When did Pokémon Go first launch?

Pokémon Go first launched on July 6, 2016.

The augmented-reality mobile game debuted in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on that date. It was developed and published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for iOS and Android devices.

Pokémon Go uses GPS and mobile-device cameras to place Pokémon in real-world locations. Players can explore, capture, train, and battle Pokémon, making the game different from the handheld role-playing games that began the franchise.

The date is sometimes confused with the game's later country releases. Japan received Pokémon Go on July 22, 2016, while the United Kingdom received it on July 14. Its staged rollout helped turn the game into a major worldwide cultural event.