1999: Konami's Reboot & "Series 1"

Konami acquired the exclusive rights and officially launched the Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG (Official Card Game) in February 1999 with the release of Vol.1.

Primitive Card Design: "Series 1" cards (released from 1999 to early 2000) are easily identifiable because they lack a set card code under the artwork (such as the later "ME-01" or "PE-09"). They also do not feature the silver/gold Eye of Anubis security hologram in the bottom right corner.

Early Ruleset: The game in 1999 was played without the Tribute Summon rule for high-level monsters. Gameplay focused almost entirely on racing to summon high-ATK vanilla monsters like Blue-Eyes White Dragon or Dark Magician.

Turning Point: In August 1999, Konami hosted the first National Tournament at the Tokyo Dome. The overwhelming turnout caused massive logistical issues and product shortages, cementing Yu-Gi-Oh! as a mainstream cultural phenomenon in Japan.