COSM-GAME Blue Archive
Blue Archive is a free-to-play tactical RPG developed by NEXON Games Co., Ltd. Players become Sensei, adviser to Schale, and work with students from academies across the city of Kivotos. Battles use real-time squad movement and a regenerating skill-cost system, with team composition, attack and defense types, terrain, positioning, and timed EX Skills affecting each encounter. Progression combines student recruitment, levels, skills, equipment, Unique Weapons, relationship development, story chapters, and recurring PvE and PvP activities.
Game summary
On this page
Latest update
The September 8, 2026 update is the current Blue Archive Global live-content update. It adds Erika as a new 3-star student, permanently adds Rowdy and Cheery to Event Recap, starts Tactical Challenge Season 11 with Field Warfare terrain, opens Grand Assault against Myouki Kurokage in Urban Warfare, and adds the first two episodes of the new ON AIR: Gehenna Mini Story.
The App Store continues to list client version 1.93.452024, originally released on August 18, 2026, while the September 8 update changes the live service content without introducing a newer listed App Store client version.
Release date and status
Blue Archive is Released. The global service opened at 23:00 UTC on November 8, 2021. The Japanese mobile service launched earlier on February 4, 2021, while the mainland China service followed on August 3, 2023.
Blue Archive later expanded to Windows PC through Steam. The global Steam client officially opened at 01:00 UTC on July 4, 2025, giving the global service a native PC distribution route in addition to its Android and iOS / iPadOS editions.
| 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 |
| 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 PC, Android, and iOS / iPadOS. The global Windows PC version is distributed through Steam, while global mobile distribution includes App Store, Google Play, Galaxy Store, and ONE Store. Separate age-rated mobile editions are also available through supported storefronts.
ONE Store additionally provides ONE GameLoop as a PC access route for its edition. Japan operates dedicated Yostar mobile listings, while mainland China has separate Android and App Store distribution for its regional service.
Gameplay and setting
Blue Archive combines student collection and progression with real-time squad combat. Players assemble teams around each student's attack type, defense type, role, terrain suitability, equipment, and skills, then spend a regenerating skill cost resource to activate EX Skills during battle. Positioning and team synergy become increasingly important in higher-difficulty missions and recurring endgame encounters.
Progression extends beyond ordinary missions through Total Assault, Grand Assault, Joint Firing Drill, Final Restriction Release, Tactical Challenge, Bounty, Commissions, Scrimmage, and other combat activities. Students can be strengthened through levels, skills, equipment, Unique Weapons, Unique Equipment, Elephs, and relationship progression.
Outside battle, the Cafe provides resources and student interactions, Lessons increase relationships and provide materials, and MomoTalk unlocks conversations and Relationship Stories. Recruitment is the game's gacha system, while Pyroxene serves as a central premium currency used for recruitment and other account activities.
The story takes place in Kivotos, a vast academy city formed around numerous schools and student organizations. The player serves as Sensei, adviser to Schale, and works with academies including Abydos, Gehenna, Millennium, Trinity, Hyakkiyako, Shanhaijing, Red Winter, Valkyrie, Arius, SRT, and others while resolving incidents that connect the wider story of Kivotos.
Trailer, screenshots, and media
The selected official promotion video provides an evergreen introduction to Kivotos, its students, academy life, and combat. The updated gallery uses higher-resolution official or official-platform material covering student groups, tactical battles, Main Story Act 2 scenery, the Kivotos setting, and a major boss encounter.
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. |
| Publishers | NEXON Korea CorporationYostar, Inc.Shanghai Roaming Star Co., Ltd. |
| Official website | Blue Archive |
Download and availability
The global service can be downloaded through Steam on Windows PC and through App Store, Google Play, Galaxy Store, or ONE Store on supported mobile devices. Separate age-rated mobile listings are available through supported stores, and ONE Store also provides its ONE GameLoop PC route.
Japan uses dedicated Yostar App Store and Google Play listings. Mainland China provides its own official Android distribution and App Store listing. Steam players who want to continue using an existing global mobile Game Profile can link their Steam account to the appropriate NEXON account and select the Game Profile they want to use across linked platforms.
System / Device Requirements
Blue Archive publishes minimum Windows PC specifications through Steam and minimum and recommended mobile requirements through NEXON. The mobile editions require an internet connection. Steam currently provides only a Windows 11 operating-system requirement for its recommended PC tier rather than a complete recommended CPU, GPU, memory, and storage specification.
| 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 GTX 650 Ti |
| 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 GTX 650 Ti
- 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 |
| Processor | Not specified by Steam |
| Memory | Not specified by Steam |
| Graphics | Not specified by Steam |
| Storage | Not specified by Steam |
- Value
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- Value
- Windows 11
- Value
- Not specified by Steam
- Value
- Not specified by Steam
- Value
- Not specified by Steam
- Value
- Not specified by Steam
| Android specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 7.0 Nougat | Android 9 Pie |
| Reference 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 |
| Internet | Required | Required |
| iOS / iPadOS specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | iOS 15.0 or later; iPadOS 15.0 or later | iOS 16.0 or later |
| iPhone reference 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 |
| iPad compatibility | iPadOS 15.0 or later; no separate minimum iPad model specified by NEXON | No separate recommended iPad model specified |
| Internet | Required | Required |