What was Pokémon Go’s official initial launch date in 2016?

Pokémon Go’s official initial launch date was July 6, 2016.

The augmented-reality mobile game was developed and published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Its location-based design used GPS to place Pokémon, PokéStops, and Gyms in the real world, encouraging players to explore physical surroundings.

The first launch covered Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The game then expanded gradually to other territories rather than releasing worldwide on one day. Japan, for example, received the game on July 22, 2016, while many European and Asian markets followed on later dates.

This regional rollout explains why different players remember different launch dates. July 6 refers to the beginning of official availability, not the date the game reached every country. Server strain and unexpected demand affected the pace of the international expansion.