Nintendo Game Boy Micro

2005

The Game Boy Micro is a 32-bit handheld game console made by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on September 13, 2005, and in international markets later that year. A miniaturized version of the Game Boy Advance, it was the last in the Game Boy line. Unlike other Game Boy Advance models, the Micro lacks backward compatibility for original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. It failed to meet Nintendo's sales expectations, having sold about 2.4 million units worldwide.

History

According to the Nintendo of America vice president, George Harrison, a smaller version of the Game Boy was first discussed in 2004. Harrison explained that, unlike the traditional console development process, Nintendo was always thinking about new ideas for the Game Boy, describing it as a "continuous process of invention". Developed under the code name "Oxy", Nintendo tried many ways to see how small they could make the Game Boy. They opted for a metallic casing that the company president, Satoru Iwata, said was unusual for Nintendo.

The Game Boy Micro was announced by Nintendo of America's vice president of sales and marketing, Reggie Fils-Aimé, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference on May 17, 2005. It was released in Japan on September 13, 2005, North America on September 19, 2005, Australia on November 3, 2005, and Europe on November 4, 2005. It was released in China as the iQue Game Boy Micro on October 1, 2005, and released in South Korea on November 9, 2005. The Game Boy Micro was discontinued in 2008, two years before the Game Boy Advance SP was discontinued."