- January 17
- The US Surgeon General's office releases a report: "Youth and Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General". It concludes that media influences play a low role in contributing to youth violence. [1136.28]
- January 24
- Cinévia Films releases the film Garrison's Flowers to theaters in France. The film is set in 1991, but a Sony PlayStation (released in 1995) is shown in a home. [957]
- January
- Sega announces that it will halt production of the Dreamcast video game system and shift its focus to developing software for other consoles and handheld devices. Sega drops the price of the Dreamcast in the US from US$150 to US$99.95. [169] [1296.28] [1505.334]
- January 29
- British television set-top box maker Pace Micro Technology announces it is integrating video game technology from Sega into its digital video recorder. [597]
- February 4
- Nintendo releases the Paper Mario video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [304.140] [311.63] [395.135] [401] [411] [448.118] [473.100] [614.144] [871.38] [989.102]
- February 14
- British manufacturer Pace Micro Technology releases pictures and some details of its television set-top box. The system will be able to play Sega Dreamcast video games. [597]
- Nintendo announces the release dates of the Game Boy Advance: March 21 in Japan, and June 11 in the US. [597]
- February
- Square releases the Final Fantasy IX video game for the PlayStation in Europe. [556.99]
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- March 4
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. Two characters play a video game system attached to a television set. The sound effects sound like Asteriods. A third character asks "Why weren't you Kong Donkeys outside cleaning up?", a reference to the video game Donkey Kong. [860]
- March 5
- Nintendo releases the Conker's Bad Fur Day video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [989.100] [1102.113] (April [1263.84])
- March 11
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A character with a wrist computer says "... I've got Tetris on this thing.". [861]
- March 15
- Sony CEA and Connectix end their legal fight over PlayStation 2 emulation software by agreeing to jointly develop the software. Sony will acquire all assets of Connectix related to the Virtual Game Station software. [597] [852.25]
- March
- Shipments of the PlayStation 2 worldwide to date: 10 million. [742.20]
- Capcom ceases arcade game production. [674.48]
- The Supreme Council for Research in Saudi Arabia bans Pokémon on the grounds that it promotes evolution, encourages gambling, and includes a Zionist symbol (hexagram). [1505.335]
- March 21
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance handheld video game system. It features 32-bit ARM processor, and 240 x 160 pixel 32,000-color display. A Link Cable allows four players to play together on certain games. Size is 3.25 x 5.6 inches; weight is 140 grams. Two AA batteries power the system for about 15 hours. Price is 9800 yen. (611,504 units sell in the first week. 1.6 million sell in the first five weeks.) [298.40] [311.55] [361.47] [393.12] [394.84] [407.122] [473.28] [564.14] [597]
- March 28
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Stadium 2 video game for the Nintendo 64. [401] [411]
- Microsoft upgrades the size of the hard drive for its upcoming Xbox video game system from 8 GB to 10 GB. [597]
- Conexant Systems announces that Microsoft will use its CX25871 video encoder chip to connect the Xbox video game system to digital and analog television sets. [597]
- March 29
- In Japan, Sony releases a cable allowing the PlayStation 2 to connect to i-mode phones for gaming. [296.136]
- March 30
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. The entire episode is about playing in a virtual reality video game. [885]
- March 31
- Sega halts production of the Dreamcast system. [597] [1025.92]
- Unit sales of the Super Mario 64 video game to date: 9.52 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the GoldenEye 007 video game to date: 7.61 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the Mario Kart 64 video game to date: 7.16 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game to date: 6.04 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the Pokémon Stadium video game to date: 4.3 million. [298.38]
- March (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Stadium 2 for the Nintendo 64. [476] [1392.11]
- (month unknown)
- The Pokémon Center in Japan releases an exclusive Game Boy Advance unit in a special Suicune Blue metallic hue that changes color under light. Price is 9800 yen (US$100). [1392.19]
- April 6
- Warner Bros. releases the animated feature film Pokémon the Movie 3 to theaters in the US. [467.300] [494.105] [564.82] [1394.94]
- April 8
- Nintendo releases the Dr. Mario 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$29.95. [394.89] [401] [411] [564.15] [871.38] [1482.13]
- April 11
- Indrema, of Alameda, California, announces it is unable to continue development of its proposed L600 video game system based on the Linux operating system, and is going out of business. [597]
- April 14
- Nintendo releases the Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Forest) video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [476.64]
- April
- Sega exits the video game hardware business. [414.30]
- April 20
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. While travelling back in time, a traveler passes a Pac-Man arcade video game. [886]
- April 26
- In the USA, Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl introduce the Media Marketing Accountability Act, government legislation intended to give the Federal Trade Commission authority to prosecute those in the entertainment industry who market adult-rated products to children. [1029.26]
- April 28
- Sony CEI releases the Gran Turismo 3 A-spec video game for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. (One million copies sell in two days. Total worldwide lifetime sales: almost 15 million copies.) [476.70] [1147.30] [1270.105] [1276.14]
