Pokémon Go is the Pokémon mobile game that uses real-world locations and augmented reality.
Niantic developed Pokémon Go in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The game uses a mobile device’s location services to place Pokémon, PokéStops, and Gyms on a map based on the player’s surroundings. Its augmented-reality feature can show a Pokémon through the phone’s camera as though it were in the real world.
Pokémon Go was first released in July 2016, beginning with launches in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Its use of walking, location data, and public landmarks helped turn a traditionally screen-based collecting activity into an outdoor social experience.
The game is separate from the main series of role-playing games. Players catch Pokémon by throwing Poké Balls on a touch screen, while battles, evolution, and trading use mechanics adapted for mobile play. Pokémon Go also introduced many newcomers to the franchise during Pokémon’s 20th-anniversary year.