2001 in video games

2001 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Madden NFL 2002, NBA Live 2002, NBA 2K2, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, Capcom vs. SNK 2, Crazy Taxi 2, Dead or Alive 3, Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Myst III: Exile, Silent Hill 2, Sonic Adventure 2, SSX Tricky, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tekken 4, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and Virtua Fighter 4. New intellectual properties include Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Advance Wars, Animal Crossing, Burnout, Gothic, Black & White, Devil May Cry, Fatal Frame, Ghost Recon, Halo: Combat Evolved, Jak and Daxter, Max Payne, Oni, Onimusha: Warlords, Operation Flashpoint, Pikmin, Pro Evolution Soccer, Red Faction, Serious Sam, and Tropico.

Three major video game systems were released in 2001: the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance by Nintendo, and the Xbox by Microsoft.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sega, which had been a major competitor in the video game hardware market to this point, ended its involvement in the market after the failure of the Dreamcast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The year 2001 is remembered for its influence on the video game industry with the release of many games recognized as classics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many video games released in 2001 defined or redefined their respective genres, including hack and slash game Devil May Cry,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> first-person shooter game Halo: Combat Evolved,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and open world action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto III, which is regarded as an industry-defining work.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The year has been retrospectively considered one of the best and most influential in video game history due to the release of numerous critically acclaimed, commercially successful and influential titles across all platforms and genres at the time. It was the peak year for the sixth generation of video game consoles, with the launch of the GameCube and Xbox, the latter focusing on online games (following SegaNet the previous year), and the Dreamcast's last year of production with Sega's exit from console manufacturing. Storytelling and mature themes also became a more mainstream trend.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The year's best-selling video game worldwide was Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal, the fourth year in a row for the Pokémon series (since 1998). The year's most critically acclaimed titles were Gran Turismo 3 and Final Fantasy X in Japan, and Halo and Grand Theft Auto III in the West.

Legend

{{#invoke:VgData|main|ct=platform|col=3|DC|GBA|GBC|GCN|N64|PS1|PS2|WIN|X360|XBLA|XBOX}}

Hardware releases

Game Boy Advance

Month	Day	Console
March	21	Game Boy Advance
September	14	GameCube
November	15	Xbox
	16	Pokémon Mini<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Top-rated games

Major awards

GameRankings named Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty the Game of the Year for 2001, citing its position as the highest-rated title of the year with an aggregated score of 97% based on reviews from more than 50 gaming publications.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Game of the Year awards for 2001

Awards	Game of the Year	Platform(s)	Publisher(s)	Genre	Template:Abbr
Electronic Playground	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GameRevolution	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
British Academy Games Awards	Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec	PS2	Polyphony Digital	Racing	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
British Academy Games Awards	Halo Combat Evolved	Xbox	Bungie	FPS	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
British Academy Games Awards	Max Payne	PC	Rockstar Games	Third Person Shooter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year	Halo Combat Evolved	Xbox	Bungie	FPS	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Game Developers Choice Awards	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Golden Joystick Awards	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Japan Game Awards	Final Fantasy X	PS2	SquareSoft	Role-Playing	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
EGM Magazine	Halo Combat Evolved	Xbox	Bungie	FPS	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Eurogamer	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Game Informer	Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PS2	Konami	Stealth game	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GameSpot	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Open world	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
IGN	Halo Combat Evolved	Xbox	Bungie	FPS	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Critically acclaimed titles

Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame

In Japan, the following video game releases in 2001 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Title	Platform(s)	Publisher	Genre	Score (out of 40)
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	Sony	Racing simulation	39
Final Fantasy X	PS2	Squaresoft	Role-playing	39
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren GB2	GBC	Chunsoft	Roguelike	38
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PS2	Konami	Stealth	38
Culdcept Second	DC	Media Factory	Turn-based strategy	37
Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX (Super Smash Bros. Melee)	GCN	Nintendo	Fighting	37
Dōbutsu no Mori + (Animal Crossing)	GCN	Nintendo	Social simulation	37
Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 2 (The Last Hope)	GBA	Enix	Roguelike	36
Madden NFL 2001	PS2	Square EA	Sports	35
Onimusha (Onimusha: Warlords)	PS2	Capcom	Hack and slash	35
Kessen II	PS2	Koei	Real-time tactics	35
Crazy Taxi 2	DC	Sega	Driving	35
Zeonic Front: Kidō Senshi Gundam 0079 (Mobile Suit Gundam)	PS2	Bandai	Strategy	35
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001	DC, PS2	Capcom	Fighting	35
Magical Vacation	GBA	Nintendo	Role-playing	35
Battle Network Rockman EXE 2 (Mega Man Battle Network 2)	GBA	Capcom	Tactical role-playing	35

