Editing Neo Geo (section)

=== Lifetime and discontinuation ===
In January 1991, [[Romstar]] released an [[arcade conversion]] kit version of the Neo Geo in the United States, allowing the conversion of an [[arcade cabinet]] into a Neo Geo system.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=News Digest: Romstar Set To Ship One-Slot Neo-Geo Hardware Kits |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1991 |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=20, 88 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-4-january-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201991/page/20}}{{dead link|date=April 2025}}</ref> The same month, the Neo Geo home console version made its North American debut at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES). SNK also announced that there would generally be a roughly six-month gap between the arcade and home releases of Neo Geo games.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Kawasaki Puts Coin-Op First In New Neo-Geo Scheme |magazine=RePlay |date=February 1991 |volume=16 |issue=5 |page=23 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-5-february-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%205%20-%20February%201991/page/23}}{{dead link|date=April 2025}}</ref>

When real-time [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] became the norm in the arcade industry, the Neo Geo's 2D hardware was unable to do likewise. Despite this, Neo Geo arcade games retained profitability through the mid-1990s,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Webb |first=Marcus |title=Arcadia|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=11|date=November 1995|page=26|quote=Basically, SNK's Neo Geo system has proved the existence of a die-hard market for lower-cost videogames in arcades ...}}</ref> and the system was one of three 1995 recipients of the [[American Amusement Machine Association]]'s Diamond Awards (which are based strictly on sales achievements).<ref>{{cite magazine|title=And the Winner Is... |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=17|date=May 1996|page=21}}</ref> SNK developed a new home console in 1994, called the [[Neo Geo CD]]. A new arcade system was also made in 1997, called [[Hyper Neo Geo 64]]. However, these two systems had low popularity and only a few games.

While it ceased manufacturing home consoles by the end of 1997, SNK continued making software for the original 2D Neo Geo. Despite being very aged by the end of the decade, the Neo Geo continued getting popular releases, such as the critically acclaimed ''[[The King of Fighters 2002]]''. The last official game by SNK for the Neo Geo system, ''[[Samurai Shodown V Special]]'', was released in 2004, 14 years after the system's introduction.

On August 31, 2007, SNK stopped offering maintenance and repairs to Neo Geo home consoles, handhelds, and games.<ref name="ngend">{{cite web|title=ネオジオ修理のお問い合わせ|publisher=SNK Playmore|url=https://www.snkplaymore.co.jp/game/inquiry/mente_index.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717003130/https://www.snkplaymore.co.jp/game/inquiry/mente_index.php|archive-date=July 17, 2007|language=ja|access-date=April 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/no-love/snk-stop-neo-geo-support-265509.php | title=No Love: SNK Stop Neo Geo Support | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717163744/kotaku.com/gaming/no-love/snk-stop-neo-geo-support-265509.php | archive-date=17 July 2012}}</ref>