History of Pokémon Go in Timeline

Pokémon Go is a 2016 augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It utilizes GPS to allow players to locate, capture, train, and battle virtual Pokémon in their real-world locations. The game employs a free-to-play, freemium model, offering in-game purchases and supporting real-world events. Initially launching with around 150 Pokémon species, the game has since expanded to include several hundred more.

1990: Largest Single-Day Decline for Nintendo Since 1990

On July 25, following clarification from Nintendo that the company did not produce Pokémon Go nor had tangible financial gains from it, its stock fell by 18%. This was the largest single-day decline for Nintendo since 1990.

2001: Fatwa banning the Pokémon card game

In Saudi Arabia, the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars referenced a 2001 fatwa banning the Pokémon card game as a form of gambling, prompting a new ruling on the Pokémon Go electronic app.

2014: Game Concept Conceived

In 2014, the concept for Pokémon Go was conceived by Satoru Iwata of Nintendo and Tsunekazu Ishihara of The Pokémon Company as an April Fools' Day collaboration with Google, called the Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge.

2015: Niantic Becomes Independent

In 2015, Niantic, formerly a subsidiary of Google, was spun off as an independent company following the company reorganization into Alphabet Inc.

2015: Game Announcement and Dedication to Iwata

In 2015, Tsunekazu Ishihara dedicated his speech at the game's announcement on September 10 to Satoru Iwata, who had died two months earlier. Tatsuo Nomura joined Niantic and became Director and Product Manager, and Junichi Masuda composed the game's soundtrack.

March 4, 2016: Japan-Exclusive Beta Test Announced

On March 4, 2016, Niantic announced a Japan-exclusive beta test for Pokémon Go to begin later that month, allowing players to assist in refining the game before its full release.

July 6, 2016: Official Game Launch

On July 6, 2016, the official launch of Pokémon Go began with releases in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

July 15, 2016: Usage of Pokémon Go peaked in the United States

On July 15, 2016, usage of Pokémon Go in the United States peaked, after which it experienced a decline in players.

July 2016: Pokémon Go generated $160 million by the end of July 2016

By the end of July 2016, Pokémon Go had generated more than $160 million through in-game purchases, with daily revenue around $10 million, beating existing records set by Clash of Clans and Candy Crush. The average daily usage on Android exceeded that of popular social media apps.

July 2016: Reported police incidents in the United Kingdom

In July 2016, 290 police incidents were reported to have occurred in the United Kingdom due to Pokémon Go.

July 2016: Glitches in Pokémon Go

In July 2016, Pokémon Go experienced several glitches, including the "three-step-glitch" that rendered the tracking feature useless. Niantic later removed the footstep feature on July 30. Other reported glitches included captured Pokémon being swapped with other creatures and a bug that made capturing Pokémon more difficult.

July 2016: Political and pop culture references to Pokémon Go in July 2016

In July 2016, various figures referenced Pokémon Go. The-mayor of Rio de Janeiro hoped for its release before the Olympics, United States presidential candidates mentioned the app during campaigns, and the President of Italy compared a political issue to the game. Additionally, mixed martial artist Michael Page celebrated a knockout with a Pokémon-themed act, and Dwayne Johnson released a promo video featuring himself as a Pokémon.

July 2016: European and Japanese Releases

Throughout July 2016, Pokémon Go was released in Europe starting on July 13. The Japanese launch, initially reported to be on July 20, was delayed and released two days later. The release in France was postponed until July 24 due to safety concerns following a terrorist attack in Nice.

July 17, 2016: Fake versions of Pokémon Go available

According to RiskIQ, at least 215 fake versions of the Pokémon Go game were available by July 17, 2016. Several of these fake apps contained malicious programming and viruses.

July 22, 2016: Launch of Pokévision

On July 22, 2016, "Pokévision" was launched, enabling Pokémon Go players to find the exact spawn locations and despawn times of Pokémon using data hacked directly from the game. The site gained 27 million unique visitors in five days.

August 6, 2016: Pokémon Go launch in Taiwan

Following its August 6, 2016 launch in Taiwan, the game became extremely popular and many people played in the walkable metropolitan areas of Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Chen Ching-Po became notable as "Uncle Pokémon".

