Editing Famicom Disk System (section)

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2023}}
{{short description|Video game console peripheral}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| title = Family Computer Disk System
| logo = Family Computer Disk System logo.png
| logo_alt = Official Family Computer Disk System logo
| image = Nintendo-Famicom-Disk-System.jpg
| caption = Famicom Disk System disk drive and RAM adapter attached to the Famicom console
| manufacturer = [[Nintendo]]
| type = [[Video game accessory|Video game console peripheral]]
| generation = [[Third generation of video game consoles|Third]]
| releasedate = {{Video game release
  | JP | {{Start date|1986|02|21}}
  | HK | 1991<ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXuVDUUmYyo|date=Sep 30, 2019|title=Famicom and Disk System Hong Kong Version - Commercial|author=Nakamanga|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 5, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
  }}
| discontinued = {{Ubl
  | {{vgrelease|JP|1993 (device)}}
  | {{vgrelease|JP|September 30, 2003 (software)<ref name="dskend"/>}}
  | {{vgrelease|JP|October 31, 2007 (technical support)<ref name="endrp"/>}}
  }}
| retail availability = 
| units sold = 4.4 million
| CPU = 
| memory = 32 KB disk cache<br/>8 KB game RAM<ref name="Revisiting the FDS"/>
| sound = 1 extra channel of [[table-lookup synthesis|wavetable synth]] facilitated by Ricoh 2C33
| media = 112&nbsp;KB Disk Card
| successor = [[Satellaview]]<br/>[[64DD|Nintendo 64DD]]
}}

The {{nihongo foot|'''Family Computer Disk System''',|ファミリーコンピュータ ディスクシステム|Famirī Konpyūta Disuku Shisutemu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha|abbreviated '''FCD''', '''FCDS''' or '''FDS'''}} commonly shortened to the '''Famicom Disk System''',{{efn|Abbreviated as '''FDS'''}} is a [[peripheral]] for [[Nintendo]]'s [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]] (Famicom) [[home video game console]], released in Japan on February 21, 1986. The system uses proprietary [[floppy disk]]s called "Disk Cards" for more affordable data storage and adds a high-fidelity sound channel to enhance audio in compatible Disk System games.

To support the Disk System, Nintendo installed "Disk Writer" kiosks in stores across Japan that allowed customers to bring their Disk Cards and have new games rewritten onto them for a small fee, making it a cost-effective alternative to purchasing games on traditional RAM cartridges. Nintendo also offered similar disk rewriting services by mail.

The Disk System was designed to enhance features already present in the base Famicom, offering better sound and cheaper, rewritable games. However, it came with drawbacks, including a high initial price for the device along with the storage medium's slower load times and reduced reliability. Despite these limitations, the Disk System’s rewritable storage served as an [[enabling technology]], enabling the creation of new types of video games. This era saw the rise of expansive [[open world]] adventures like ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' (1986) and ''[[Metroid (video game)|Metroid]]'' (1986) enabled by progress-saving, games with a cost-effective and swift release such as the best-selling ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels|Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', and nationwide leaderboards and contests via in-store Disk Fax kiosks, which are considered to be forerunners of today's online [[Achievement (video gaming)|achievement]] and [[Digital distribution in video games|distribution]] systems.

While sales of the Disk System peripheral ended in 1993, after selling 4.4&nbsp;million units, making it the [[List of best-selling game consoles|most successful console add-on of all time]], support for the system continued well beyond that point. The final title for the Disk System was released in 1992, Nintendo maintained Disk writing services by mail until 2003,<ref name="dskend" /> and provided technical support until 2007.<ref name="endrp" />