Nintendo 64
A 64-bit home console released in Japan on June 23, 1996, with a thumbstick controller and four controller ports.
Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. Nintendo began developing it in 1993 with Silicon Graphics.
It was named for its 64-bit processor. A coprocessor handled graphics and sound separately, which allowed 3D graphics. It had four controller ports for multiplayer games.
Why it matters
The N64 controller was the first to include a thumbstick as a standard feature. The console was Nintendo's third major home console, after the Super Nintendo, and competed with the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn.
Key facts
- Released in Japan on June 23, 1996.
- Developed with Silicon Graphics starting in 1993.
- Named for its 64-bit processor.
- First controller with a standard thumbstick.
- Four controller ports.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Nintendo 64", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64, accessed October 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Nintendo", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.