COSM-GAME Blue Archive
Blue Archive is a free-to-play tactical RPG developed by NEXON Games Co., Ltd. and published globally by NEXON Korea Corporation. Players serve as Sensei, adviser to Schale, and lead student squads while resolving incidents across the academy city of Kivotos. Progression focuses on recruiting and strengthening students, advancing story content, and building teams for recurring combat modes. Its defining gameplay centers on real-time squad battles where timed EX Skills and team composition determine how each encounter is handled.
Game summary
On this page
Latest update
Version 1.93.452024 released on August 18, 2026. The update added Niko and Kurumi Pick-Ups, the opening Main Story Act 2 chapters, Special Mission: Lore Pursuit, Mock Total Assault, and Lunatic difficulty for Total Assault. NEXON issued a follow-up data patch and Google Play, Galaxy Store, and ONE Store app update on August 20 to address additional issues and improve stability.
Release date and status
Blue Archive launched globally at 23:00 UTC on November 8, 2021. Japan had launched earlier on February 4, 2021, mainland China followed on August 3, 2023, and the global Steam PC client released at 01:00 UTC on July 4, 2025.
| Global release | Nov 8, 2021 · 23:00 UTC |
| Japan mobile release | Feb 4, 2021 · Android, iOS / iPadOS |
| Mainland China release | Aug 3, 2023 · Android, iOS / iPadOS |
| Steam PC release | Jul 4, 2025 · 01:00 UTC · PC |
| Original launch platforms | |
| Global status | Released |
| Pricing model | Free-to-play·In-app purchases |
| Availability | SteamApp StoreApp Store age-rated versionGoogle PlayGoogle Play age-rated versionGalaxy StoreONE StoreONE Store age-rated versionONE GameLoopJapan App StoreJapan Google PlayMainland China official Android clientMainland China App Store |
Platforms and availability
Blue Archive is supported on Windows PC, Android, and iOS / iPadOS. The global service is distributed through Steam and multiple mobile storefronts, including App Store, Google Play, Galaxy Store, and ONE Store. Japan and mainland China have separate regional services and storefront listings.
Gameplay and setting
Blue Archive uses squads of students in real-time battles, with attack types, defense types, terrain, positioning, team composition, and timed EX Skills shaping each encounter. Players recruit and strengthen students, improve equipment and skills, develop relationships, and build specialized teams for Main Story missions, Total Assault, Grand Assault, Tactical Challenge, Joint Firing Drill, and Final Restriction Release. Outside combat, Cafe, Lessons, MomoTalk, and Relationship Stories expand character progression and interactions. The story takes place in Kivotos, where Sensei serves as the adviser to Schale and works with students from its many academies to resolve incidents across the city.
Trailer, screenshots, and media
The selected 5th PV and seven-image gallery show Kivotos, student interactions, tactical combat, the Cafe, Recollection Lobby, MomoTalk, Main Story navigation, and the academy city's urban setting.
Developer and publisher
NEXON Games Co., Ltd. develops Blue Archive. NEXON Korea Corporation publishes the global service, Yostar, Inc. publishes the Japanese service, and Shanghai Roaming Star Co., Ltd. handles the mainland China service.
| Developer | NEXON Games Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | NEXON Korea Corporation |
| Official website | Blue Archive |
Download and availability
The global service can be obtained through Steam, App Store, Google Play, Galaxy Store, and ONE Store, with separate age-rated mobile editions available through supported stores. ONE Store also provides ONE GameLoop as a PC access route for its edition. Japan uses dedicated Yostar App Store and Google Play listings, while mainland China provides its own regional Android and iOS distribution.
System / Device Requirements
Blue Archive publishes minimum Windows PC specifications through Steam and official minimum and recommended mobile requirements through NEXON. The mobile editions require an internet connection.
Note: The current App Store lists iPadOS 15.0 as the compatibility floor. NEXON's detailed Apple device guidance names iPhone models and does not specify a separate minimum iPad model.
| PC minimum specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | 64-bit processor and operating system |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 - 540 3.06 GHz |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX650Ti |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 19 GB available space |
| Sound card | Windows Compatible Audio Device |
- Value
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- Value
- Windows 10
- Value
- Intel Core i3 - 540 3.06 GHz
- Value
- 4 GB RAM
- Value
- GeForce GTX650Ti
- Value
- Version 11
- Value
- 19 GB available space
- Value
- Windows Compatible Audio Device
| PC recommended specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | 64-bit processor and operating system |
| OS | Windows 11 |
- Value
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- Value
- Windows 11
| Android specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 9 (Pie) |
| Device | Galaxy Note 5 | Galaxy Note 8 |
| Memory | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Minimum download space | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Required storage | 15 GB or above | 30 GB |
| iOS / iPadOS specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | iOS 15.0 or later; iPadOS 15.0 or later | iOS 16.0 or later |
| iPhone model | iPhone XS | iPhone 14 |
| Memory | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Minimum download space | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Required storage | 15 GB or above | 30 GB |