Zilog, the company behind the 8-bit Z80 CPU, first launched in 1976, announced the discontinuation of the Z80 after 48 years of sales. They will be accepting final orders until June 14, 2024.
The Z80 CPU is considered a classic in the industry and has been used for teaching processor design for a long time, thanks to its simplicity and 8,500 transistors operating at 2.5MHz using a 4-micron manufacturing process.
Designed to compete with the Intel 8080 CPU, the Z80 offered binary compatibility at a lower cost. Hardware examples from that era include the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and the arcade game Pac-Man. Eventually, Zilog shifted its focus to the microcontroller market, which proved to be successful.
Zilog, itself, has changed ownership multiple times. Currently owned by IXYS Corporation, an American semiconductor company that acquired Zilog in 2009. IXYS was later acquired by Littelfuse in 2017.
Source: The Register
TLDR: Zilog, the creator of the Z80 CPU, is discontinuing the product after 48 years of sales. The Z80, known for its simplicity and low cost, was designed to rival the Intel 8080 CPU and found success in both teaching and gaming applications.
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