Metacritic and GameRankings

In the West, Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.

citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="GameRankings Best">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Game	Publisher	Release Date	Platform(s)	MC score	GR score
Halo: Combat Evolved	Microsoft Game Studios	November 15, 2001	XBOX	97/100	95.54%
Grand Theft Auto III	Rockstar Games	October 22, 2001	PS2	97/100	95.19%
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	Konami	November 13, 2001	PS2	96/100	95.09%
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	Sony Computer Entertainment	April 28, 2001	PS2	95/100	94.54%
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3	Activision	October 30, 2001	PS2	97/100	93.43%
Devil May Cry	Capcom	August 23, 2001	PS2	94/100	92.6%
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2	Activision	June 11, 2001	GBA	95/100	89.88%
Madden NFL 2002	EA Sports	August 19, 2001	PS2	94/100	92.32%
NBA 2K2	Sega	October 24, 2001	DC	93/100	92.82%
Mario Kart: Super Circuit	Nintendo	July 21, 2001	GBA	93/100	91.54%
SSX Tricky	EA Sports	November 5, 2001	PS2	92/100	92.49%
Advance Wars	Nintendo	September 10, 2001	GBA	92/100	92.38%
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2	Nintendo	December 14, 2001	GBA	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages	Nintendo	February 27, 2001	GBC	Template:N/A	92.2%
Final Fantasy X	Square	July 19, 2001	PS2	92/100	91.73%
Super Smash Bros. Melee	Nintendo	November 21, 2001	GCN	92/100	90.52%
Conker's Bad Fur Day	Rare	March 5, 2001	N64	92/100	89.28%
NHL 2002	EA Sports	September 24, 2001	PS2	92/100	88.84%
Pro Evolution Soccer	Konami	March 15, 2001	PS2	Template:N/A	91.69%
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons	Nintendo	February 27, 2001	GBC	Template:N/A	91.37%
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3	Activision	November 18, 2001	GCN	91/100	91.12%
IL-2 Sturmovik	1C Company	November 18, 2001	WIN	91/100	90.65%
Golden Sun	Nintendo	August 1, 2001	GBA	91/100	89.1%
Twisted Metal: Black	Sony Computer Entertainment	June 18, 2001	PS2	91/100	88.52%
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon	Konami	March 21, 2001	GBA	91/100	88.11%
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil	Namco	March 22, 2001	PS2	91/100	84.76%
Madden NFL 2002	EA Sports	November 17, 2001	GCN	89/100	90.39%
Ico	Sony Computer Entertainment	September 24, 2001	PS2	90/100	90.29%
NCAA Football 2002	EA Sports	July 23, 2001	PS2	90/100	90.25%
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy	Sony Computer Entertainment	December 3, 2001	PS2	90/100	90.22%
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader	LucasArts	November 18, 2001	GCN	90/100	90.04%
Black & White	Electronic Arts	March 30, 2001	WIN	90/100	89.79%
NFL 2K2	Sega	September 19, 2001	DC	90/100	89.35%
Civilization III	Infogrames	October 30, 2001	WIN	90/100	88.75%
Madden NFL 2002	EA Sports	October 31, 2001	XBOX	90/100	88.72%
Unreal Tournament	Infogrames	March 13, 2001	DC	90/100	87.8%
Virtua Tennis 2	Sega	October 24, 2001	DC	90/100	87.22%
Dance Dance Revolution	Konami	March 6, 2001	PS1	90/100	83.63%
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002	Microsoft	October 16, 2001	WIN	90/100	82.44%
Shenmue II	Sega	September 6, 2001	DC	Template:N/A	89.63%
Max Payne	Gathering of Developers	July 23, 2001	WIN	89/100	89.26%
NASCAR Racing 4	Sierra Entertainment	February 6, 2001	WIN	89/100	88.5%
NBA Street	EA Sports	June 19, 2001	PS2	89/100	86.92%
Pikmin	Nintendo	October 26, 2001	GCN	89/100	86.71%
Final Fantasy Chronicles	Square	June 29, 2001	PS1	89/100	86.7%
NHL 2002	EA Sports	December 10, 2001	XBOX	89/100	86.33%
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies	Namco	September 13, 2001	PS2	89/100	86.07%
Max Payne	Rockstar Games	December 12, 2001	XBOX	89/100	85.95%
Silent Hill 2	Konami	September 24, 2001	PS2	89/100	85.82%
Sonic Adventure 2	Sega	June 23, 2001	DC	89/100	83.26%
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal	Interplay Entertainment	June 22, 2001	WIN	88/100	88.73%
Super Monkey Ball	Sega	September 14, 2001	GCN	87/100	88.7%
Red Faction	THQ	May 22, 2001	PS2	88/100	88.32%
Dark Age of Camelot	Vivendi Universal Games	October 10, 2001	WIN	88/100	88.08%
Return to Castle Wolfenstein	Activision	November 19, 2001	WIN	88/100	86.75%
SSX Tricky	EA Sports	December 10, 2001	XBOX	88/100	86.6%
Wario Land 4	Nintendo	August 21, 2001	GBA	88/100	85.34%
Madden NFL 2002	EA Sports	August 13, 2001	PS1	88/100	85.08%
Tribes 2	Sierra Entertainment	March 28, 2001	WIN	88/100	84.85%
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis	Nintendo	June 21, 2001	GBA	88/100<ref name="Metacritic 2002"/>	83.62%<ref name="GameRankings 2002"/>

