 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2007) |
 A Digital Monster model (mini Version 2) | |
| Type | Digital pet |
|---|---|
| Company | Bandai |
| Country | Japan |
| Availability | 1997–present |
| Official website | |
The Digital MonsterJPN is a digital pet created by WiZ and Bandai that spawned the Digimon franchise. It was released by Bandai on June 26, 1997, in Japan and on December 5, 1997[1] in North America. This pet was a masculine counterpart to the Tamagotchi, which was deemed more appropriate for girls.[2] It was similar to earlier virtual pets with the distinctions of being a fighting pet that could connect with others like it.
The original Digital Monster model that was released in 1997 sold 14 million units worldwide, including 13 million in Japan and 1 million overseas, up until March 2004.[3] By 2005, more than 24 million Digital Monster units had been sold worldwide.[4]
In 2017, a 20th anniversary edition was released in Japan which allows the owner to choose from any of the eggs from the first five versions of the original toy, as well as several new ones unlocked through various methods.[5] This edition was released worldwide in 2019, the anniversary of the franchise outside of its home country.[6]
- ^ "Bandai America's DigiMon". Bandai. Archived from the original on 1998-07-09. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
- ^ "Digimon Tamagotchi". Pixelmood. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ^ "New Digimon for 2005". Anime News Network. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Bandai Unveils New Digimon Virtual Pets". Anime News Service. November 11, 2005. Archived from the original on 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Bandai Celebrates Digimon's 20th Anniversary With Re-Release of 1997's Virtual Pet Device". Playstation Lifestyle. January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Digimon 20th Anniversary V-pet Can be Preordered at GameStop". NerdBot. May 16, 2019.