Pokémon Go Celebrates 10 Years, Millions Still Playing

Pokémon fans have spent three decades trying to catch 'em all, often taking the hunt outside their homes. The popular series started on Nintendo's Game Boy in 1996 and found modern success on phones. The mobile app Pokémon Go, celebrating its 10th anniversary, uses GPS and augmented reality to let players find and catch virtual monsters in real-world locations.

It has been downloaded over 1 billion times across iOS and Android devices, with millions still logging on each day. Michael Steranka, vice president of product at Scopely, the game's publisher, says the Pokémon Go experience has always been about bringing people together. "Pokémon Go will always start with community - we think we're only scratching the surface here," he said.

"We often receive wedding invites from players who met through Pokémon Go... because it's been such an integral part of their relationship." Hundreds of gamers gathered in New York's Times Square to battle a giant Mewtwo, a reference to the game's original trailer. Pokémon Go players celebrated the game's 10th anniversary at the real-world event.

When released in 2016, Pokémon Go quickly became one of the biggest mobile game launches in history. The technology overlays digital creatures onto a live view of the real world through a smartphone's camera. Matthew Reynolds, editor of Pokémon news website One More Catch, said, "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." The game's popularity has endured, hosting major live events in over 60 countries, averaging over 400,000 attendees a year since the first Go Fest in 2017.

Scopely estimates players have explored over 100 billion kilometres while playing Pokémon Go. UK content creator j0beats runs one of Twitch's biggest channels dedicated to the game and regularly travels to events. "People always think it's crazy that you travel all over just to catch some pixels," she laughs.

"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." For some players, the game has had an unexpected impact on their mental health. Austin, a player from Maine, said before playing Pokémon Go, it was "nearly impossible" to motivate himself to do anything, but the game helped him overcome anxiety and depression.

Over the years, the game has faced challenges, including safety concerns and server issues. However, Steranka says the focus remains on community, memories, and creating experiences families can share. Why this matters: As Pokémon Go celebrates its 10th anniversary, its enduring popularity highlights the power of community-driven gaming experiences.