June 6, 1984 – The Release of Tetris

June 6

Copy of the Tetris Logo

On June 6, 1984, a Russian software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov changed the gaming industry with the release of his game, Tetris. At the time, he was working at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre, where he developed the game using an Electronika 60 computer. Tetris quickly gained popularity and spread rapidly throughout Moscow. It was soon adapted for use on IBM computers, which further accelerated its reach. Within a few years, it seemed that nearly everyone in Russia was enjoying the game. The game’s popularity became so immense that many companies banned it, as employees were becoming addicted to playing!

The West was introduced to the game Tetris in 1988 on IBM PCs, but it was quickly adapted for gaming consoles, including Atari and Nintendo. Later that same year, Nintendo released its version of the game for the Game Boy, which became immensely popular and significantly contributed to the success of the handheld console. By the end of the 1980s, it was clear that Tetris had become a global phenomenon. 

Today, there are over 200 versions of Tetris published by various companies, and it is considered the second-best-selling video game franchise of all time. To date, it has generated over $520 million in sales, with the majority of these sales now occurring on mobile devices. Tetris was inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame in 2015.

Fun Facts about Tetris:

  • Playing Tetris for extended periods has led some players to see Tetris shapes in their surroundings. This phenomenon is common enough to be referred to as the “Tetris Effect.”
  • Pajitnov drew inspiration for the game from classic puzzles and riddles that he enjoyed as a child. 
  • When Nintendo released the Game Boy version of Tetris in 1988, the game sold over 35 million copies.
  • Tetris now has a league of professional players who compete in challenges for titles. 
  • Tetris was the first game played in space!
  • In 2023, a gamer named Willis Gibson achieved a remarkable milestone by beating Tetris for the first time. Previously considered unbeatable, the game was conquered when Gibson reached a kill screen on level 157. It is believed that he finally completed the game.