TurboGrafx-16

The TurboGrafx-16, known as the PC Engine in Japan, is a <a href="/facts/Home_video_game_console/zP1RTC84">home video game console</a> designed by <a href="/facts/Hudson_Soft/BzmLg79F">Hudson Soft</a> and sold by <a href="/facts/NEC/YnlUsMBA">NEC</a>. Released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1989, it was the first console of the <a href="/facts/Fourth_generation_of_video_game_consoles/cB4oJnpS">fourth generation</a>, often called the <a href="/facts/16-bit_computing/bTGS44Ne">16-bit</a> era. Initially launched in Japan to compete with Nintendo's <a href="/facts/Famicom/YD59GCQQ">Famicom</a>, the system’s delayed U.S. release pitted it against the more advanced <a href="/facts/Sega_Genesis/7GuPYDhM">Sega Genesis</a> and, later, the <a href="/facts/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System/uRT5Sa6s">Super NES</a>.
The TurboGrafx-16 features an <a href="/facts/8-bit_computing/2CkhLNoH">8-bit</a> CPU and a dual 16-bit <a href="/facts/Graphics_processing_unit/PTK1RQVp">GPU</a> chipset, consisting of a <a href="/facts/Video_display_controller/ISm9E6Nc">video display controller</a> (VDC) and a video color encoder (VCE) capable of displaying 482 colors simultaneously out of 512. With dimensions of 14 by 14 by 3.5 centimetres (5.5 in × 5.5 in × 1.4 in), the PC Engine remains the smallest major home game console ever produced. Games were released on <a href="/facts/HuCard/Ge57Ptjb">HuCard</a> cartridges, with later support for <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROMs</a> via the <a href="/facts/TurboGrafx-CD/MBWz7xPU">TurboGrafx-CD</a> add-on. The “16” in the console’s North American name and the marketing of the console as a 16-bit platform despite having an 8-bit CPU was criticized by some as deceptive.
In Japan, the PC Engine was a commercial success, gaining strong third-party support and emerging as the <a href="/facts/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System/uRT5Sa6s">Super Famicom</a>'s primary rival. However, the TurboGrafx-16 struggled in the U.S., hindered by a delayed release, weaker marketing, and stiff competition. In Europe, Japanese models were <a href="/facts/Grey_market/X6z7J0gS">grey-market</a> imported and modified for sale in France and the UK, though plans for an official <a href="/facts/PAL/t8TugcxK">PAL</a> version (simply branded as "TurboGrafx") were scrapped after disappointing U.S. sales, with leftover stock liquidated through mail-order retailers.
Over 17 different versions of the console were produced, including portable models and those integrating the CD-ROM add-on. In 1989, NEC rushed out the <a href="/facts/PC_Engine_SuperGrafx/rBsx0vDV">PC Engine SuperGrafx</a>, a more powerful version intended to replace the standard PC Engine. It failed to gain traction, with only six games released to support its enhanced capabilities, and was soon discontinued. Production of the final PC Engine model ended in 1994. It was succeeded by the <a href="/facts/PC-FX/tSUkKHqs">PC-FX</a> console, which was released exclusively in Japan and also failed commercially.

TurboGrafx-16 open-in-new

TurboGrafx-16