When did Pac-Man come out? The release dates that people mix up
Two launch dates, two names and a flood of ports: here is the verified chronology, and the reasons the wrong dates keep circulating.
The short answer
Pac-Man came out on 22 May 1980 in Japan, where it was called Puck Man, and in October 1980 in North America under the Pac-Man name through Midway. Every later date you see refers to a port, a sequel or an anniversary.
Why there are two 1980 dates
Namco released the game domestically first, after a location test in the spring. The North American licence went to Midway Manufacturing, which had successfully distributed Namco's Galaxian the year before. Midway needed time to produce cabinets, rework the artwork and rename the game, which is why the US launch came five months later. For most of the world, including Europe, the game arrived via Midway cabinets or local licensees in late 1980 and 1981, so the "October 1980" date is the one most non-Japanese players remember. The naming change itself is explained in meaning of the pacman name.
Full release chronology
| Date | Release | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 1980 | Puck Man | Arcade (Japan) | Namco original |
| October 1980 | Pac-Man | Arcade (North America) | Midway licence, renamed |
| 1981 | Pac-Man | Arcade (Europe, elsewhere) | Midway and regional distributors |
| Early 1982 | Ms. Pac-Man | Arcade | Sequel by GCC and Midway |
| March 1982 | Pac-Man | Atari 2600 | First major home port, by Tod Frye |
| 1982 to 1984 | Pac-Man | Atari 5200, Intellivision, home computers | Far more faithful than the 2600 version |
| 1984 | Pac-Man | Famicom (Japan); NES later | Namco's own port |
| 2007 | Pac-Man Championship Edition | Xbox 360 | Iwatani's final design |
| 21 May 2010 | Google doodle | Web browser | 30th anniversary, fully playable |
| 2015 | Pac-Man 256 | Mobile, later consoles and PC | Endless mode |
| April 2021 | Pac-Man 99 | Nintendo Switch | Online battle royale, delisted 2023 |
| 2022 | Pac-Man Museum+ / World Re-Pac | Modern consoles and PC | Compilation and remake |
For a complete catalogue, including spin-offs such as Super Pac-Man and Pac-Land, see all official pacman games.
The dates people get wrong
- "Pac-Man came out in 1981." 1981 is when the US craze peaked and when many European arcades received cabinets, but the game had already been on sale for a year.
- "Pac-Man came out in 1982." 1982 is the year of the Atari 2600 cartridge, Ms. Pac-Man, the cartoon and the hit song. For many households it was the first time they could play at home, which is why the year sticks.
- "Pac-Man's birthday is 21 May." Google ran its 30th-anniversary doodle on 21 May 2010 because the actual anniversary, 22 May, was a Saturday. Bandai Namco itself celebrates 22 May.
How long did development take?
Design began in 1979 and the game shipped in May 1980, roughly 17 months of work by a five-person team led by Toru Iwatani. The people and their roles are profiled in the man who designed pacman. The wider story of what happened after launch, including the explosion in the United States, is told in the pacman history from 1980. And if you want to understand why a 1980 design still feels playable, the ghost logic in pacman ghost ai explained is the best place to start before trying the free games on the mr pacman retro arcade hub.
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Frequently asked questions
What year did Pac-Man come out?
1980. The Japanese release was 22 May 1980 and the North American release was October 1980.
When did Pac-Man come to America?
October 1980, distributed by Midway Manufacturing of Chicago under licence from Namco.
When did Pac-Man come out on Atari?
The Atari 2600 cartridge shipped in March 1982.
When did Ms. Pac-Man come out?
Early 1982, roughly 18 months after the original.
When is Pac-Man's anniversary?
22 May. The game turned 40 in 2020 and 45 in 2025.