Pokémon Go was released worldwide for Android and iOS in 2016.
Developed by Niantic and published with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the mobile game combines Pokémon collecting with location-based augmented reality. It uses a phone’s GPS to place encounters, PokéStops, and Gyms in the real world.
The game launched in July 2016 and initially featured Pokémon from Generation I. Players could walk through real locations, find Pokémon, throw Poké Balls, and compete at Gyms. Its use of recognizable landmarks and smartphone cameras helped it become one of the most visible global Pokémon releases.
The launch year is sometimes confused with the date of later features. Generation II Pokémon began arriving in 2017, while Pokémon Go Plus, a related wearable accessory, was released in September 2016. Those later additions did not change the game’s original release year.