Pokémon GO Exceeds 500 Million Downloads Worldwide
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The
Pokémon Company and Niantic,
Inc. announced today that Pokémon
GO, the global mobile game that invites players to go out and
explore their surroundings to find and catch Pokémon, has surpassed more
than 500 million downloads around the world since launching in July. The
game, which holds the App Store record for the most downloads in its
first week of launch, is based on the iconic Pokémon franchise and is
published and developed by Niantic, Inc.
Pokémon has been a leader in gaming and at the forefront of emerging
technologies since the first game launched in Japan 20 years ago. The
Pokémon brand quickly became a global sensation and hasn’t left the
zeitgeist of popular culture since. Icons of the franchise, such as
Pikachu, are beloved and recognized by generations of fans around the
world, and the brand’s total retail sales exceed $2 billion annually
across video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, animation, licensing,
and more.
“The phenomenal success of Pokémon GO during the brand’s 20-year
celebration is an incredible reminder of how many people around the
world love Pokémon,” said Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The
Pokémon Company. “The team at Niantic developed a unique experience that
merges their expertise in cutting-edge location-based technologies with
the beloved characters and classic gameplay of Pokémon. This ideal match
of the right brand and the right technology has resonated with hundreds
of millions of existing and new fans around the world.”
Earlier today at Apple’s event in San Francisco, Niantic unveiled early
details about Pokémon GO for Apple Watch. Fans can look forward to
Pokémon GO for Apple Watch to launch later in 2016.
“The globally loved Pokémon brand paired with Niantic’s platform and
game design that encourages exploration, exercise and making real world
social connections has inspired millions of people of all ages to go
outdoors together,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, Inc. “We are
encouraged by the fast adoption of the game and are pleased to see so
many people walk and play every day. Pokémon GO for Apple Watch will be
another way people can incorporate the game into their daily lives, even
more seamlessly.”
Pokémon GO is now played in more than 100 countries around the world and
can be downloaded at the following links:
- App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pokemon-go/id1094591345?mt=8
- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticlabs.pokemongo
For details on compatible devices that work with Pokémon GO, please
visit www.PokemonGO.com
About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company
in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for
brand management, licensing, and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card
Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official
Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one
of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world.
For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.
About Niantic, Inc.
Niantic, Inc. builds mobile real-world experiences that foster fun,
exploration, discovery and social interaction. Originally incubated
within Google, Niantic was founded by John Hanke, who previously helmed
the Google Geo team (including Google Maps and Google Earth) after his
startup Keyhole was acquired by Google. In 2015, Niantic, Inc., spun out
from Google, becoming an independent company with investments from
Google, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. The company’s immersive
real-world mobile game Ingress has been downloaded more than 15
million times and is played in more than 200 countries and territories
worldwide. Niantic, Inc., developed and published Pokémon GO, a
real-world Pokémon game for iOS and Android mobile devices. For more
information on Niantic, please visit www.nianticlabs.com.
Contacts
TriplePoint PR, for The Pokémon Company International
Andrew Karl,
415-955-8500
akarl@triplepointpr.com
or
fortyseven
for Niantic
Sibel Sunar, 323-309-7094
sibel@fortyseven.com
