-15 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Alexey Pajitnov completes the first version of Tetris in Moscow
Date: 1984-06-06 · 8 bit ·
Amstrad CPC 464 launches
Date: 1984-06-21 · 8 bit ·
Elite released for the BBC Micro
Date: 1984-09-20 · 8 bit ·
Space Harrier debuts in arcades
Date: 1985 · 8 bit ·
Amiga 1000 unveiled at Lincoln Center, New York
Date: 1985-07-23 · 16 bit ·
Super Mario Bros. released in Japan
Date: 1985-09-13 · 8 bit · Read the page →
NES test launch in New York
Date: 1985-10-18 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Sega Mark III (Master System) launches in Japan
Date: 1985-10-20 · 8 bit ·
The Legend of Zelda released on the Famicom Disk System
Date: 1986-02-21 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Super Mario Bros. 2 (later The Lost Levels) released in Japan
Date: 1986-06-03 · 8 bit · Read the page →
NES launches in Scandinavia
Date: 1986-09-01 · 8 bit · Read the page →
NES nationwide US launch
Date: 1986-09-27 · 8 bit · Read the page →
NES reaches the UK, Ireland and Italy via Mattel
Date: 1987 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link released on the Famicom Disk System
Date: 1987-01-14 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Amiga 500 goes on sale in the UK
Date: 1987-10 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Final Fantasy released in Japan
Date: 1987-12-18 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Capcom CP System (CPS1) debuts
Date: 1988 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Dragon Quest III released in Japan
Date: 1988-02-10 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Super Mario Bros. 3 released in Japan
Date: 1988-10-23 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Mega Drive launches in Japan
Date: 1988-10-29 · 16 bit · Read the page →
First Sound Blaster sound card introduced
Date: 1989 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Intel announces the 486 processor at Spring Comdex
Date: 1989-04-10 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Game Boy launches in Japan
Date: 1989-04-21 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Game Boy launches in North America
Date: 1989-07-31 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Genesis launches in New York and Los Angeles
Date: 1989-08 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Genesis launches in New York and Los Angeles
Date: 1989-08-14 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Super Mario Bros. 3 released in North America
Date: 1990-02-12 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Neo Geo MVS arcade system launches
Date: 1990-04-16 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Neo Geo AES launches (rental first)
Date: 1990-04-26 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Neo Geo MVS launches in North America
Date: 1990-08-22 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Mega Drive launches in the UK
Date: 1990-09 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Game Boy launches in Europe
Date: 1990-09-28 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Sega Game Gear launches in Japan
Date: 1990-10-06 · 16 bit ·
Super Famicom launches in Japan
Date: 1990-11-21 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Adventures of Lolo released for the NES in Europe
Date: 1990-12-28 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior released on CPS1
Date: 1991-02-06 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Neo Geo AES Gold System launches in North America at US$649.99
Date: 1991 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Lemmings released for the Amiga
Date: 1991-02-14 · 16 bit ·
Sonic the Hedgehog released in North America
Date: 1991-06-23 · 16 bit · Read the page →
SNES first ships in North America
Date: 1991-08-23 · 16 bit · Read the page →
SNES official nationwide US launch
Date: 1991-09-09 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Amiga 600 launches, replacing the A500
Date: 1992-03 · 16 bit · Read the page →
SNES launches in the UK
Date: 1992-04-11 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Wolfenstein 3D released
Date: 1992-05-05 · 16 bit ·
Sound Blaster 16 announced
Date: 1992-06 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Street Fighter II released on Super Famicom
Date: 1992-06-10 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Super Mario Kart released in Japan
Date: 1992-08-27 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Amiga 1200 released
Date: 1992-10-21 · 16 bit ·
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 launches in Europe and the US ("Sonic 2sday")
Date: 1992-11-24 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun (Kid Dracula) released for Game Boy in Japan
Date: 1993-01-03 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Intel introduces the Pentium processor
Date: 1993-03-22 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Mega-CD launches in the UK
