Niantic developed Pokémon Go with support from Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak. The location-based mobile game launched in 2016 and combined Pokémon collecting with real-world movement and augmented reality.
Niantic had previously created Ingress, another location-based mobile game built around visiting real places. Pokémon Go adapted that underlying approach into a Pokémon adventure, allowing players to find creatures, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms positioned on a real-world map.
The game was released gradually by territory rather than appearing everywhere at once. Its initial launch in July 2016 produced an enormous surge in downloads, public attention, and outdoor play. The title also introduced many people to Pokémon who had not recently played the main role-playing games.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company were important partners, but Niantic was the developer responsible for the mobile application. This distinction prevents a common mix-up with Game Freak, the studio primarily associated with the main series Pokémon role-playing games.