Financial performance

Best-selling home video games

Best-selling home video games in Japan and the United States

Rank	Title	Platform(s)	Publisher	Sales
				Japan	United States<ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref>	Combined
1	Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal	GBC	Nintendo	826,125Template:Efn	3,127,659	3,953,784
2	Final Fantasy X	PS2	Squaresoft	2,434,015<ref name="magicbox" />	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3,180,647
3	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	Sony	1,656,959<ref name="magicbox" />	1,172,322	2,829,281
4	Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PS2	Konami	750,560<ref name="magicbox" />	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2,550,560+
5	Madden NFL 2002	PS1, PS2	EA Sports	Template:N/A	2,220,112	2,220,112
6	The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages	GBC	Nintendo	772,858<ref name="magicbox" />	1,248,191	2,021,049
7	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar	Template:N/A	1,965,832	1,965,832
8	Super Mario Advance	GBA	Nintendo	777,899<ref name="EBsales" />	1,172,323+<ref name="npd">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name=":4" />	1,950,222+
9	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone	PS1, WIN	EA	83,954<ref name="EBsales" />	1,628,744<ref name=":4" /><ref name="2001nyu" />	1,712,698
10	The Sims	WIN	EA	Template:N/A	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1,482,182

Highest-grossing home video games in the United States and Europe

Rank	Title	Platform(s)	Sales revenue
			USA<ref name=":4" /><ref name="npd" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>	Europe<ref name=":5" />	Combined	Inflation
1	Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal	GBC	Template:US$	€221,000,000 (Template:US$)	$289,038,324	$Template:Inflation
2	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Template:US$	€54,000,000 (Template:US$)	$146,940,325	$Template:Inflation
3	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone		Template:US$<ref name=":4" /><ref name="npd" /><ref name="2001nyu" />	€92,000,000 (Template:US$)	$137,148,445	$Template:Inflation
4	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	Template:US$	€64,000,000 (Template:US$)	$115,264,403	$Template:Inflation
5	Madden NFL 2002	PS1, PS2	Template:US$	Template:Unknown	$110,000,000+	$Template:Inflation+
6	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3		Template:US$	€24,000,000 (Template:US$)	$102,000,000	$Template:Inflation
7	Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PS2	Template:US$+	Template:N/A	$87,000,000+	$Template:Inflation+
8	The Sims	WIN	$60,499,079<ref name="2001nyu" />	€25,000,000 (Template:US$)	$82,499,079	$Template:Inflation
9	Super Mario Advance	GBA	Template:US$+	€23,000,000 (Template:US$)	$56,000,000+	$Template:Inflation+
10	FIFA Football 2002		Template:Unknown	€52,000,000 (Template:US$)	$47,000,000+	$Template:Inflation+

