Pokémon Go caused a second major Pokémon craze when it launched in 2016.
Developed by Niantic with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go uses augmented reality, location data, and smartphone sensors to place Pokémon in real-world surroundings. Players explore physical locations to find, catch, and train Pokémon.
The game was released gradually beginning in July 2016 rather than launching simultaneously in every country. Its use of familiar Pokémon and map-based exploration brought the franchise to a huge audience beyond traditional Nintendo hardware.
Pokémon Go is distinct from the main role-playing games developed by Game Freak. It also differs from earlier mobile spin-offs because its central design depends on outdoor movement and real-world mapping. The game helped revive worldwide attention to Pokémon two decades after the original games debuted.