Pokémon Go officially launched first in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6, 2016.
Developed and originally published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go uses GPS and augmented reality to place Pokémon in real-world locations. Players can explore, catch Pokémon, visit PokéStops, and battle at Gyms.
The rollout was staggered rather than worldwide on one date. Germany followed on July 13, the United Kingdom on July 14, and Japan on July 22. Server strain caused delays and pauses as demand exceeded expectations.
The game’s launch became one of the most visible Pokémon moments of the 2010s. It brought the franchise into public spaces and encouraged players to walk through their neighborhoods to find creatures. Although it is a mobile spin-off rather than a main-series role-playing game, it introduced many people to location-based augmented-reality play.