When was Pokémon GO first released?

Pokémon GO was first released on July 6, 2016.

The mobile game launched first in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, it combined GPS location data, smartphone cameras, and augmented reality with Pokémon catching and training.

Players could encounter Pokémon in the real world, visit PokéStops, battle at Gyms, and hatch Eggs by walking. The game used a free-to-play model with optional in-app purchases and quickly became a global cultural phenomenon.

Pokémon GO did not launch worldwide on one single date. Germany followed on July 13, the United Kingdom on July 14, Japan on July 22, and other territories arrived in stages. This staggered rollout is why different players remember different launch dates; July 6 refers to the game’s first public release, not every country’s availability.