Pac-Man was first released in Japanese arcades on May 22, 1980.

Quick Scoop

  • The original Pac-Man arcade game launched in Japan on May 22, 1980, developed by Namco.
  • It was later released in the United States in October 1980, where it quickly became a cultural icon of the 1980s.
  • Pac-Man’s success helped popularize maze-chase games and turned the character into one of the most recognizable figures in video game history.

Regional release dates

  • Japan arcade release: May 22, 1980.
  • U.S. arcade release (via Midway): October 1980.

Fun context

  • Pac-Man’s 1980 debut means the franchise is now over 40 years old and still getting new games and rereleases.
  • The character remains the official mascot of Bandai Namco and is frequently used as a symbol of classic gaming.

TL;DR: When someone asks “when was Pac-Man released,” the classic arcade original refers to May 22, 1980 (Japan), with the U.S. arcade version following in October 1980.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.