On what date were Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire first released in Japan?

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were first released in Japan on November 21, 2002.

The paired role-playing games were the first main-series Pokémon titles for the Game Boy Advance and began Generation III. They introduced the Hoenn region, which features a strong emphasis on islands, oceans, and tropical environments.

Ruby and Sapphire added 135 new Pokémon species, including the legendary mascots Groudon and Kyogre. They also introduced Abilities, Pokémon Natures, double battles, and Pokémon Contests. These systems expanded battles and gave players more ways to train and customize their teams.

The international releases followed in 2003: North America received the games on March 19, while Europe received them on July 25. Their Japanese launch is sometimes confused with the later international dates. Pokémon Emerald, a related third version, followed in Japan in 2004, while remakes titled Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire arrived for Nintendo 3DS in 2014.