What was the first Pokémon mobile game released worldwide in 2016?

Pokémon Go was the Pokémon mobile game released worldwide in 2016.

Developed by Niantic in collaboration with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, Pokémon Go launched as a free-to-play augmented-reality game for iOS and Android devices. It used GPS location data and a phone’s camera or motion sensors to connect virtual Pokémon encounters with real-world movement.

The game began its staggered release in July 2016, first reaching Australia, New Zealand, and the United States before expanding to additional countries. Players explored real locations, visited PokéStops, battled at Gyms, and captured Pokémon by throwing virtual Poké Balls.

Pokémon Go is sometimes confused with later mobile titles such as Pokémon Quest, Pokémon Masters EX, and Pokémon Sleep. Those games use different formats and launched later. Pokémon Go’s location-based design made it a major cultural event during Pokémon’s twentieth-anniversary year.