July 3, 2026: GURPS Turns 40

The GURPS Basic Set, First Edition was released at the 1986 Origins Game Fair in Los Angeles. That took place July 3-6, meaning that GURPS is 40 years old this week! (Man to Man was released the previous year in Baltimore, but that was strictly the combat system, so we count birthdays from 1986.)

Your faithful servant here didn't start work at SJ Games until 1995 (on July 5 . . . 'tis the season of anniversaries), so I can't give a rousing "I was there, Gandalf" speech. Still, by 1986, I was already a huge fan of SJ Games thanks to Car Wars (1980), Killer (1981), and Ogre (1982), and had become an avid Man to Man player. I bought the second copy of GURPS sold in my city (my best friend beat me to the first one – grr!).

Since then, there have been hundreds upon hundreds of GURPS releases. The four-decade run has seen computer meltdowns, a government raid, moves, and natural disasters, so even we don't have an exact count. For instance, this list – while long – isn't complete! And the game thrived, going into its Second Edition in 1987, Third Edition in 1988, Third Edition Revised in 1996, and Fourth Edition in 2004.

Another major revision will mark the 40th year: The Basic Set, Fourth Edition Revised is printed and in our main warehouse, so you should be able to get hold of it shortly. You can read all about that here.

Speaking as the system's guardian of 31 years – and as a devoted player the whole 40 (+1) years – I want to thank all of the people who've stuck with GURPS through its highs and its lows. You're what has kept the game alive for longer than many gamers have been alive. And here's to another 40 years, even if I'm a brain in a jar by then!

-- Sean Punch