What mobile game launched Pokémon's augmented-reality craze in 2016?

Pokémon Go launched Pokémon's major augmented-reality mobile craze in 2016.

Niantic developed and published Pokémon Go in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The game uses GPS and a smartphone camera to place Pokémon-related activity in real-world locations. Players can explore, find Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms.

The first release occurred on July 6, 2016, in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Other countries received the game in stages, and Japan's launch followed on July 22. This staggered rollout helped the game become a global cultural event while also creating severe server demand during its early weeks.

Pokémon Go was not the franchise's first mobile title, but it was its most influential location-based game. Its success encouraged later updates, events, raids, trading, and additional generations of Pokémon. The game connected the original collecting idea to physical exploration, making it a notable milestone in the franchise's 30-year history.