Pokémon GO’s popularity has always been apparent, but now we have a concrete number proving the world is Pokémon’s and we’re just living in it.
The Pokémon Company and Niantic have announced that Pokémon GO has been downloaded over 500 million times since it launched in July. It holds the App Store record for most downloads in its first week and has been spurring players to go outside and explore their surroundings ever since.
“We are encouraged by the fast adoption of the game and are pleased to see so many people walk and play every day,” said Niantic CEO John Hanke.
The news comes on the heels of Nintendo’s announcement for the Pokémon GO Plus, a wearable device compatible with the app, releasing next week. Niantic also revealed early details about Pokémon GO for the Apple Watch at yesterday’s Apple event. The Pokémon GO Plus and Apple Watch will give players exciting new ways to explore and catch Pokémon.
The Pokémon brand has been at the forefront of gaming and technology for the past 20 years, with total retail sales exceeding $2 billion annually, and Pokémon GO has made it more widespread than ever. The game is now played in more than 100 countries around the world.
“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.”
