Bandai’s Tamagotchi has officially shipped over 100 million units worldwide
Japanese toy and hobby company Bandai has announced that its iconic handheld digital pet, the Tamagotchi, has surpassed 100 million cumulative units shipped worldwide.
Tamagotchi first launched in 1996 and quickly grew into a massive social phenomenon, selling 40 million units in its first two and a half years alone.
The simple and charming concept of raising a small, digital creature has resonated with audiences for decades, leading to multiple revivals and a sustained global presence.
Official data released by the company reveals the international nature of the brand’s success, with over half of all shipments being for markets outside of Japan.
The breakdown of shipments by region is approximately 49 percent for Japan, 33 percent for the United States, 16 percent for Europe, and 2 percent for other parts of Asia.
To date, a total of 38 different models of the virtual pet have been released in over 50 different countries and regions.
Sales have been bolstered by efforts to combine the popular virtual pet with other IP’s, with regular collaborations with hit anime series, such as a recent Blue Lock themed Tamagotchi, raising the brand’s profile with younger generations.
To celebrate the 100 million unit milestone, a special commemorative video has been released on the official Tamagotchi social media accounts and YouTube channel.
The charming video shows the character Mametchi visiting a factory to “help” create the 100 millionth Tamagotchi, before seeing it off as it is shipped out.
The franchise is currently experiencing what is described as its “fourth boom.”
This new wave of popularity is being driven by the re-release of the “Original Tamagotchi,” a version based on the model sold in the West in 1997, and the launch of the latest model in the series, the “Tamagotchi Paradise,” which was released in July of this year.
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