After nearly half a century of service, the Zilog Z80the legendary processor that powered, among other things, the first Pac-Man arcade cabinet, reaches the end of its commercial life cycle.
Designed by Federico Faggin and Masatoshi Shima, it was the first Zilog processor to earn a world famous in the world of video gamesas well as becoming an icon, silent and immortal, of an entire generation.
The Zilog Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor with a 4-bit internal ALU design but capable of 8- and 16-bit operations, marketed since July 1976.
In addition to being the beating heart of Pac-Man, the Z80 has found use in numerous other products, from consoles to computers for industrial purposes. His contribution to ColecoVision, the ZX Spectrum and the Amstrad CPC makes him an iconic figure in the history of consumer electronics.
However, as the years went by, and the obvious advancement of technology, the Z80 lost its relevance in the world of video games, but continued to be produced due to the its importance as a micro-controller for embedded systems. A “work reconversion” that allowed him to achieve exceptional longevity, even if, unfortunately, his life cycle has also come to an end.
As indicated in a recent post on X, the last commercial order for the Zilog Z80 will be closed in June this year, marking the end of an era. Its withdrawal from the market not only symbolizes the end of an era, but also marks the conclusion of an important chapter in the history of electronics.
Despite its commercial demise, the Z80 will forever remain an icon in the world of technology and gaming. Its legendary status it will be remembered fondly by those who lived through the golden age of arcades and the first home computers.
There is nothing left to do but greet him with respect and gratitude Zilog Z80thanking him for all those memories that, at least for us who are no longer so young, he made possible.
Tags: Requiescat pace Zilog Z80 symbolic processor era