August 11, 2016: First death in Southeast Asia related to Pokémon Go reported

On August 11, 2016, a young girl in Cambodia was reportedly killed after being hit by a car while trying to capture a Pokémon on a road. The case was the first death related to Pokémon Go among Southeast Asian countries.

August 12, 2016: Pokémon Go reached $268 million in revenue after five weeks counting only the U.S., British, and German markets

On August 12, 2016, it was reported that Pokémon Go reached $268 million in revenue after just five weeks, considering only the U.S., British, and German markets.

August 2016: Southeast Asia Launch

During August 2016, Pokémon Go officially launched in Southeast Asia, excluding Myanmar. However, users in Thailand discovered that the game was fully playable in border cities.

August 2016: Pokémon Go awarded five Guinness World Records in August 2016

In August 2016, Pokémon Go was awarded five Guinness World Records, including most revenue grossed by a mobile game in its first month ($206.5 million) and most downloaded mobile game in its first month (130 million downloads).

August 2016: Ban in Iran over security concerns

In August 2016, the Supreme Council of Virtual Space in Iran officially banned Pokémon Go over security concerns.

August 2016: First death in Japan attributed to Pokémon Go

In late August 2016, the first death in Japan attributed to Pokémon Go occurred. A distracted driver playing the game killed one woman and seriously injured another.

September 2, 2016: Pokémon Go generated more than $440 million in worldwide revenue

By September 2, 2016, Pokémon Go had generated more than $440 million in worldwide revenue, according to Sensor Tower.

September 2016: Pokémon Go downloaded over 500 million times worldwide by September 2016

By September 2016, Pokémon Go had been downloaded over 500 million times worldwide and became the fastest game to make over $500 million in revenue.

September 2016: Player vs. Player Battles Hinted

In September 2016, John Hanke hinted that player vs. player Pokémon battles would be released in a future update of Pokémon Go.

September 2016: Niantic stops supporting CyanogenMod

In September 2016, Niantic stopped supporting the CyanogenMod mobile operating system, preventing users playing on CyanogenMod from playing Pokémon Go.

September 2016: Buddy Pokémon Feature and Rooted Device Restrictions

In September 2016, Pokémon Go introduced a 'Buddy Pokémon' feature, allowing players to select a Pokémon to appear alongside them on the profile screen and receive in-game rewards. The game also made it impossible for players with rooted or jailbroken devices to log in, in an effort to reduce cheating.

September 2016: Release in Balkans, Macau, and Central Asia

In September 2016, Pokémon Go was released in the Balkans, Macau, and Central Asia.

September 2016: Arrest of Ruslan Sokolovsky for playing Pokémon Go in a church

In September 2016, a 21-year-old video blogger named Ruslan Sokolovsky was arrested in Russia for playing Pokémon Go at the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg. He later received a suspended sentence for blasphemy.

September 16, 2016: Pokémon Go Plus Release

On September 16, 2016, the Pokémon Go Plus, a Bluetooth Low Energy wearable device developed by Nintendo, was released in the United Kingdom and North America.

October 2016: Halloween-themed event increased revenue by 133%

In October 2016, Niantic released a Halloween-themed event, leading to a 133% surge in revenue, with the game earning approximately $23.3 million between October 25 and 29.

December 2016: Starbucks and Sprint Collaboration

In December 2016, Starbucks and Sprint collaborated with Nintendo to add PokéStops and gyms at certain locations throughout the United States. A companion app for Apple Watch devices was also released, offering notifications about nearby Pokémon.

Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 46mm case] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Fitness Tracker, ECG App, Always-On Retina Display, Water Resistant

Check it on Amazon

2016: Bloomberg estimated that Pokémon Go generated up to $2 billion in total revenue by late 2017

Bloomberg estimated in 2016 that Pokémon Go generated up to $2 billion in total revenue by late 2017.

2016: Pokémon Go exceeded its 2016 revenue in 2020

Despite a brief drop early in the pandemic, in 2020 the revenue of Pokémon Go was the highest in its history, exceeding even its 2016 revenue.

