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Puzzle & Dragons first launched in Japan on February 20, 2012, as an iOS game distributed through the App Store. Later Android, North American, and Korean launches followed in the months after, so the original date refers only to that Japanese iOS start.
The original release: Japan, iOS, February 20, 2012
GungHo Online Entertainment, the developer and publisher, announced in its 11th-anniversary release that the Japanese iOS service started on February 20, 2012. The company’s 11th-anniversary announcement is the primary source for that date, and it is the date most references use as the game’s release.
Why the game did not launch everywhere at once
Puzzle & Dragons did not arrive on every platform and in every region on day one. GungHo’s official 10th Anniversary Special Site lays out a staggered timeline, and it separates the Japanese iOS start from later service launches. Readers who see “2012” attached to the game in one region may be looking at a different launch than the one they are searching for.
Rollout timeline by platform and region
The table below lists the milestones in GungHo’s official timeline. Where the source summary does not name a region or platform for an entry, the cell says so rather than filling it in.
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| Date | Milestone | Platform | Region | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2012 | Initial service start | iOS (App Store) | Japan | GungHo 11th-anniversary announcement |
| September 2012 | Android service | Android | Not stated in the timeline summary | GungHo 10th Anniversary Special Site |
| November 2012 | Service start | Not stated in the timeline summary | United States and Canada | GungHo 10th Anniversary Special Site |
| December 2012 | Service start | Not stated in the timeline summary | Korea | GungHo 10th Anniversary Special Site |
| January 2013 | Kindle availability | Amazon Kindle | Not stated in the timeline summary | GungHo 10th Anniversary Special Site |
The November 2012 date covers the United States and Canada only. It should not be described as a worldwide launch, because the timeline does not establish service in other regions on that date.
Early growth: publisher-reported download milestones
GungHo’s corporate history page records two domestic milestones for the game:
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- 10 million cumulative downloads, reported in March 2013.
- 20 million cumulative downloads, reported in October 2013.
These figures count cumulative downloads as reported by the publisher. They do not measure active players, paying users, or unique people, since one person may download the game on more than one device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What kind of game it is
GungHo describes Puzzle & Dragons as a smartphone puzzle RPG, a combination of tile-matching puzzle play with role-playing progression. Its official game page also lists later franchise products, including PUZZLE & DRAGONS Nintendo Switch Edition and toys. Those are franchise extensions. The original mobile game was not released on a console, and the official material does not indicate that it required a physical accessory to play.
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Common questions about the release date
- Which date should I cite? February 20, 2012, with Japan and iOS named alongside it.
- Did it come out in North America in 2012? Yes, service in the United States and Canada began in November 2012, according to GungHo’s timeline. That is later than the Japanese debut.
- Is the Switch Edition the original game? No. It is a separate franchise product listed by the publisher.
Sources
- GungHo, Puzzle & Dragons 10th Anniversary Special Site: platform and regional timeline.
- GungHo, 11th-anniversary announcement: the February 20, 2012 Japanese iOS start.
- GungHo, Corporate History: 2013 cumulative download milestones.
- GungHo, Game: genre description and franchise products.
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