Date: 1993-04-02 · 16 bit · Read the page →
First Samurai (originally by British studio Vivid Image) released on Super Famicom in Japan by Kemco
Date: 1993-07-02 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Seiken Densetsu 2 (Secret of Mana) released on Super Famicom
Date: 1993-08-06 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Capcom CPS2 debuts with Super Street Fighter II
Date: 1993-09-10 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Amiga CD32 launches
Date: 1993-09-17 · 32 bit ·
Doom released
Date: 1993-12-10 · 32 bit ·
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem released on Super Famicom
Date: 1994-01-21 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Final Fantasy VI released in Japan
Date: 1994-04-02 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Commodore files for bankruptcy
Date: 1994-04-29 · 16 bit ·
Super Game Boy launches in Japan (North America followed in June 1994)
Date: 1994-06-14 · 16 bit · Read the page →
Sega Saturn launches in Japan
Date: 1994-11-22 · 32 bit ·
PlayStation launches in Japan
Date: 1994-12-03 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Sony announces the US$299 PlayStation price at E3
Date: 1995-05-11 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Sega Saturn's surprise early US launch
Date: 1995-05-11 · 32 bit ·
Sega Saturn launches in Europe
Date: 1995-07-08 · 32 bit ·
Virtual Boy launches in Japan
Date: 1995-07-21 · 32 bit ·
Windows 95 goes on general sale
Date: 1995-08-24 · 32 bit · Read the page →
PlayStation launches in North America
Date: 1995-09-09 · 32 bit · Read the page →
PlayStation launches in Europe
Date: 1995-09-29 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Pokémon Red and Green released in Japan
Date: 1996-02-27 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Nintendo 64 launches in Japan with Super Mario 64
Date: 1996-06-23 · 32 bit ·
Game Boy Pocket launches in Japan
Date: 1996-07-21 · 8 bit · Read the page →
3dfx Voodoo Graphics, a 3D-only PC graphics card, released
Date: 1996-10-07 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Capcom CPS3 debuts with Red Earth
Date: 1996-11-21 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Mario Kart 64 released in Japan
Date: 1996-12-14 · 32 bit ·
Neo Geo AES discontinued
Date: 1997 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Pentium MMX released
Date: 1997-01 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Nintendo 64 launches in Europe
Date: 1997-03-01 · 32 bit ·
GoldenEye 007 released in North America
Date: 1997-08-25 · 32 bit ·
Grand Theft Auto released in the UK
Date: 1997-11-28 · 32 bit ·
Metal Gear Solid released in Japan
Date: 1998-09-03 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Game Boy Color launches in Japan
Date: 1998-10-21 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Dreamcast launches in Japan
Date: 1998-11-27 · modern ·
Street Fighter III 3rd Strike released on CPS3
Date: 1999-05-12 · 32 bit · Read the page →
Pokémon Red and Blue launch in the UK
Date: 1999-10-05 · 8 bit · Read the page →
Pokémon Gold and Silver released in Japan
Date: 1999-11-21 · 8 bit · Read the page →
PlayStation 2 launches in Europe
Date: 2000-11-24 · modern ·
Sega announces it will stop making the Dreamcast
Date: 2001-01-31 · modern ·
Game Boy Advance launches in Japan
Date: 2001-03-21 · modern ·
Game Boy Advance launches in North America
Date: 2001-06-11 · modern ·
Game Boy Advance launches in Europe
Date: 2001-06-22 · modern ·
GameCube launches in Japan
Date: 2001-09-14 · modern ·
Xbox launches in Europe
Date: 2002-03-14 · modern ·
GameCube launches in Europe
Date: 2002-05-03 · modern ·
Game Boy Advance SP launches in Japan
Date: 2003-02-14 · modern ·
Final CPS2 game, Hyper Street Fighter II
Date: 2003-12-22 · modern · Read the page →
Last new Neo Geo MVS release
Date: 2004 · modern · Read the page →
PlayStation and PS one pass 100 million shipments
Date: 2004-05-18 · modern · Read the page →
Nintendo DS launches in Europe
Date: 2005-03-11 · modern ·
PSP launches in Europe
Date: 2005-09-01 · modern ·
Xbox 360 launches in Europe
Date: 2005-12-02 · modern ·
Wii launches in Europe
Date: 2006-12-08 · modern ·
Nintendo DSi launches in Japan
Date: 2008-11-01 · modern ·
Kinect launches in North America
Date: 2010-11-04 · modern ·
Nintendo 3DS launches in Europe
Date: 2011-03-25 · modern ·
Mario Kart 8 released on Wii U in North America and Europe
Date: 2014-05-30 · modern ·
NES Classic Mini released
Date: 2016-11-10 · modern · Read the page →
SNES Classic Mini released, including Star Fox 2
Date: 2017 · modern · Read the page →
Nintendo Switch launches in Japan, North America and Europe
Date: 2017-03-03 · modern ·
THEC64 Mini reaches North America
Date: 2018-10-09 · modern ·
Mega Drive Mini released
Date: 2019 · modern · Read the page →
Mega Drive Mini 2 released
Date: 2022 · modern · Read the page →

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