The original Pokémon GO mobile game launched in 2016.
Niantic developed Pokémon GO in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It was released first in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6, 2016, before expanding to additional countries. The game was designed for iOS and Android devices.
Pokémon GO combines GPS location data, mobile cameras, and augmented-reality features. Players explore real-world locations, find Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms. Its design connected the series' collecting concept with outdoor movement and location-based play.
The year is sometimes confused with the game's announcement period or later regional launches. Japan received the game on July 22, 2016, and other territories followed in stages. Pokémon GO was not a mainline Nintendo handheld release; it was a mobile spin-off developed originally by Niantic.