Game Boy Micro
The final, miniaturized Game Boy, lacking backward compatibility.
The Game Boy Micro was Nintendo’s final handheld in the Game Boy line, a miniaturized version of the Game Boy Advance. It launched in Japan on September 13, 2005, and reached other regions later that year. Unlike earlier Game Boy Advance models, it cannot play original Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges.
The idea for a smaller Game Boy emerged in 2004, according to Nintendo of America vice president George Harrison, who described the process as a continuous cycle of invention. Developed under the codename “Oxy,” Nintendo experimented with ways to shrink the device, ultimately choosing a metallic casing—an unusual material for the company, as president Satoru Iwata noted. The console was announced at E3 on May 17, 2005, by Reggie Fils-Aimé. It released in Japan on September 13, North America on September 19, Australia on November 3, Europe on November 4, China as the iQue Game Boy Micro on October 1, and South Korea on November 9. Production ended in 2008, two years before the Game Boy Advance SP was discontinued.
The Micro keeps some Game Boy Advance SP features in a more compact, oblong shape resembling an NES controller. It has a backlit, brightness-adjustable screen and internal metal plates for rigidity. A removable faceplate allows customization; special editions used in-mould decoration. The system measures 50 x 101 mm and weighs 80 g. It runs on a 32-bit 16.8 MHz ARM7TDMI processor, with a 2-inch display at 240×160 pixels and 60 Hz refresh. It supports 512 colors in character mode or 32,768 in bitmap mode. A built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to 5 hours at maximum brightness and sound, or 8 hours at default settings. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is included. Volume is controlled by a two-way switch on the right side; holding the left shoulder button lets the same switch adjust backlight across five levels.
The Micro only plays Game Boy Advance Game Paks, including Video Paks, with no regional lockout. It lacks backward compatibility because, while the 8-bit Sharp SM83 processor remains, other internal hardware needed for older games is missing. Original Game Boy or Game Boy Advance Link cables and the Wireless Adapter are incompatible, though adapters and a Micro-compatible Wireless adapter were released. Nintendo also redesigned the Play-Yan adapter to fit the Micro, enabling MP3 and video playback from SD cards.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- Oxy (code name)
- Developer
- Nintendo Research & Engineering
- Manufacturer
- Nintendo
- Family
- Game Boy
- Media
- Game Boy Advance Game Pak
- Generation
- Sixth
- System On Chip
- Nintendo CPU AGB
- Cpu
- ARM7TDMI
- Cpu Speed
- 16.78 MHz
- Memory
- 288 KB RAM, 98 KB Video RAM
- Units Shipped
- 2.42 million
- Predecessor
- Game Boy Color
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
According to Nintendo of America vice president George Harrison, a smaller Game Boy was first discussed in 2004. Developed under the code name "Oxy", Nintendo experimented with how small they could make the device, ultimately opting for a metallic casing that company president Satoru Iwata described as unusual for Nintendo. The Game Boy Micro was announced by Reggie Fils-Aimé at the Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference on May 17, 2005.
The Game Boy Micro retains some functionality of the Game Boy Advance SP but in a more compact form. It features a backlit screen with adjustable brightness, several internal metal plates to maintain its shape, and an oblong shape similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System controller. The system uses removable, decorative faceplates made with in-mould decoration. It cannot play original Game Boy or Game Boy Color games because, while the 8-bit Sharp SM83 processor is still present, it lacks other internal hardware necessary for backward compatibility. It is also incompatible with other peripherals due to its design.
The Game Boy Micro was discontinued in 2008, two years before the Game Boy Advance SP was discontinued. It failed to meet Nintendo's sales expectations, selling about 2.4 million units worldwide. Iwata stated that the marketing of the Nintendo DS may have hurt the Micro.
Reader's Guide
The Game Boy Micro represents the final iteration of the Game Boy line, a miniaturized version of the Game Boy Advance that prioritized portability and style over backward compatibility. Its compact design, backlit screen with adjustable brightness, and interchangeable faceplates were notable features, but the lack of support for original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games limited its appeal to owners of older cartridges. The system retailed for US$99, higher than the Game Boy Advance SP at US$79, and its sales fell short of Nintendo's targets, with 2.42 million units sold worldwide by March 2007. The system was discontinued in 2008, two years before the Game Boy Advance SP. Its legacy is that of a niche, high-end handheld that, despite its technical refinements, could not replicate the success of its predecessors, partly due to the concurrent rise of the Nintendo DS. The Game Boy Micro is often cited as one of the worst-selling handhelds of all time, ranking #8 in GamePro's list of the 10 worst-selling handhelds.
Did You Know?
- The Game Boy Micro was developed under the code name "Oxy".
- A limited-edition Famicom controller-inspired version was released for the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System.
- The system sold over 170,000 units during its first days in Japan.
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