What was the first release date of Pokémon GO?

Pokémon GO first launched on July 6, 2016.

The mobile game was developed by Niantic in collaboration with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. It used GPS location data, map-based exploration, and smartphone cameras to place Pokémon in real-world surroundings. Players could walk to find creatures, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms.

The initial release was limited to Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Other countries received the game in stages, including Japan on July 22, 2016. Because the rollout was regional, different players remember different launch dates, but July 6 is the game’s first release date.

Pokémon GO became a major cultural event during its first weeks. Its design encouraged outdoor exploration and brought together the video-game, anime, card, and collecting aspects of Pokémon in a location-based mobile format.