Niantic developed the 2016 augmented-reality game Pokémon Go.
Pokémon Go was made for iOS and Android and uses GPS and location data to place Pokémon in the real world. Players can explore, catch Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms. The game was developed and published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
Its first launch took place on July 6, 2016, in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Japan followed on July 22, after a short delay. The staggered rollout helped manage enormous demand and server strain as the game expanded to more regions.
Game Freak is often named by mistake because it developed the main Pokémon role-playing games. The Pokémon Company supplied the franchise identity and worked with Nintendo, but Niantic built the mobile augmented-reality application. Pokémon Go introduced a new generation of players to Pokémon during the franchise's 20th-anniversary year.