PEX
Tamagotchi 30th Anniversary: From 1996 to AI Virtual Pets
Short answer: the first Tamagotchi went on sale in Japan on November 23, 1996, so it turns 30 in November 2026 (abroad, where it launched a year later, the anniversary falls in 2027). Thirty years and 100 million units later, the same idea of a tiny pet that needs your care also lives on phones and watches, in apps like Pex.
An egg-shaped keychain with three buttons and a pixel pet that got hungry, got bored and needed cleaning up after: the Tamagotchi turned "looking after something" into a pocket-sized game. Here is how it started, what happened in 30 years, and where virtual pets are today.
1996: an egg with a pet inside
Bandai launched the Tamagotchi in Japan on November 23, 1996. It was created by Aki Maita of Bandai and Akihiro Yokoi of the toy company WiZ, and the name, according to Bandai, blends tamago (egg) and uotchi (watch). A pet hatched on the small screen and you fed it, played with it, cleaned up its droppings and gave it medicine when it got sick. If you didn't, it let you know.
1997: a worldwide craze
The toy was an instant hit in Japan, where about 10 million units sold in less than a year. It arrived in the United States in May 1997 and in other countries that same year. Kids took their pets to school, schools pushed back, and copycats and new virtual pets followed.
30 years in a few dates
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1996 | The first Tamagotchi goes on sale in Japan (November 23) |
| 1997 | Launch in the United States (May) and other countries |
| 2004 | Tamagotchi Connection, released in Japan in March and abroad later that year |
| 2023 | Tamagotchi Uni, the first Tamagotchi with Wi-Fi |
| 2025 | Tamagotchi Paradise; Bandai Namco reports 100 million units shipped worldwide (as of July 31, 2025) |
| 2026 | A 30th anniversary exhibition in Tokyo (January 7 to February 2) and the anniversary itself in Japan in November |
According to Bandai Namco, more than half of all Tamagotchi shipments (51%) are now outside Japan.
Why it still works
The idea is simple: a small creature with needs that change while you're away. Checking in a few times a day, feeding it and keeping it happy builds a habit and a bit of attachment. That loop is what every virtual pet since then has built on.
From keychain to AI virtual pets
Today you don't need a separate device to keep a pet. Pex is an independent, Tamagotchi-style virtual pet app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Android, and it adds one thing the 1996 egg couldn't: you create the pet yourself. Pex AI turns a photo of your real pet, a drawing, a toy or a keychain into a pixel-art pet (see how to turn a photo into pixel art).
| Classic Tamagotchi | Pex | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | A toy with its own screen and buttons | An app on your phone, tablet, Mac and Apple Watch |
| The pet | Characters that hatch on the toy | Your own pet, created with AI from a photo, drawing, toy or keychain |
| Care | Feeding, playing, cleaning up, medicine | Hunger, happiness, cleanliness and sleep that change through the day |
| Where you see it | On the toy | Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, the Dynamic Island and your Apple Watch |
Every Pex has six animations (idle, eating, sleeping, cleaning, playing and running) and reacts to how you take care of it. Pex is free to download on the App Store and Google Play, with an optional Premium upgrade. Learn more about the Pex virtual pet app.
FAQ
When did the first Tamagotchi come out?+
Bandai released the first Tamagotchi in Japan on November 23, 1996. It reached the United States in May 1997.
When is the Tamagotchi 30th anniversary?+
In Japan, in November 2026. Bandai Namco notes that overseas markets, where the toy launched a year later, mark their 30th anniversary in 2027.
Who invented the Tamagotchi?+
Aki Maita of Bandai and Akihiro Yokoi of the toy company WiZ.
How many Tamagotchi have been sold?+
Bandai Namco reports 100 million units shipped worldwide as of July 31, 2025.
Is Pex a Tamagotchi app?+
Pex is an independent virtual pet app in the Tamagotchi style. It is not made by Bandai. You create your pet with AI and care for its hunger, happiness, cleanliness and sleep on your phone and Apple Watch.
Sources
- Bandai Namco Holdings: Tamagotchi special feature (launch date, 100 million units, 30th anniversary)
- Wikipedia: Tamagotchi (creators, name, releases)
- Mental Floss: A Brief History of the Tamagotchi (early sales)
- Japan Travel: 30th Anniversary Tamagotchi Exhibition 2026
Tamagotchi is a trademark of Bandai. Pex is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bandai.