- (month unknown)
- In Canada, the YTV television network begins airing Video & Arcade Top 10. [715.7]
- February 11
- Midway Amusement Games releases the Mortal Kombat video game Version 4.0 (T-Unit) to arcades in the US. [808]
- February
- Konami releases the Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose! video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1079.82] [1420.69]
- February 16
- In Japan, Fujitsu introduces the Marty model of the FM Towns line of computer/game system. Marty has no keyboard, and plugs into a television. Software is run from a CD-ROM drive. Price is about US$800. [209.D4] [1091.92]
- March
- Quest releases the Ogre Battle video game for the Super Famicom in Japan. [452.35]
- March 19
- Midway Amusement Games releases the Mortal Kombat video game Version 5.0 (T-Unit) to arcades in the US. [808]
- March 22
- US Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal from Nintendo over the Lewis Galoob Toys' Game Genie product. [1460.392]
- March 25
- NEC releases the NEC PC Engine Duo-R video game system in Japan. [1091.93] [1255.76]
- March 26
- Nintendo releases the Star Fox video game for the Super NES in the US. The game is the first with the FX Chip for improved visuals and sounds. [304.130] [714.102] [784.35] [1161.80] [1420.68] [1503.94]
- March 31
- Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 7.8 million. [271.D4]
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- April
- Nintendo releases the Yoshi's Cookie video game for the Game Boy in the US. [543.9]
- April 23
- Hudson releases the Lords of Thunder video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.80]
- May
- Sony acquires software developer Psygnosis. [1298.130]
- Acclaim releases the Alien3 video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.101]
- Sega Enterprises and Accolade settle their lawsuit out of court. [31.364]
- Nintendo releases the Kirby's Adventure video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES in the US. Price is US$39.99. [514.28] [716.105] [723.114b] [1413.63] (June [721.114b])
- Data East releases the Shadowrun video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.94]
- May 18
- In San Francisco, California, US District Court Judge Fern Smith rules that Atari Games infringed a copyright and patent held by Nintendo by copying and using software codes used in Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges. Atari Games announces it will appeal the decision. [210.D4]
- May 24
- Sega of America announces it will introduce, in August, a rating system for its video games: GA (general audience), MA-13 (mature, minimum age 13), and MA-17 (mature, minimum age 17). [211.D15]
- May 28
- Disney releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Super Mario Bros. to theaters in the US. The film cost $48 million to make. (Total American theater ticket sales: US$21 million.) [124.193] [496.39] [497.67] [498.323] [499.433] [553.56] [674.38] [828.24] [1436.99]
- June 3
- In Chicago, Illinois, the 1993 International Summer Consumer Electronics Show is held, over four days. Nintendo unveils a new configuration Nintendo Entertainment System, with top-loading cartridge slot. Price is US$49.95, including one Controller. [719.110] [720.5] [784.11]
- June
- Sega debuts the Sega VR head-mounted display for the Genesis video game system. Release price is expected to be US$200. (The display is not released.) [431.42]
- Bullet-Proof Software releases the Yoshi's Cookie video game for the Super NES in the US. Price is US$54.95. [717.102] [721.114b]
- Novalogic cancels the Super Mario's Wacky Worlds project. [786.60]
- (month unknown)
- Shipments of Sega Genesis game machines surpass Nintendo machines for the first time. [70]
- 3DO introduces the 3DO Interactive MultiPlayer home video game machine. Price is US$700. It is based on an ARM60 processor, with separate chips for graphics and system control. [70] [88.16]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man 5 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mighty Final Fight video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mighty Final Fight video game for the Game Boy in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Final Fight II video game for the Super NES in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the MVP Football video game for the Super NES in the US. [715.93]
- In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, DigiPen Applied Computer Graphics School opens, offering a two-year curriculum in video game programming. [960.7] (September 1994 [473.235])
- Nintendo releases the Famicom AV video game system in Japan. The unit is a remodelled Famicom, including AV output. [1091.93] [1255.19]
- A Nintendo GameBoy with game Tetris is launched in Soyuz TM-17 rocket to MIR SpaceStation, played by Aleksandr A, Serebrov. [1504.15]
- Steepler Company releases the Dendy video game system in Russia, a pirated copy of the Nintendo Entertainment System. [1505.417]
