Pokémon Go at 10: Millions of Players Are Still Trying to Catch ‘Em All
A decade after it revolutionised mobile gaming, Pokémon Go continues to bring millions of players together, proving that its appeal extends far beyond catching virtual creatures.
Since its launch in 2016, the augmented reality game has been downloaded more than one billion times across Android and iOS devices. Even after 10 years, millions of players still log in daily to hunt Pokémon, attend community events and build friendships that stretch far beyond the game itself.
The game’s enduring popularity reflects a legacy that began long before smartphones. The Pokémon franchise first captured imaginations in 1996 on Nintendo’s handheld Game Boy, encouraging players to venture out in pursuit of every Pokémon. Pokémon Go simply brought that adventure into the real world.
A Game Built Around Community
For Michael Steranka, Vice President of Product at Pokémon Go publisher Scopely, the game’s greatest achievement has never been its technology but the communities it has created.
“Pokémon Go will always start with community – we think we’re only scratching the surface here,” he said.
The friendships formed through the game have often developed into lifelong relationships.
“We often receive wedding invites from players who met through Pokémon Go… because it’s been such an integral part of their relationship,” Steranka added.
The strength of that community was on full display in New York’s Times Square, where hundreds of players recently gathered to battle a giant Mewtwo in a special anniversary event inspired by the game’s original launch trailer.
The Game That Changed Mobile Gaming
When Pokémon Go debuted in 2016, it quickly became one of the biggest mobile game launches in history.
Using GPS technology and augmented reality, the game allowed players to discover Pokémon in real-world locations through their smartphone cameras, creating the illusion that the creatures were standing right in front of them.
The concept sparked a global craze, sending players to parks, shopping centres, waterfronts and city streets in search of rare Pokémon.
“By allowing you to take your mobile phone out into the world to discover virtual creatures, Pokémon Go helped realise the millennial dream of becoming a Pokémon Trainer,” said Matthew Reynolds, editor of Pokémon news website One More Catch.
The enthusiasm has remained remarkably consistent.
Since the first Pokémon Go Fest in 2017, the game has staged major live events in more than 60 countries, attracting an average of over 400,000 attendees every year.
More Than Just Catching Pokémon
Scopely estimates that players have collectively travelled more than 100 billion kilometres while playing the game – equivalent to approximately 334 round trips between Earth and the Sun.
For UK content creator j0beats, who operates one of Twitch’s largest Pokémon Go channels, the travelling is part of the experience.
“People always think it’s crazy that you travel all over just to catch some pixels,” she said with a laugh.
“But it’s not just about that. When you go to these big events, you’re there for the people and for the energy of it.”
She compared Pokémon Go gatherings to live concerts.
“It’s like a music festival – you could just stay at home and just listen to the music, or you could go out there and you could listen live and appreciate it with other people. It’s the same sort of concept.”
One of her favourite memories came much closer to home when Pokémon Go’s Wild Area event arrived in South Yorkshire in 2025.
“It was the only European event and it was hosted in Doncaster, which is sort of just around the corner from me,” she recalled.
“So it was really exciting to collaborate with the community ambassadors there and help them host the event.”
A Positive Impact Beyond Gaming
For many players, Pokémon Go has become much more than entertainment.
Austin, a player from Maine in the United States, credits the game with helping him overcome anxiety and depression.
Before discovering Pokémon Go in 2017, he said it was “nearly impossible” to motivate himself to leave the house.
His first community raid changed everything.
“When I went to my first raid meetup it was like a warm blanket,” he said.
“As I held my phone and walked to the group of strangers in the park, I saw them look at me, and for the first time I wasn’t nervous meeting this new group of people, I was actually excited and happy.”
The experience transformed his outlook.
“From that day on that little voice telling me to stay in bed was put on mute.”
Surviving Challenges and Change
Despite its success, Pokémon Go has faced its share of obstacles.
During its explosive launch, police and safety organisations warned players not to become so distracted by catching Pokémon that they wandered into dangerous situations.
The game’s popularity also overwhelmed its servers.
According to Reynolds, connectivity problems were “rife for some time” as the infrastructure struggled to cope with unprecedented demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented another major challenge.
While many video games benefited from lockdowns, Pokémon Go – which depends heavily on outdoor exploration – experienced a very different reality.
Steranka acknowledged that “impacted Pokémon Go probably more than any other game out there” before the title recovered as restrictions eased and players returned outdoors.
A New Era Under Scopely
The game’s future came under renewed scrutiny in 2025 when Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, acquired developer Niantic for $3.5 billion.
Some fans worried the change in ownership could alter the game’s direction.
Steranka believes time will reassure players.
“My hope is that we prove to players over time that this is definitively a good thing for the game and the community,” he said.
Looking ahead, he insists the focus remains firmly on creating shared experiences for families, friends and communities around the world.
“No matter where I was and what phase of my life, Pokémon Go has been there for me,” Steranka said.
“It meets people where they are, at whatever phase of life they’re in.”