- April (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Stadium 2 for the Nintendo 64. [992]
- May 7
- Nintendo releases the Mario Party 3 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [411] [871.38]
- May 13
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. When a child is asked what he likes to play, he says "Pokémon", likely referring to the video game. [916]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. In an effort to keep people from entering a room, a character says "There's uh, a guy going for the Tetris world record in there!". [862]
- May 14
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.142] [401] [1072.84] (May 13 [1438.43])
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.142] [401] [1072.84] (May 13 [1438.43])
- May 16
- Microsoft announces the launch date of November 8 for the Xbox in the US, with a price of US$299. [597] [739.14]
- Nintendo shows off the GameCube system in Los Angeles, California, and announces the launch dates of September 14 in Japan and November 5 in North America. [597] [992.6,48] (launch date November 3 [739.14])
- Sony CEA announces plans to bring Internet functions to the PlayStation 2, such as Web browsing, email, streaming media, and instant messaging. Sony also announces add-on accessories to be available in November: Ethernet/modem PlayStation 2 Network Adapter, 40 GB Hard Disk Drive, LCD monitor, USB keyboard, and mouse. [597] [739.14]
- May 17
- The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California, over three days. Total attendance is 62,000. Microsoft unveils the Xbox video game system. Nintendo unveils the GameCube video game system. [385.68] [473.28] [597] [630.50] [674.48] [1028.38]
- May 21
- Nintendo announces the initial price of the GameCube in the US will be US$199. [597]
- May (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Mario Party 3 for the Nintendo 64. [556.48]
- June
- Sega announces it will make more online games for the Dreamcast in Japan, and also make those games for the PlayStation 2. [1137.32]
- June 11
- Nintendo launches the Game Boy Advance portable game system in the US. It features 32-bit ARM RISC processor, 2.9-inch reflective TFT 240 x 160 pixel 32,768-color display. Size is 3.25 x 5.6 inches; two AA batteries power the system for about 15 hours. [296.38] [311.55] [453.46] [459.31] [597] [674.48] [1149.662] [1392.104] [1402.8] [1494.209]
- Namco releases the Namco Museum video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [401]
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Advance video game for the Game Boy Advance. [401] [411] [476.15] [1392.104] [1402.8]
- Konami releases the Castlevania: Circle of the Moon video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [304.144] [401] [1392.104]
- Majesco releases the Iridion 3-D video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [476.15] [1392.104] [1402.8]
- Majesco releases the Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [476.15] [1392.104] [1402.8]
- Majesco releases the Earthworm Jim video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [401] [476.15] [1402.8]
- Ubi Soft releases the Rayman Advance video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [1402.8]
- Activision releases the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [476.15] [1392.104] [1402.8]
- 3DO releases the Army Men Advance video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [1392.104] [1402.8]
- Kemco releases the Top Gear GT Championship video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [1392.104] [1402.8]
- Nintendo releases the F-Zero: Maximum Velocity video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [476.15] [1402.8]
- Activision releases the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [476.15] [1392.104] [1402.8]
- June 15
- Paramount Pictures releases the live-action feature film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider to theaters in the US. The film is based on the popular video game series. (Total American theater ticket sales: US$131 million.) [467.63] [476.100] [495.59] [496.40] [525.19] [554.38] [674.48] [749.90] [828.24] [1395.30]
- June
- Sierra announces it has cancelled Half-Life for the Dreamcast. [1137.30]
- June 19
- Sega releases the Sonic Adventure 2 video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [476.40] [779.40]
- June 22
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance in the United Kingdom. [813.108]
- June 23
- Sega releases a special edition Sonic Adventure 2 Birthday Pack for the Dreamcast in Japan, available for two days only. The package includes Sonic Adventure 2 video game, a special music CD, 10th anniversary gold medal, and Sonic the Hedgehog series history booklet. [992.34]
- June
- Sony ships a Linux kit for the PlayStation 2 video game system in Japan. The kit includes a 40 GB hard drive, keyboard, mouse, VGA and Ethernet adapters, and DVD-ROM with Red Hat-based Linux OS. Price is 25,000 Yen (about US$200). All 2000 units sell out in under eight minutes. [515.11] [597]
- June 29
- Square releases the Final Fantasy Chronicles video game for the PlayStation in the US. Included are Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II in the US) and Chrono Trigger. [869.19]
- June (month)
- Top selling video game for the month in the USA: Super Mario Advance for the Game Boy Advance. [388.28]
- (month unknown)
- Sega releases the Daytona USA video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.130]
- Infogrames acquires Atari's name and game titles. [597]
- Infogrames releases the Atari Anniversary Edition video game collection for Windows-based computers in the US. Twelve classic arcade games are included: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battle Zone, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, Tempest, Warlords. [851.106]
- An Atari ST computer is discovered to contain the encryption software used in Atari 7800 cartridges, opening possibility for future cartridges to be created. [1395.54]
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