- July 29
- A Federal court jury in San Francisco decides Atari Games infringed a Nintendo patent for the security system in the Nintendo Entertainment System. Atari Games announces it will appeal the decision. [212.D3]
- (month unknown)
- Sam Tramiel unveils the Atari Jaguar home video game system. It features 64-bit RISC architecture, custom 27 MIPS graphics and sound processors called Tom and Jerry, 2 MB DRAM, 8 kB SRAM, and 256 kB ROM. It produces graphics with 720x576 resolution in 24-bit color, and 16-bit stereo sound. Cartridges can hold up to 6 MB of data. Expected price of the system unit with one joypad and cartridge, US$200. An optional CD-ROM drive is expected to cost US$200. [70] [88.16] [538.10]
- Shipments of the Nintendo Entertainment System to date: 30 million, with 700 titles, making it the most popular in history. [721.86]
- August 1
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario All-Stars video game for the Super NES in the US. [304.146] [401] [871.38] [1420.68]
- August 2
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening video game for the Game Boy in the US. [406.34] [451.9] [591.96] [608.101] [637.9] [1159.90] [1161.80] [1438.43]
- August 10
- Sega of America releases the Jurassic Park video game. [332.28]
- August 13
- Capcom releases the Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting video game for the Super NES in the US. [304.150] [332.28] [458.29] [609.9] [719.102] [1159.89]
- August
- Capcom releases the Goof Troop video game for the Super NES in the US. [715.93] [719.101]
- Sega Enterprises begins shipping all of its video games with a content rating on the package. [219.D11] [674.38] [1182.109]
- August 23
- Nintendo and Silicon Graphics announce a collaboration on a new video game system, to use the 64-bit MIPS R4000 processor. The new system is code-named Project Reality. [213.37] [214.D4] [332.28] [1096.28] [1460.509]
- (month unknown)
- Microsoft releases the Microsoft Arcade software for Windows 3.1. It includes arcade classics Missile Command, Asteroids, Centipede, Tempest, Battle Zone. Price is US$39.95. [519.180]
- Koei releases the P.T.O. video game for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo systems. [519.234]
- September 13
- Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat video game for the Super NES, Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear game systems in the US. Price for the Super NES is US$74.99, for the Game Boy US$34.99. Acclaim spent US$10 million on pre-release marketing, declaring the day "Mortal Monday". [88.6] [324.65] [339.102] [460.76] [674.38] [721.100,104] [726.9] [808] [1505.228]
- September
- Konami releases the Zombies Ate My Neighbors video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.97]
- The World of Commodore Amiga show is held in Pasadena, California. Commdore Business Machines debuts (in the US) the Amiga CD32 32-bit game console, based on the Amiga 1200 personal computer. It features 14 MHz Motorola 68EC020 processor, 2X CD-ROM drive, 2 MB RAM, custom processors for video, graphics, and sound, 11-button controller. Color display supports 256,000 simultaneous colors. CD-ROM drive supports audio CD, CD+G, and Video CD formats. Price is expected to be US$399 when released in limited quantities in November. [503.18] [520.69] [521.12] [538.12]
- The TV series Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog debuts, airing Monday to Friday in syndication in the USA and the UK. (A total of 65 shows are aired.) [1391.176]
- The TV series Sonic The Hedgehog: The Animated Series debuts on ABC Saturdays. (A total of 26 episodes are aired over two seasons.) [1391.177]
- September 21
- Sega Enterprises announces it would base its next-genertion video game system on a Hitachi 32-bit processor, with sound chips from Yamaha, and circuitry for video images from JVC. [215.D5]
- (month unknown)
- Philips introduces the Compact Disc-Interactive multimedia system. It uses a 15 MHz 68070 processor. [520.69]
- Absolute agrees to acquire Extreme Entertainment for about US$2.5 million. [784.10]
- The Amusement & Music Operators Association holds its annual International Exposition, AMOA Expo '93 in Anaheim, California. Most Played Video Game of the Year: NBA Jam by Midway. Most Innovative Technology: Virtua Racing by Sega. Midway unveils the Mortal Kombat II arcade game. Capcom unveils the Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers arcade game. [784.18]
- The first issue (October) of Edge video game magazine is released in the United Kingdom. [1298.3]
- October 1
- Panasonic releases the FZ-1 REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer game system in the US. It features 32-bit processor, 3 MB RAM, 16-million colors, double speed CD-ROM drive, up to eight controllers, audio CD playback. Price is US$699.95, including the game Crash 'n Burn by Crystal Dynamics. The systems are manufactured by Matsushita in Japan. [216.38] [220.D4] [234.C2] [241.S3.6] [247.D9] [344.49] [352.15] [521.12] [674.38] [1098.34] [1505.266] (November [224.S3.10])