Japan

Best-selling home video games in Japan

Rank	Title	Platform	Sales	Sales revenue	Inflation	Template:Abbr
1	Final Fantasy X	PS2	2,434,015	¥17,600,000,000+ (Template:US$+)	$Template:Inflation+	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Nicholson">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	1,656,959	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="magicbox" />
3	Dragon Quest Monsters 2	GBC	1,138,756	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="EBsales">Template:Cite book</ref>
4	Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi Monotachi	PS1	1,039,443	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="magicbox"/>
5	Onimusha (Onimusha: Warlords)	PS2	1,000,000+	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
6	Minna no Golf 3 (Everybody's Golf 3)	PS2	871,167	colspan="2" rowspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="magicbox"/>
7	Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX (Smash Bros. Melee)	GCN	838,237
8	Pocket Monsters: Gold / Silver / Crystal (Pokémon)	GBC	826,125	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	Template:Efn
9	Winning Eleven 5 (Pro Evolution Soccer)	PS2	789,515	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="magicbox" />
10	Super Mario Advance	GBA	777,899	colspan="2" Template:Unknown	<ref name="EBsales" />

United States

Best-selling home video games in the United States

Rank	Title	Platform(s)	Sales	Revenue	Inflation	Template:Abbr
1	Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal	GBC	3,127,659	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name=":4" /><ref name="npd" /><ref name=":2" />
2	Madden NFL 2002	PS2, PS1	2,220,112	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />
3	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	1,965,832	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />
4	Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PS2	1,800,000+	Template:US$+	$Template:Inflation+	<ref name=":0" /><ref name="npd" />
5	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3	PS2, PS1	1,693,037	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />
6	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone	PS1, WIN	1,628,744	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name=":4" /><ref name="npd" /><ref name="2001nyu" />
7	The Sims	WIN	1,482,182	$60,499,079	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="2001nyu" />
8	The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages	GBC	1,248,191	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />
9	Super Mario Advance	GBA	1,172,323+	Template:US$+	$Template:Inflation+	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />
10	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	1,172,322	Template:US$	$Template:Inflation	<ref name="npd" /><ref name=":4" />

PAL regions

Highest-grossing home video games in Europe<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>

Rank	Title	Platform(s)	Publisher	Genre	Sales revenue	Inflation
1	Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal	GBC	Nintendo	Role-playing	€221,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
2	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone		Electronic Arts	Action-adventure	€92,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
3	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	Sony	Racing sim	€64,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
4	Grand Theft Auto III	PS2	Rockstar Games	Action-adventure	€54,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
5	FIFA Football 2002		EA Sports	Sports	€52,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
6	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?		Eidos Interactive	Quiz	€33,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
7	FIFA 2001		EA Sports	Sports	€31,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
8	Final Fantasy IX	PS1	Squaresoft	Role-playing	€30,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
9	Black & White	WIN	Electronic Arts	God game	€28,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation
10	The Sims	WIN	Electronic Arts	Life simulation	€25,000,000 (Template:US$)	$Template:Inflation

Best-selling home video games in Australia<ref name="Australia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Rank	Title	Platform	Developer	Publisher	Genre
1	Pokémon Crystal	GBC	Game Freak	Nintendo	Role-playing
2	Pokémon Gold
3	Pokémon Silver
4	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone	PS1	Argonaut Games	Electronic Arts	Action-adventure
5	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone	GBC	Griptonite Games		Role-playing
6	Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec	PS2	Polyphony Digital	Sony	Racing simulation
7	Gran Turismo 2	PS1
8	Pokémon Stadium 2	N64	Nintendo EAD	Nintendo	Turn-based strategy
9	Super Mario Advance	GBA	Nintendo R&D2		Platformer
10	Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped	PS1	Naughty Dog	Sony

Highest-grossing arcade games in Japan

Highest-grossing arcade games in Japan<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Rank	Title	Developer	Manufacturer	Type	Genre	Points
1	Canvas Shot / Flash Shot / Chaopi	Omron	Omron	Other	Purikura	8712
2	Derby Owners Club	Sega AM3	Sega	Dedicated	Simulation	3837
3	Battle Gear 2	Taito	Taito	Dedicated	Racing	2601
4	Tekken Tag Tournament	Namco	Namco	Software	Fighting	2568
5	Shakatto Tambourine (Samba de Amigo)	Sega	Sega	Dedicated	Rhythm	2523
6	Time Crisis 2	Namco	Namco	Dedicated	Light gun shooter	2400
7	The King of Fighters 2000	SNK	SNK	Software	Fighting	2382
8	Virtua Striker 2 ver. 2000	Sega AM2	Sega	Software	Sports	2345
9	Street Snap EG	Hitachi	Hitachi	Other	Purikura	2291
10	Kidō Senshi Gundam: Renpō vs. Zeon (Federation vs. Zeon)	Capcom	Banpresto	Software	Third-person shooter	2280

