Super NES CD-ROM

The Super NES CD-ROM^[1][a] (commonly abbreviated as SNES CD) refers to a series of unreleased devices developed in the early 1990s to add CD-ROM capabilities to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Originally a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony, the project aimed to create a hybrid console called the PlayStation,^[b] capable of playing both SNES cartridges and a new CD-based format, the Super Disc. However, licensing disputes led Nintendo to abandon the agreement and pursue a separate partnership with Philips to develop a CD-ROM add-on for the SNES. That collaboration was ultimately canceled before a prototype was produced.

The fallout from these cancellations had lasting consequences for Nintendo. Sony repurposed its work to develop its independently produced PlayStation console, which became one of Nintendo's strongest rivals. Meanwhile, Philips was given the rights to use Nintendo's iconic franchises for their add-on, and when the project was canceled, Philips used those rights to create poorly received Mario and Zelda games for its CD-i system, risking Nintendo's brand reputation.

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