2016: Pokémon Go Impact on Culture, Media, and Other Industries in 2016

In 2016, Pokémon Go had a wide range of cultural impacts: The game was credited for popularizing AR, praised for gender inclusivity, and had a positive impact among individuals with autism. The "Pokémon Theme" saw a 630% increase on Spotify, and Hulu experienced increased viewership of Pokémon series and films. Sales of 3DS Pokémon games rose. There were spoofs in Maroon 5's "Don't Wanna Know" music video and in episodes of Doctor Who and The Simpsons. Adult video streaming websites also reported a surge in Pokémon-related searches. Niantic banned cheaters who used GPS spoofing and bots.

Loading Video...

2016: Initial Success and Criticism

In 2016, Pokémon Go was released to mixed reviews, with critics praising the concept but criticizing technical problems. By the end of 2016, the mobile app had over 500 million downloads worldwide. It popularized location-based and AR technology, promoted physical activity, and helped local businesses. However, the game also attracted controversy for contributing to accidents and creating public nuisances.

2016: Resurgence in popularity for the Pokémon franchise

In 2016, Pokémon Go's release led to a resurgence in popularity for the Pokémon franchise. The Pokémon Sun and Moon games for the Nintendo 3DS, released later in 2016, became the best-selling video game for the 3DS, partly attributed to the new fans brought in by Pokémon Go.

Nintendo 3DS - Flame Red (Renewed)

Check it on Amazon

2016: Pokémon Go Launch

In 2016, Pokémon Go, an augmented reality mobile game, was launched by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for iOS and Android devices. The game allows players to locate, capture, train, and battle virtual Pokémon in the real world using GPS.

2016: Pokémon Go in Syria photography series

In 2016, Syrian artist Khaled Akil published the "Pokémon Go in Syria" photography series, placing Pokémon characters in destroyed Syrian streets as a reminder of the war. The series went viral and was exhibited in various locations.

2016: Server outages and authentication errors

Throughout 2016, Pokémon Go experienced frequent server outages and authentication errors due to unexpectedly high usage. The global server usage expectation was surpassed within 15 minutes of the game's release, peaking at 50 times the expected traffic. Players experienced crashes and were often unable to access the game through their Pokémon Trainer Club accounts.

2016: Restrictions and bans in various countries

Throughout 2016, Pokémon Go faced various restrictions and bans, including players being told to refrain from entering polling stations during Thailand's constitutional referendum, the game being banned in a former genocide site in Cambodia, and Vietnam considering a ban due to its negative societal impact.

January 2017: Shooting death of Jiansheng Chen while playing Pokémon Go

In January 2017, Chinese-American civilian Jiansheng Chen was shot dead while playing Pokémon Go.

January 2017: Starbucks Locations as Gyms

In January 2017, an additional 5,000 more Starbucks locations became available as gyms in Pokémon Go.

January 2017: Official Release in South Korea

Pokémon Go officially released in South Korea in January 2017, after a period where the game was unofficially playable in certain areas due to mapping region discrepancies.

February 2017: Pokémon Go wins best app at the Crunchies award event in February 2017

In February 2017, Pokémon Go was awarded as the best app at the Crunchies award event. By that time, the game had been downloaded more than 650 million times worldwide, generating $1 billion in revenue.

February 2017: Johto Region Pokémon Introduced

In February 2017, an update was released which introduced 100 species based in the Johto region from the second generation of the core Pokémon series. New berries, Pokémon encounter mechanics, and avatar clothing options were also added.

March 2017: Nintendo's Smartphone App Plans

By March 2017, Nintendo planned to release four more smartphone app games, due to Pokemon Go's success. Investors remarked that Pokémon Go showed Nintendo still has some of the "most valuable character intellectual property in the world".

May 2017: First live event held by Niantic

In May 2017, the first live event officially held by Niantic for Pokémon Go took place in Charlotte, North Carolina.

June 2017: Pokémon Go was downloaded more than 750 million times by June 2017

By June 2017, Pokémon Go was downloaded more than 750 million times, with an estimated revenue of $1.2 billion.

