Nintendo Integrated Research & Development


commonly abbreviated as Nintendo IRD, handled everything related to producing Nintendo's console hardware and associated peripherals. Originally established in the 1970s with engineer Genyo Takeda acting as manager, Nintendo Research & Development No. 3 Department and part of the Manufacturing Division, the department was responsible for various hardware technologies and even developed several arcade and console titles. In 2000, as technology evolved into the 3D era, Takeda's group spun-off and established itself as a division into Integrated Research & Development Division, and began spending longer periods of time researching and testing the various and rapidly evolving hardware that would power Nintendo's next generation of consoles.
The Nintendo IRD Division was broken up into two departments: the Integrated Research & Development Department, which focused on the development of Nintendo home video game console hardware and associated peripherals, and the Research & Engineering Development Department, which focused on the development of Nintendo handheld video game console hardware and associated peripherals. Both departments were split into several sub-groups. Unlike the software departments, the hardware groups generally worked together on most projects.
On February 16, 2013, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Research & Engineering Department, the former hardware group specialized in all engineering and technological aspects of Nintendo's handheld development, was absorbed into Nintendo IRD Division. On September 16, 2015, IRD merged with the Nintendo System Development division, becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.

History

In December 1980, Genyo Takeda was promoted to manager of the Nintendo R&D3 department.

Hardware developed

General Manager: Genyo Takeda
The Integrated Research & Development Department was the hardware development team responsible for all of Nintendo's home video game consoles and associated peripherals. The department was split into five different groups who worked together on most projects, with each group generally focusing on a different aspect of product design. The manager, Genyo Takeda, and most of the chief engineers originated from the Nintendo R&D3 hardware division.
YearTitlePlatform
1983Punch-Out!!Arcade
1984Super Punch-Out!!Arcade
1985Arm WrestlingArcade
1985Famicom/NES Game PakNintendo Entertainment System
1987Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!Nintendo Entertainment System
1990StarTropicsNintendo Entertainment System
1994Nintendo Entertainment System
1994Super Punch-Out!!Super Nintendo Entertainment System
1996Nintendo 64Hardware
1996Pilotwings 64Nintendo 64
1996Controller PakNintendo 64
1997Transfer PakNintendo 64
1997Rumble PakNintendo 64
1998Expansion PakNintendo 64
1999Nintendo 64DDNintendo 64
2001Nintendo GameCubeHardware
2001Nintendo GameCube controllerGameCube
2001Memory CardGameCube
2002Memory Card 251GameCube
2002WaveBird Wireless ControllerGameCube
2003Game Boy PlayerGameCube
2006WiiHardware
2006 Wii Remote'Wii
2006NunchukWii
2006 Classic Controller Wii
2006Wii Component CablesWii
2007Wii ZapperWii
2008Wii WheelWii
2008Wii Balance BoardWii
2008'Wii SpeakWii
2009Wii Motion PlusWii
2012Nintendo 3DS XLHardware
2012Wii UHardware
2012Wii U GamePadWii U
2012Wii U Pro ControllerWii U
2012Nintendo 2DSHardware
2013New Nintendo 3DSHardware
2013New Nintendo 3DS XLHardware