Pokémon Go became a global augmented-reality phenomenon in 2016.
Developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go uses a mobile device’s location and camera-related technologies to place Pokémon-catching activities in the real world. Players travel to find Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and challenge Gyms.
The game was first released in July 2016 for iOS and Android devices. Its launch produced enormous public attention, bringing people together in parks, city streets, and other real-world locations while also raising questions about safety and privacy.
Pokémon Go was inspired partly by Niantic’s earlier location-based game Ingress. Its success demonstrated how a long-running game franchise could use smartphones and real-world geography to create a different kind of Pokémon adventure.