Pokémon Go was first released worldwide in 2016.
Developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go uses a mobile device’s location and camera-related features to place Pokémon in the real world. Players can explore outdoor locations, catch Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms.
The game began its rollout in July 2016, with availability expanding across countries and regions. Its use of augmented reality and location-based play made it different from the traditional handheld role-playing games, even though it retained familiar Pokémon, types, items, and collecting goals.
Pokémon Go is not the same as a main-series Pokémon game. It uses different capture and battle mechanics and receives content through mobile updates. Its launch nevertheless became one of the franchise’s most visible introductions to a new generation of players during Pokémon’s 20th anniversary year.