3DO

The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, commonly referred to simply as 3DO, is a fifth-generation home video game console platform released in 1993. Developed by The 3DO Company, founded by Trip Hawkins, the 3DO used a licensing model that allowed multiple manufacturers to produce hardware under the 3DO brand. The best-known licensee was Panasonic, which released the Panasonic 3DO in North America and Europe; other licensees produced hardware in different regions.

The system used CD-ROMs for games and offered a library across various genres, ranging from action and sports to adventure and educational titles. It was designed to support multimedia features and attempted to attract both traditional gamers and newer audiences through a broad catalog.

However, the 3DO faced a difficult market. The high launch price of $699 in the United States, competition from established 16-bit consoles, and the later arrival of newer CD-based systems limited sales. Production and support waned through the mid- to late-1990s, and by the end of the decade the original console was largely discontinued. The 3DO Company also faced financial difficulties as the platform’s commercial prospects diminished.

Legacy: The 3DO is remembered for its licensing model that involved multiple manufacturers and for helping popularize CD-ROM-based games, though it did not achieve lasting commercial success. It contributed to the shift toward multimedia-capable home consoles and influenced later industry approaches to hardware licensing and platform development.