You’re probably here because you just saw a clip of a guy with three monitors and a drawing tablet moving at light speed, and you’re wondering where this clicking-circle madness even came from. Or maybe you're an old-timer trying to remember exactly when the "good old days" started. Honestly, the history of this thing is kind of a mess if you just look at a single date.
So, when is osu game coming into existence? If we’re talking about the very first time Dean "peppy" Herbert let the world touch his creation, the answer is September 16, 2007.
But it wasn't the polished, flashy beast you see today. Back then, it was basically just a Windows-only passion project. It’s wild to think that something that now defines the rhythm game genre for millions started as a simple "proof of concept" in July of that same year.
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The Birth of the Circle Clicker
Peppy didn't just wake up and invent a new genre. He was heavily inspired—and he’s never been shy about it—by Nintendo DS classics. If you ever played Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan or Elite Beat Agents, you know exactly what I mean. He wanted that experience on PC.
The initial release on September 16 was just the beginning. By October 17, 2007, the game entered a more formal "open beta" phase. This is when the community really started to breathe life into it. In the early days, if you wanted a new song, you couldn't just browse a massive in-game library. You had to rely on the early pioneers of the Beatmap Submission System (BSS), which launched in 2008.
Key Milestones in the osu! Timeline
- September 16, 2007: The official "birth" of the game on Windows.
- 2008: The introduction of the BSS, making it way easier for people to share their own maps.
- October 2008: osu! taiko and osu! catch (then called Catch the Beat) were added as separate modes.
- March 2012: osu! mania joins the party, catering to the traditional "falling notes" crowd.
- 2017 - Present: The era of "lazer," a complete rewrite of the game from the ground up.
Why People Keep Asking "When is osu Game" Today
Usually, when people ask this now, they aren't looking for a history lesson. They're actually asking about osu!lazer.
Lazer is the massive update that’s been in development for years. It's meant to replace the "stable" version we’ve all been using since the late 2000s. People have been asking "when is it coming out" for nearly a decade. The funny thing is, it's already here. You can download it right now.
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But "released" is a tricky word in the osu! world. Peppy has a very specific philosophy: it’s finished when it’s finished. For a long time, lazer didn't allow for "ranked" play or score submission that counted toward your global performance points (pp). That changed recently.
Basically, the game is in a state of perpetual evolution. While the original release date was September 16, 2007, the "modern" version of the game is essentially being released in waves every few weeks through the lazer update cycle.
Is the Original Game Dead?
Not even close. Most of the top-tier players still stick to the "Stable" client. Why? Because when you’ve spent 10,000 hours muscle-memorying a specific frame timing and skin behavior, even the slightest change feels "off."
However, the tide is turning. In 2024 and 2025, we saw a massive push toward making lazer the default experience. In fact, if you go to the download page today, lazer is often the primary recommendation.
It’s worth noting that the game is truly cross-platform now. Back in 2007, you were stuck on Windows. Now? You can run it on macOS, Linux, Android, and even iOS (though getting it on an iPhone is still a bit of a dance involving TestFlight).
What Most People Get Wrong About the Release
A lot of people think osu! is a Japanese game because of the name and the heavy presence of anime music. It’s actually Australian. Dean Herbert is from "Down Under," and the game's servers and development have always been rooted there, despite the global volunteer team.
Another misconception is that the game "released" on mobile recently. There have been mobile versions (like osu!stream) for ages, but the full, authentic osu! experience on mobile only really became viable with the progress of lazer.
Actionable Steps for New and Returning Players
If you're looking to jump in or come back after a long break, don't just look at the date on the calendar. The game today is fundamentally different from the 2007 version.
- Pick your client wisely. If you want the classic, "it just works" experience that everyone has used for 15 years, download the Stable build. If you want the future—better performance on high-refresh-rate monitors, cool new mods, and a cleaner UI—go with lazer.
- Get a tablet, but don't feel forced. You don't need a drawing tablet to be good. Some of the best players in the world use a mouse. But if you're serious about high-level play, a small Wacom or Huion tablet (like the CTL-472) is the industry standard.
- Explore the "Rulesets." If clicking circles isn't your thing, try osu!mania. It’s much closer to games like StepMania or DJMax. It’s all included in the same download.
- Watch the "Featured Artist" list. One of the coolest things about the modern era of the game is that they now officially license music. This means you can find high-quality, timed maps for artists like Camellia or High Contrast without worrying about copyright strikes if you're a streamer.
The "when" of osu! isn't a single point in time. It’s a 19-year journey that started with a guy who liked a DS game and turned into a global esport. Whether you started in 2007 or you're starting today, the "circle clicking" community is probably the most dedicated group of rhythm nerds on the planet.
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Instead of worrying about when the game was released, focus on when you're going to start practicing your streams. Those 200 BPM maps won't clear themselves.
Data Reference Check:
- Initial Release: Sept 16, 2007.
- Creator: Dean "peppy" Herbert.
- Latest Major Client: osu!lazer (Open source, MIT license).
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.