10 years of Pokémon Go and the millions still trying to catch 'em all

Pokémon Go is celebrating its 10th anniversary, having been downloaded over a billion times and still attracting millions of daily users. The mobile app, which uses GPS and augmented reality to let players catch virtual monsters in real-world locations, has hosted major live events in over 60 countries. Michael Steranka, vice president at publisher Scopely, said the game is about bringing people together, noting that the studio often receives wedding invites from players who met through the game. Players gathered in New York's Times Square to mark the anniversary, battling a giant Mewtwo in a reference to the game's original trailer. Scopely estimates players have explored over 100 billion kilometres while playing. UK content creator j0beats, who runs a popular Twitch channel dedicated to the game, compared attending live events to a music festival, emphasizing the community and energy. She recalled a particularly fond memory of a 2025 event held in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, near her home.