June 2017: Gym Revamp Announcement

In June 2017, Niantic announced that the game mechanics of Gyms would be revamped for a more teamwork-oriented experience.

June 19, 2017: Gyms Disabled for Revamp

On June 19, 2017, Gyms in Pokémon Go were disabled in preparation for the revamp of the game mechanics.

July 2017: Introduction of Raid Battles

In July 2017, Raid Battles were introduced in Pokémon Go, allowing players to team up and battle over-leveled Pokémon located in Gyms.

July 2017: Community event held in Grant Park, Chicago

In July 2017, a community event was held in Grant Park, Chicago, to celebrate the first anniversary of Pokémon Go's release. The event faced connectivity issues and crashes due to heavy cellular activity. Niantic refunded ticket holders and provided $100 of in-game currency as compensation.

July 22, 2017: Release of First Legendary Pokémon in Raids

On July 22, 2017, Articuno and Lugia were released as the first Legendary Pokémon in Raid Battles, following the Go Fest event.

September 2017: Safari Zone events in Europe

In September 2017, a series of events named "Safari Zone" was held in Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers in Oberhausen, Paris, and Barcelona.

November 27, 2017: Ho-Oh Appears in Raid Battles

From November 27, 2017, the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh appeared in Pokémon Go Raid Battles.

December 12, 2017: Ho-Oh Departs from Raid Battles

By December 12, 2017, the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh had departed from Pokémon Go Raid Battles.

December 2017: Release of First Legendary Pokémon

In December 2017, Groudon was released in Pokémon Go as the first Legendary Pokémon.

December 2017: OpenStreetMap Integration

In December 2017, Pokémon Go started using map displays from OpenStreetMap.

2017: Pokémon Go ranked as 9th highest grossing mobile game of 2017

In 2017, Pokémon Go was ranked as the 9th highest-grossing mobile game, generating an annual revenue of $890 million.

January 2018: Announcement of monthly Community Day events

In January 2018, Niantic announced the monthly Community Day events for Pokémon Go, encouraging players to meet up in local areas to encounter specific Pokémon with exclusive moves and bonuses.

January 20, 2018: First Community Day

On January 20, 2018, Pokémon Go held the first Community Day, a monthly event that increases the appearance rate of a featured Pokémon and offers an exclusive move if the Pokémon is evolved during the event. The first Community Day featured Pikachu with the exclusive move Surf for Raichu.

May 2018: Active User Base Milestone

By May 2018, Pokémon Go had over 147 million monthly active users.

May 2018: Pokémon Go grossed $104 million in monthly revenue during May 2018

In May 2018, Pokémon Go grossed $104 million in monthly revenue and had 147 million monthly active players.

May 2018: Pokémon Go Reaches 800 Million Downloads Worldwide in May 2018

In May 2018, The Pokémon Company announced that Pokémon Go reached over 800 million downloads worldwide.

July 2018: Pokémon Go was the top-grossing mobile app in July 2018

In July 2018, Pokémon Go was recognized as the top-grossing mobile app of the month.

September 11, 2018: Game Appears in Russian App Stores

On September 11, 2018, Pokémon Go appeared in Russia's App Store and Google Play Store, over two years after its initial launch, though Niantic did not officially announce the release.

September 2018: Pokémon Go grossed over $2 billion by September 2018

By September 2018, Pokémon Go had grossed over $2 billion from in-app purchases.

September 2018: Estimate of close to 900 million downloads by September 2018

Forbes estimated that Pokémon Go may have come close to 900 million downloads by September 2018.

October 10, 2018: Diamond and Pearl Pokémon Introduction Announced

On October 10, 2018, The Pokémon Company and Niantic announced plans to introduce Pokémon from Diamond and Pearl into Pokémon Go.

November 2018: Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Release

In November 2018, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, a game developed by Game Freak and heavily inspired by Pokémon Go, was released on the Nintendo Switch, featuring Pokémon Go style catching and integration between the two games.

December 2018: Addition of Player vs Player Trainer Battles

In December 2018, Niantic added player vs player Trainer Battles to Pokémon Go.

2018: Game Reaches Envisioned State

According to John Hanke in a January 2019 interview with Business Insider, 2018 saw Pokémon Go become the game initially envisioned by Niantic.

