GlobalFoundries carries on the storied ARC processor line

The arc of the ARC story: The long, twisting road from console games to IP, to EDA, and, finally, a foundry.

January 20, 2026

Jon Peddie

In 1991, Nintendo partnered with Argonaut Games, founded by Jez San, to create the Super FX chip for the SNES, enabling 3D graphics in games like Star Fox (1993). This innovation rivaled PC games like Doom. Argonaut spun off ARC International in 1997, focusing on RISC processor IP. After acquisitions and growth, Synopsys acquired ARC’s IP, launching NPUs like the NPX6 for AI applications. In 2026, Synopsys sold the ARC IP business to GlobalFoundries, which will integrate it with MIPS for edge AI solutions. A wild ride of innovation and consolidation! The arc of ARC. In late 1991, Nintendo engaged Argonaut Games to

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GlobalFoundries carries on the storied ARC processor line

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