Satellaview

The Satellaview was a satellite-based add-on for the Super Famicom, introduced in 1995. It featured built-in storage and extra RAM, allowing users in Japan to download games, digital magazines, and other content via satellite broadcasts from St.GIGA. Several major game developers, including Squaresoft, Taito, Konami, and Capcom, contributed to the service. To access broadcasts, players needed a compatible satellite tuner from St.GIGA, which could be bought outright or rented. The device attached to the expansion port on the bottom of the Super Famicom.

This project was a collaboration between Nintendo and St.GIGA, a company known for its ambient music broadcasts. Financial struggles had put St.GIGA in a difficult position, and Nintendo stepped in as a business partner, leading to the development of Satellaview. Created by Nintendo’s Research & Development 2 team, the add-on targeted an older audience. However, by the late 1990s, tensions grew between the two companies due to financial disagreements and licensing challenges. Nintendo withdrew its support in 1999, and St.GIGA continued running the service until it was shut down on June 30, 2000.