More than five decades after its invention, production of the iconic Rubik's Cube is returning to Hungary, where architect and professor Ernő Rubik first created the colourful puzzle that has captivated generations worldwide.

With more than half a billion units sold globally, the six-sided puzzle has become a cultural phenomenon. Its manufacturing is now returning to its birthplace through a new automated production facility in Jászberény.

“Hungary is the home of the cube. The cube was born here,” the 82-year-old Rubik said on Tuesday at the inauguration of the facility.

Rubik invented the puzzle in 1974 while teaching design at Budapest's Academy of Applied Arts and Design. Initially made of wood, his prototype consisted of 27 smaller blocks that could rotate along multiple axes.

Initially called the “Magic Cube”, the invention went on sale in specialist shops in Budapest in 1977, with an initial production of 5,000 units.

Demand soon increased beyond Hungary's manufacturing capacity, prompting Rubik to license the product to British and later American toy companies, shifting production abroad.

The puzzle experienced its first major global boom between 1980 and 1983, when around 200 million units were sold. Although its popularity later declined, millions continue to be purchased annually.

The newly established Hungarian production line uses robotic arms to assemble the cubes and test their functionality and durability. It aims to manufacture one million units annually.

Steve Radewych, a senior vice president of Canadian toy company Spin Master, which owns the Rubik's Cube trademark, described the occasion as the puzzle's return to its roots.

He said the cube had become more than a toy, describing it as a global social phenomenon that promotes intelligence, problem-solving and cognitive skills while entertaining generations.

The puzzle has gained renewed popularity in recent years through international speed-solving competitions.

According to the World Cube Association, nine-year-old Xuanyi Geng of China set a new world record last month by solving the cube in 2.51 seconds.

Rubik, however, views his invention differently from competitive speed-solvers, describing it as a “transformable sculpture” that brings together art and engineering through countless possible combinations.

He said creating something meaningful and beautiful was among the most rewarding aspects of the invention.