Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go

A mobile-based Pokémon video game

Pokémon Go is a mobile phone application that was released in 2016. The app has the ability to use the phone’s camera and augmented reality to provide the user with an immersive Pokémon game in a new style the community had never before seen. The game was published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the developers of the original Pokémon games for Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and most other following devices/ consoles. Pokémon Go is unique however in comparison with the other Pokémon games as it can only be played on a mobile phone, running an IOS or Android operating system. This is because the game requires an online connection regardless of where it is played. The game also uses the device’s GPS to move, locate, and capture virtual Pokémon creatures as if they were at the player’s real life location, and a cell phone is perfect for these functions. This new kind of Pokémon game was also launched as free to play on its respective app stores, only offering the option of in-app purchases for additional, non-necessary, in-game items. This was a very unique change as well, as all previous Pokémon games had price tags of as much as $60, and offered little to no in-game purchases. The game’s free to play structure allowed it to take off, quickly becoming popular worldwide with over 500 million downloads by the end of 2016, only 7 months since its release. The game’s huge fan base included many new fans to the Pokémon world as it was so accessible, and many long term die-hard fans as well. Pokémon Go and its fans popularized the concept of location based augmented reality, and promoted physical activity and the growth of small businesses all at one time. By 2020, just under 4 years since the game’s release, it had reached over 1 billion downloads and grossed more than $6 billion in revenue.

Niantic, Nintendo, The Pokémon Company

Niantic

July 6th, 2016 - Present

Application - Requires IOS or Android operating system

English