2018: IGN names Pokémon Go the 100th best video game of all time

In 2018, IGN named Pokémon Go the 100th best video game of all time, praising the game for promoting physical exercise and its enjoyable experience. Reviewers also highlighted the game's social aspects and its ability to make players smile.

January 2019: Hanke Reflects on 2018

According to John Hanke in a January 2019 interview with Business Insider, 2018 saw Pokémon Go become the game initially envisioned by Niantic.

February 2019: Pokémon Go surpassed 1 billion downloads worldwide by February 2019

As of February 2019, Pokémon Go has been downloaded by over 1 billion people worldwide.

May 2019: Release on Samsung Galaxy Store

In May 2019, Pokémon Go was released on the Samsung Galaxy Store.

July 2019: Introduction of Team GO Rocket Battles

In July 2019, Pokémon Go introduced Team GO Rocket battles, where players can battle Team GO Rocket NPCs at PokéStops or in Team GO Rocket Balloons to capture Shadow Pokémon.

September 2019: Release of Unova Region Pokémon

In September 2019, Pokémon Go released the Unova region Pokémon and the Unova Stone item.

November 2019: Release of official Pokémon Go merchandise

In November 2019, an official line of Pokémon Go merchandise was released.

2019: Global Downloads Milestone

By early 2019, Pokémon Go had reached over a billion global downloads.

2019: Pokémon Go earned $1.4 billion in 2019

In 2019, Pokémon Go earned $1.4 billion.

2019: Player Submissions for Locations

Since 2019, the PokéStops and Pokémon Gym locations in Pokémon Go also include submissions from players, which are largely reviewed by other players.

January 2020: Rollout of Go Battle League

In January 2020, Niantic rolled out an online battle format called Go Battle League in Pokémon Go, which allows players to fight other players worldwide.

March 2020: Implementation of gift interaction cap

In March 2020, a daily cap of 30 opened gifts was instituted, and that gift interaction cap is still in effect.

August 2020: Monthly active users of Pokémon Go rose by 45 percent

During 2020, monthly active users of Pokémon Go rose by 45 percent between January and August due to new in-home features implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 2020: Introduction of Mega Evolution

In August 2020, Mega Evolution was introduced to Pokémon Go, with four Pokémon able to Mega Evolve into five forms. The feature has expanded to include 40 forms.

November 2020: Pokémon Go had accumulated nearly 600 million unique installs and generated almost $4.2 billion in revenue in November 2020

According to Sensor Tower in November 2020, Pokémon Go had accumulated nearly 600 million unique installs and generated almost $4.2 billion in revenue from in-game purchases via the iOS App Store and Google Play.

November 30, 2020: Level Cap Increase

On November 30, 2020, the maximum level a player can achieve in Pokémon Go was expanded from level 40 to 50.

December 2020: Pokémon Go was the top-grossing mobile game of December 2020

Pokémon Go was the top-grossing mobile game of December 2020.

2020: Game Still Unplayable in Most Parts of China

As of 2020, Pokémon Go is still unplayable in most parts of mainland China due to Google services being banned and GPS functions being blocked.

2020: Revenue Milestone

By 2020, Pokémon Go had grossed more than $6 billion in revenue.

2020: Gameplay Changes Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, Niantic made major changes to Pokémon Go gameplay mechanisms to account for the COVID-19 pandemic, including indoor step tracking, long-distance PVP battles, increased "incense" effectiveness, increased spawn points, and a doubled player radius.

July 2021: Removal of Gym at Bagram Airforce Base

In July 2021, the Pokémon Gym at the Bagram Airforce Base was removed after the base was abandoned by U.S. forces.

August 1, 2021: Rollback of pandemic-era changes begins

Starting on August 1, 2021, Niantic began rolling back changes implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its Exploration Bonus Updates. The changes were first applied to players in New Zealand and the United States.

