Pokémon GO was the first Pokémon game for mobile devices built around augmented-reality catching.
Developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon GO launched in 2016 for iOS and Android. It used a smartphone's location services and camera to place Pokémon encounters in the player's real-world surroundings. Players could explore local areas, collect items from PokéStops, and catch Pokémon by throwing virtual Poké Balls.
The game's initial releases began in Australia and New Zealand on July 6, 2016, followed by the United States and other markets. Its worldwide rollout was staggered, so launch dates differed by country. That regional schedule is why a single global release date is not always accurate.
Pokémon GO was inspired partly by Ingress, Niantic's earlier location-based game. It also introduced many people to Pokémon through walking, mapping, and outdoor exploration rather than a dedicated handheld console. Later updates added raids, trading, battles, new generations, and other features beyond the original catching-focused design.