NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 - This week, Pokémon GO celebrates the game's historic 10-year anniversary. Since launch in July 2016, Pokémon GO has redefined video games by bringing the magic of encountering Pokémon into the real world. A decade later, it remains one of the world's most successful, enduring mobile games of all time, generating more than $1 billion in revenue in 2025 alone, with millions of players, known as Trainers, playing every day. Over the last 10 years, Pokémon GO has:
- Inspired 800 million+ players to explore the world together
- Sustained its global phenom status as a top 10 mobile game every year since its launch with more than 1 trillion Pokémon caught to date
- Reached players in 150+ countries and regions, uniting a deeply engaged community that averages 45 minutes in daily playtime
To mark the 10-year milestone, the festivities began yesterday with a surprise live event in the heart of Times Square — bringing the vision of the game's iconic 2015 launch trailer to life along with a historic live raid battle — and will continue this weekend with Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global (July 11–12), a free worldwide in-game event open to all Trainers.
A decade of real-world adventure
Since day one, Pokémon GO has been built around one simple idea: to encourage people to get outside and connect through play.
Over the past decade, that mission has come to life across neighborhood meetups, Community Ambassador events, and major live experiences, including: Pokémon GO Fest, Pokémon GO Wild Area, Pokémon GO City Safari, and Pokémon GO Tour. Global versions of the biggest live events bring the excitement of these live experiences to players everywhere. The impact over the past decade includes:
- 100+ billion kilometers explored by Trainers while playing Pokémon GO — that’s 334 round trips between the Earth and the Sun
- Live events across 60+ cities in 25+ countries and regions
- Record attendance and engagement across three continents at Pokémon GO Fest 2026
- Millions of players attending the live events, with millions more exploring host cities while playing
Pokémon GO takes over Times Square
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, yesterday — in a surprise event — Pokémon GO transformed one of the world's most iconic locations into an immersive real-world game board to bring to life the vision first showcased in Pokémon GO's 2015 launch trailer. A summary of the celebration:
Trainers united to take down the legendary Pokémon Mega Mewtwo Y in a synchronized, real-world raid battle.
More than 1,000 players simultaneously battled in one of the largest in-person raids in Pokémon GO history — all of which was streamed live for fans to enjoy. Since launch, Trainers have completed more than 10 billion raid battles worldwide.
In addition to gameplay, attendees were treated to a surprise performance by the Los Angeles-based global dance music duo, Loud Luxury, setting the stage for the massive cooperative gaming feat.
Hear from the Pokémon GO team
- “As Pokémon GO celebrates its 10th anniversary, what continues to inspire us is how the community has grown with the game,” said Ed Wu, President, Games at Scopely. “What started as an invitation to explore the world around you has become something that brings players together across cities, countries, and cultures, from neighborhood meetups to celebrations that draw hundreds of thousands of people together. As we look ahead, our commitment remains unchanged: to keep evolving the game in ways that turn everyday places into opportunities for discovery and connection. We’re grateful to every player who has brought Pokémon GO to life in their community, and we’re excited to keep building its future together.”
- “When we first dreamt what Pokémon GO might become a decade ago, hosting more than a thousand people in a single, local raid battle was just a pipe dream,” said Michael Steranka, Vice President of Product for Pokémon GO at Scopely. “We never stopped asking ourselves, ‘What if?’ and ‘How could we do it?’ Seeing that vision become a reality in Times Square was the perfect way to celebrate 10 years of playing together with our community.”
Next up - Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global and more community fun
The celebration continues this weekend as Trainers around the world take part in Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global starting July 11 at 10:00 a.m. through July 12 at 7:00 p.m. (local time).
- To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, this year’s event will be entirely free for all players who log in during the weekend.
- Every participant will receive access to exclusive Special Research that leads to an encounter with the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora, increased Shiny Pokémon encounter rates, and event-specific gameplay bonuses without needing a paid premium ticket.
Additionally, more than two dozen Pokémon GO community celebrations will take place to bring the live experience to even more communities worldwide.
- Attendees can participate in exclusive giveaways, unlock in-game rewards, and join community-led activities.
- Pop-up community events offer Trainers the ability to enjoy the unique magic of a Pokémon GO live event closer to home.
- Local activations will occur across:
- Asia in India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand
- Europe & Oceania in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the UK
- North America in Canada and the U.S. in California, Georgia, and Texas
For more details on local community celebrations, visit the official Pokémon GO blog.