Evolution of the Tamagotchi

During its peak, 15 Tamagotchi units were sold every minute in the U.S. and Canada.

Nov 18, 1996

Release

Nov 23, 1996

The Tamagotchi was released on November 23, 1996 in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ Co. Ltd., and Aki Maita of Bandai Co. Ltd.

Sold more than 40 million units worldwide

Dec 31, 1996

g more then 40 million units worldwide and 12 million units in the United States and Canada. The launch of Tamagotchi not only spurred the virtual pet phenomenon of the 90s, but it also created a brand new toy category and prompted countless virtual pet imitators.

Released in USA and Europe

May 1, 1997

Tamagotchi Angel

Aug 13, 1997

The Tenshitchi no Tamagotchi was released in Japan in August 1997 with three different designs, and a later English version, the Tamagotchi Angel, was released in America and Europe with four designs.

Mesutchi and Osutchi

Dec 1, 1997

The Mesutchi and Osutchi were released in December of 1997 in Japan only. These new versions allowed for communitcation between the two virtual pets that could potentially lead to mating once they reached adulthood.

Tamagotchi Garden

Feb 13, 1998

Tamagotchi Ocean

Mar 13, 1998

Tamagotchi Connection

Mar 20, 2004

The Tamagotchi Connection was the first modern Tamagotchi released since 1998. It allows players to connect via infrared (known as Tamacom) to other players systems and become friends, get married, and produce offspring. The English edition also introduced the "pause" option, which stops growth but continues time within the Tamagotchi unit, until the caretaker unpauses it.

Tamagotchi Mini

Apr 13, 2007

Tamagotchi Connection 5

Jan 6, 2008

The Tamagotchi Connection Version 5 is the current Tamagotchi in the Tamagotchi Connection Series, as of 2008.

Tamagotchi iPhone App

Jul 15, 2013