Niantic developed Pokémon Go for its 2016 mobile launch.
Pokémon Go is an augmented-reality and location-based mobile game developed and published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It launched first in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6, 2016, for iOS and Android devices.
The game uses GPS and mobile mapping data to place Pokémon, PokéStops, and Gyms in real-world locations. Players walk through their surroundings, encounter Pokémon, and use the phone's camera and screen to make captures appear in the physical environment.
Niantic had already developed location-based technology through Ingress, an earlier mobile game. Pokémon Go adapted that approach to the Pokémon world, making exploration and location the central mechanics rather than traditional console-style routes and towns.
The game's initial launch featured approximately 150 Pokémon species. Japan received the game later, on July 22, 2016, after the first wave of international releases. That staggered rollout is why “launch date” can refer to different dates depending on the country.