<Tr> <Th> Predecessor </Th> <Td> Game Boy Color </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Successor </Th> <Td> Nintendo DS </Td> </Tr> <P> The Game Boy Advance (Japanese: ゲームボーイ アドバンス, Hepburn: Gēmu Bōi Adobansu) (GBA) is a 32 - bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured and marketed by Nintendo as the successor to the Game Boy Color . It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, in North America on June 11, 2001, in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001, and in mainland China on June 8, 2004 (iQue Player). Nintendo's competitors in the handheld market at the time were the Neo Geo Pocket Color, WonderSwan, GP32, Tapwave Zodiac, and the N - Gage . Despite the competitors' best efforts, Nintendo maintained a majority market share with the Game Boy Advance . </P> <P> As of June 30, 2010, the Game Boy Advance series has sold 81.51 million units worldwide . Its successor, the Nintendo DS, was released in November 2004 and is also compatible with Game Boy Advance software . </P>

When did the game boy advance come out