The Nintendo Wii was released on:
North America: November 19, 2006
Japan: December 2, 2006
Europe: December 8, 2006
Australia: December 7, 2006
It became famous for its motion-sensing controllers (Wii Remote) and family-friendly games like Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
🎮 Nintendo Console Timeline
| Console | Release Year | Key Features | Notable Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) | 1983 (Japan), 1985 (NA) | 8-bit, cartridge-based | Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda |
| Super Nintendo (SNES) | 1990 (Japan), 1991 (NA) | 16-bit, Mode 7 graphics | Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger |
| Nintendo 64 (N64) | 1996 (Japan/NA) | 64-bit, 3D graphics, analog stick | Ocarina of Time, Mario 64 |
| GameCube | 2001 (Japan/NA) | Compact disc, 3D graphics | Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee |
| Wii | 2006 (NA) | Motion controls, family-focused | Wii Sports, Twilight Princess |
| Wii U | 2012 (NA) | Tablet controller, HD graphics | Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World |
| Nintendo Switch | 2017 (Worldwide) | Hybrid console, portable and docked | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | 2021 | OLED screen, improved audio | Same library as Switch |
| Nintendo Switch 2 (rumored) | TBD | Next-gen graphics, enhanced hardware | TBD |
🔑 Insights:
Nintendo consoles often push innovation: motion controls (Wii), hybrid play (Switch).
Retro consoles like NES, SNES, N64, and GameCube are celebrated for their simplicity and iconic games.
Knowing the release timeline helps collectors and gamers track console evolution and game libraries.