NVIDIA is marking three decades of its partnership with Sega by hosting a fan event in Tokyo on July 15. This gathering offers a rare chance for enthusiasts to see CEO Jensen Huang speak in person about the company's origins. The event highlights how a specific hardware failure nearly ended NVIDIA before it became a dominant force in graphics processing.
One attendee wins a Founders Edition card at the Tokyo fan gathering
The core of the celebration focuses on the NVIDIA NV1, the company's first chip released in May 1995. Sega originally designed the NV1 for its next-generation console plans but ultimately rejected the hardware. This rejection forced NVIDIA to pivot its strategy and rebuild its technology around what would become the RIVA 128.
- Event Date: July 15
- Event Location: Tokyo
- Historical Chip: NV1
- Historical Investment: $5 million
- Historical Success Product: RIVA 128
Sega’s decision to withdraw from the partnership included a $5 million investment that saved the struggling company. Huang notes that if Sega had kept this capital, its value would now approach $1 trillion. The RIVA 128, launched in 1997, became the major success that defined NVIDIA’s early market position.
NVIDIA will use this Tokyo event to introduce the RTX Spark chip to attendees once again. The company is also running a lottery where one lucky participant will receive a GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card. This giveaway serves as the primary incentive for attendees to join the in-person celebration.
The event confirms the specific date and location for this anniversary celebration in Japan. It also verifies the historical financial details regarding the 1995 Sega investment and the subsequent launch of the RIVA 128. NVIDIA continues to use these historical milestones to frame its current product announcements.
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