By September 2016, how many worldwide downloads had Pokémon Go surpassed?

By September 2016, Pokémon Go had surpassed 500 million downloads worldwide.

Developed by Niantic with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go launched in July 2016. The mobile game combined Pokémon collecting with location-based exploration, using a phone’s GPS and camera to place encounters in real-world surroundings.

Its launch produced an unusually rapid global response. Players searched for Pokémon in parks, streets, and landmarks, while PokéStops and Gyms encouraged people to visit physical locations. The game’s popularity also helped bring augmented-reality gaming into mainstream conversation.

The 500-million figure refers to downloads, not the number of active players or the number of Pokémon caught. Pokémon Go also set several early mobile-game records, including rapid revenue milestones and a record for first-month downloads. Later download totals are much higher, but September 2016 is the date associated with this early milestone.