The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), also known as Super Famicom in Japan, is a 16-bit fourth-gen home console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide, between 1990 and 1993, with several forms of regional lockout to prevent the different cartridges from being compatible with one another. The system was the Nintendo's second programmable home console, designed to accommodate the ongoing development of a variety of enhancement chips, integrated in game cartridges, to be competitive into the next generation. The SNES was a global success, becoming the best-selling console of the 16-bit era after launching relatively late, facing intense competition from Sega Master System and 32-bit era. SNES remained popular well with 49.1 million units sold worldwide by the time it was discontinued in 2003.