Pokémon Go was the mobile game that sparked a global Pokémon craze in 2016.
Niantic developed Pokémon Go in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The game uses GPS location data and augmented reality to place Pokémon encounters in real-world surroundings. Players explore their environment, collect creatures, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms.
The game launched in July 2016, beginning with releases in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States before expanding to other markets. Its use of familiar Pokémon with smartphone location technology brought the franchise to people who did not necessarily play the main Game Boy or Nintendo games.
Pokémon Go is distinct from the core role-playing games because its progress depends heavily on real-world movement and location. It also introduced raids and community events that encouraged groups of players to meet in person. The game's success created a second major wave of worldwide Pokémon attention two decades after the original games launched.