Originally launched in 1976 as Zilog’s debut product, the Z80 was designed by former Intel engineer and co-founder Federico Faggin, alongside early employee Masatoshi Shima. Created to enhance Intel’s 8080 and optimized for embedded computing, the Z80 quickly rose to prominence, competing with the MOS Technology 6502 and featuring in iconic devices such as the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Tandy TRS-80, and even Namco’s Pac-Man arcade machines.

Despite its 1970s design, the Z80 continues to enjoy popularity among modern embedded systems and retro computing enthusiasts. However, Zilog is now ending production of the standalone CPU model, as confirmed in a product change notice from its parent company, Littelfuse. The company states that “our Wafer Foundry Manufacturer will be discontinuing support for the Z80 dip product and other product lines,” with a last-time-buy (LTB) deadline set for June 14, 2024. After this date, the 13 Z80 parts within the Z84C00 family will no longer be available to order.

These specific parts, widely used to replace faulty chips in vintage computers or power modern, retro-inspired machines, will become increasingly rare. Although Zilog’s eZ80 range will continue for embedded applications, the end-of-life announcement marks a significant change for the original Z80, a processor that has held a prominent place in computing history for nearly five decades.