August 2021: Player boycott due to reverting safety measures

Players began boycotting Pokémon Go in the first week of August 2021 due to Niantic's decision to revert safety measures implemented during the pandemic, such as increased gym and Pokéstop interaction distances, despite increasing rates of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

August 26, 2021: Reinstatement of increased interaction distance

On August 26, 2021, the increased interaction distance for PokéStops and Gyms—doubled from 40 m to 80 m at the onset of the pandemic—was reinstated as the baseline radius.

October 2021: Pokémon Go Added to World Championships

In October 2021, it was announced that Pokémon GO would be added during the 2022 World Championships and a qualification system titled the Pokémon Go Championship Series was announced.

2021: Pokémon Go generated $641.6 million in the first half of 2021

In the first half of 2021, Pokémon Go generated a further $641.6 million.

May 2022: Addition of Mega Legendary Pokémon to Raids

In May 2022, Pokémon Go updated Raid Battles to include Mega Legendary Pokémon, which were turned to 6 stars. Mega Latias and Mega Latios were the only Pokémon included in these Raids.

October 2022: Introduction of Elite Raids

In October 2022, Pokémon Go introduced a new form of raid battle called "Elite Raids". These raids require in-person battles, take 24 hours to start, and are extremely difficult.

2022: Pokémon Go at the 2022 World Championships

In 2022, Pokémon Go was included in the World Championships.

May 2023: Introduction of Shadow Raids

In May 2023, Pokémon Go introduced a new form of raid battles called "Shadow Raids." They award the chance to catch a Shadow Pokémon upon defeat.

July 14, 2023: Pokémon Go Plus + Release

On July 14, 2023, the Pokémon Go Plus + was released as the successor to the Pokémon Go Plus, adding features such as automatic Pokémon catching, Pokéstop interaction, and sleep tracking for use with Pokémon Sleep.

2023: Pokémon Go at the 2023 World Championships

In 2023, Pokémon Go was featured at the World Championships.

April 2024: Avatar Customization Update and Player Backlash

In April 2024, Pokémon GO was updated to allow greater customization of player avatars, including hair styles, body size adjustment, and expanded skin color options. This update was met with backlash from the player base due to perceived inferior graphical quality and interference with previously purchased cosmetic items.

September 2024: Introduction of Dynamax Battles and Dynamax Pokémon

In September 2024, Pokémon Go introduced Dynamax Battles and Dynamax Pokémon, a mechanic originating from Pokémon Sword and Shield. Players can join these battles in person or remotely using MP currency and Dynamax their own Pokémon.

October 2024: Debut of Gigantamax Battles

In October 2024, Gigantamax Battles debuted in Pokémon Go, functioning similarly to Dynamax battles, but with up to 40 players able to join a single battle.

2024: Pokémon Go at the 2024 World Championships

In 2024, Pokémon Go was featured at the World Championships.

February 2025: Pokémon Count Update

As of February 2025, the Pokémon Go game features 884 Pokémon (including regional varieties) out of a total 1025 within the complete Pokémon franchise.

March 12, 2025: Niantic acquisition by Scopely confirmed

On March 12, 2025, the deal for Scopely to acquire Niantic's video-game division, including Pokémon Go, was confirmed for $3.5 billion.

March 2025: Niantic to sell video-game division to Scopely

In March 2025, Niantic announced its plan to sell its video-game division, including Pokémon Go, to mobile publisher Scopely for $3.5 billion. Niantic Spatial was funded with $250 million to continue under the leadership of CEO John Hanke.

March 2025: Niantic Acquired by Scopely

In March 2025, Niantic was bought out by the Saudi Arabia-backed investment firm Scopely, advancing Saudi Arabia's ambitions to become a "global hub" for gaming and to diversify their economy.

May 13, 2025: Integration of Remote Raid Battles

As of May 13, 2025, Remote Raid Battles have been fully integrated: Trainers may use up to 10 Remote Raid Passes per day to join Shadow Raids and Max Battles from anywhere, and bundles of passes are now available in the Pokémon GO Web Store.

May 2025: Remote Shadow Raids Update

Before May 2025, trainers could only battle Shadow Raids in person.

May 29, 2025: Acquisition completed

On May 29, 2025, the acquisition of Niantic's video-game division by Scopely was completed following regulatory approval, leading to layoffs at Niantic's San Francisco headquarters.