Pokémon Go launched in 2016 and used augmented reality to place Pokémon in real-world locations.
Developed by Niantic, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company, the mobile game uses GPS and a smartphone’s camera to combine the game world with physical surroundings. Players travel to discover, catch, and train Pokémon.
The game grew from Niantic’s earlier location-based project Ingress, which helped establish the idea of visiting real places to interact with digital content. Pokémon Go added PokéStops, Gyms, and collection mechanics familiar from the main series.
The game is not a main-series role-playing title, even though it uses Pokémon, battling, evolution, and Pokédex systems. Its 2016 launch became one of the franchise’s biggest global cultural moments and introduced Pokémon to many players through smartphones.