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Going from the history of gaming and seeing where it was used in gaming, the best contender for it is Diablo 1, which came out in 1996. Here they used them to clarify between different types of items.

They used gray for junk, white for normal, blue for magic, yellow for rare, orange for legendary, and green for an item that is part of a set. They more than likely used these colors because of their meanings and how they contrast the areas to which they would be.

After Diablo 2, World of Warcraft was the next major game that I could find that started using color coding for it's loot system, and it was very easy to see it was based off of the Diablo coloring system, which is the same for every game that uses the coloring system. Gray for junk, white for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, orange for legendary, gold for artifact, and cyan for heirloom (with the latter two only being added in later additions to the game).

While Diablo 1 and 2 started the trend, I think it would be safe to say World of Warcraft really set it into stone.

Going from the history of gaming and seeing where it was used, an early contendor is Diablo 1, which came out in 1997. However, the best contender I could find for setting the trend in motion early was Diablo 2, which came out in 2000. Here they used a myriad of colors to clarify between different types of items.

They used White for Normal items, Blue for Magic items, Yellow for Rare items, Green for Set items, and Gold for Unique items.

After Diablo 2, World of Warcraft (released in 2004) was the next major game that I could find that started using color coding for it's loot system, and it was very easy to see it was based off of the Diablo 2 coloring system, which is the same for every game that uses the coloring system. Gray for junk, white for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, orange for legendary, gold for artifact, and cyan for heirloom (with the latter two only being added in later additions to the game).

While Diablo 2 started the trend, I think it would be safe to say World of Warcraft really set it into stone.

After Diablo 2, World of Warcraft was the next major game that I could find that started using color coding for it's loot system, and it was very easy to see it was based off of the Diablo coloring system, which is the same for every game that uses the coloring system. Gray for junk, white for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, orange for legendary, gold for artifact, and cyan for heirloom.

After Diablo 2, World of Warcraft was the next major game that I could find that started using color coding for it's loot system, and it was very easy to see it was based off of the Diablo coloring system, which is the same for every game that uses the coloring system. Gray for junk, white for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, orange for legendary, gold for artifact, and cyan for heirloom (with the latter two only being added in later additions to the game).

• Unique colors stand out: on an ease of access standpoint, developers would choose colors that stand out somewhat and grab players attention, so they do not miss them.
• Colors have meanings: with colors having meanings, different colors would subconsciously associate with how society has formed them. Purple being rare and royal, while gray being bland.
• Consistency: once it was solidified by Blizzard in Diablo 1 and 2 and World of Warcraft, all of the other games that would use similar loot systems probably followed in suit. This would make the games friendlier to players who were coming from the Blizzard games. Even though some companies would make changes, they would remain generally similar.
• Colors Have Had Value: Even though coinage does come with some real value tied to it (gold physically being worth more than silver), it still has been shaping society to understand that gold is more valuable. The same is for indigo.

Simply put, the color rarity system was re-adapted for games by Blizzard Entertainment with Diablo and World of Warcraft. As a basic concept however, it has been around for a while. It is all balanced deep in the human mind, and how we perceive colors and rarity.

• Unique colors stand out: on an ease of access standpoint, developers would choose colors that stand out somewhat and grab players attention, so they do not miss them.
• Colors have meanings: with colors having meanings, different colors would subconsciously associate with how society has formed them. Purple being rare and royal, while gray being bland.
• Consistency: once it was solidified by Blizzard in Diablo 1 and 2 and World of Warcraft, all of the other games that would use similar loot systems probably followed in suit. This would make the games friendlier to players who were coming from the Blizzard games. Even though some companies would make changes, they would remain generally similar.
• Colors Have Had Value: Even though coinage does come with some real value tied to it (gold physically being worth more than silver), it still has been shaping society to understand that gold is more valuable. The same is for indigo.
• Scarcity: The rarer items are usually the ones with colors that was once considered valuable, such as gold or purple, which could be a reason to why they are used for valuable items commonly.

Simply put, the color rarity system was re-adapted for games by Blizzard Entertainment with Diablo and World of Warcraft. As a basic concept however, it has been around for a while. It is all balanced deep in the human mind, and how we perceive colors and how scarcity works.