- October 15
- Nintendo releases a redesigned Nintendo Entertainment System in the US with an improved top-loading cartridge slot. [12] [461.48] [611.28]
- October
- Pioneer releases the Pioneer LaserActive multimedia system. The main unit (CLD-A100) is a standard laser disk player, which can act as a 4X CD-ROM drive. It supports LaserActive video discs, audio CDs, and LaserDisc video discs. Price is US$970. An optional US$600 Sega control pack will play Sega CD games, Sega Genesis games, and MEGA-LD and LD-ROM2 disks. An optional US$600 NEC control pack will play NEC DuoSoft CD-ROM games and TurboGrafx gamecards. [352.15] [520.69] [784.124]
- At the CD-i conference in New York, CIGAM shows a film clip of a work-in-progress video game Mario Takes America. [786.61]
- Square releases the Secret of Mana video game for the Super NES in the US. Price is US$72.99. [412.87] [451.9] [452.9] [608.101] [637.9] [722.105] [1159.94] [1420.68]
- Atari sues Sega Enterprises for patent infringement. [31.364]
- October 22
- Tonkin House releases the Sylphia video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.80]
- October 29
- Konami releases the Dracula X video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.80]
- November 15
- Sega releases the Sonic Spinball video game for the Genesis and Game Gear in the US. [779.38]
- November
- Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York includes a six-story high Sonic the Hedgehog balloon, the first video game character in the annual parade. The balloon moved faster than could be handled, and crashed into a Columbus Circle lamppost. [784.10] [1494.145]
- Atari ships the Jaguar home video game system in the US. [70] [88.16] [222.D4] [251.D7] (October [674.38])
- Unit shipments of 3DO Interactive Multiplayer game systems in the US to date: about 30,000. [216.38]
- November 18
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. One scene takes place in a video game arcade. [799]
- November 19
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden video game for the 3DO in the USA. [1345.16]
- Sega releases the Sonic CD video game for the Sega CD game system. [304.146] [396.24] [779.38]
- November 23
- Sega releases the Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos video game for the Game Gear in the US. [779.38]
- November 29
- Sega releases the Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine video game for the Genesis in the US. [779.38]
- December
- Taito releases the Lufia and the Fortress of Doom video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.100]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man IV video game for the Game Boy in the US. [420.71] [624.115]
- December 9
- Several large video game manufacturers announce the inductry has decided to endorse a rating system. [1460.469]
- A US Senate subcommittee begins hearings to look into the mounting level of violence in video games. Senators Joseph Lieberman and Herb Kohl announce support for a bill requiring companies to rate games. The California attorney general sends an open letter to video game companies urging them to withdraw games that teach children to "demean and destroy". [88.40] [1460.469] [1505.229]
- December
- Nintendo releases the Tetris 2 video game for the Game Boy in the US. [543.9]
- Sega releases the Virtua Fighter arcade game. [389.49] [785.165]
- Representatives of Sega Enterprises and Nintendo tell the US Senate subcommittee hearing that they will develop a voluntary labelling system to warn buyers of the level of violence and sex in video games. [217.B1]
- December 14
- Nintendo releases the Fire Emblem video game for the Super Famicom in Japan, the first 24-Megabit cartridge. [1345.100]
- December 16
- Toys 'R' Us in the USA ceases selling the Night Trap video game for the Sega Genesis game system, due to public complaints about violence. [217.B1]
- December 17
- Kay-Bee Toy Stores ceases selling the Night Trap video game in the USA. [218.39]
- December 18
- Enix releases the Dragon Quest I & II Remix video game for the Super Famicom in Japan. [298.48] [1345.100]
- December 24
- Acclaim releases the Mortal Kombat video game for the Super Famicom, Game Gear, and Game Boy in Japan. [808]
- December 31
- Unit sales of the video game Double Dragon to date: 8 million copies. [88.42]
- Year
- Unit sales of game consoles in the US during the year: 12 million. [3]
- Total sales in US video game market: US$4.55 billion. [1460.500]
- Unit sales of home video game machines in Japan during the year: 30 million. [341.249]
- Best-selling video game for the year: Mortal Kombat. [88.6]
- Market share of US video game industry: Nintendo 51%, Sega 39%. [349.35]
- Market share of worldwide video game industry: Sega about 50%. [375.60]
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