Major events

Date	Event
January 29	Infogrames acquired Hasbro Interactive, including the Game.com division, the MicroProse and Atari labels, and a right to publish and develop games based on Hasbro properties. Paradigm Entertainment was also acquired.<ref name="IGNBuyout">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
January 31	Sega announced it would be departing from the console market<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> and discontinuing the Dreamcast, and develop and publish games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Events

• Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame.
• British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards for multimedia technologies; 15 of 21 awards go to video games.
• March 21 – The Game Boy Advance handheld is released by Nintendo. Also to back-up the GBA's identical graphics to the SNES an enhanced remake of Super Mario Bros. 2 was launched.
• May 17–19 – 7th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3);<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> the 4th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

• June 23 – Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• July – IEMA (Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association) hosts 2nd annual Executive Summit.
• Gama Network hosts the 3rd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF).
• Game Developers Conference hosts the 1st annual Game Developers Choice Awards.
• Spring – Reuters reports that the Dreamcast console has an estimated 800,000 online users playing its various online games already by midyear.
• Sony cooperates with AOL to incorporate Internet features with the PlayStation 2 console; which include a browser, email, and instant messaging capabilities.
• August – 2nd annual Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Crazy Taxi 2 video game).
• Nikkei News reports that the video game Phantasy Star Online (for Dreamcast) has had 300,000 worldwide users login already by midyear.
• September 14 – Nintendo releases the GameCube and its launch titles Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
• November 15 – The Microsoft Xbox is introduced.
• November 18 – Nintendo releases the GameCube in North America with launch titles Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
• November 23 – Game Park releases the GP32 wireless-multiplayer multimedia handheld console in South Korea.
• December 5–9 – World Cyber Games 2001 are held in South Korea
• December 31 – Jez San is awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours, becoming the first person awarded specifically for services to video games.
• December – Panasonic releases the GameCube-based Q multimedia console.

Business

• Defunct companies: Bullfrog Productions, Indrema, Dynamix, Sanctuary Woods, SNK.
• After Dynamix (1984–2001) is closed as part of Sierra's restructuring under Vivendi Universal, several veterans of the studio found GarageGames.
• Sega announces that it will no longer develop home consoles, to focus on game development. The Dreamcast is discontinued in May, but games including Sonic the Hedgehog will continue to be released.
• Activision acquires Treyarch Invention LLC.
• PCCW Japan (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd.) acquires VR1 Entertainment.
• Long-time arcade developer Midway Games announces that it will no longer manufacture arcade games.
• August – Loki Software declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy over internal financial troubles, before going defunct next January. In response Michael Simms of the Tux Games retailer and former Loki game tester founds Linux Game Publishing alongside ex-Loki employee Mike Philips on October 15 to keep games coming to Linux.
• October – Infogrames announces to revive Atari as a sub-brand of Infogrames. Splashdown, MX Rider and TransWorld Surf were the first 3 games to receive this treatment.

Lawsuits

• Sega of America Inc. v. Kmart Corporation; Sega sues Kmart over an unpaid debt of over US$2 million
• Uri Geller v. Nintendo; Geller sues Nintendo over his resemblance to a Pokémon character. The suit is dismissed.Template:Citation needed

Trends

Video game consoles

The dominant video game console in 2001 was Sony's PlayStation 2.

Nintendo released the GameCube on September 14 in Japan (North America on November 18 and in Europe on May 3, 2002). Microsoft released the Xbox in North America on November 15 (in Europe on March 14, 2002).

• 
  GameCube
• 
  Xbox

Handheld game systems

The dominant handheld system in 2001 was Nintendo's Game Boy Color.

Nintendo released the Game Boy Advance in Japan on March 21 (in North America on June 11 and Europe on June 22).

• 
  The Game Boy Advance

Deaths

• March 16 – Isao Okawa, 74, chairman of Sega.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• 2001 in games