It was five years ago that Pokémon GO brought people outside into their parks and neighborhoods with a challenge – you’ve gotta catch them all. What began as a game for collecting lovable Pokémon has evolved over the years to so much more. Trainers all over the world have discovered new places, made lifelong friendships, and taken their Buddy and the game along with them on their outdoor activities. It’s knitted a social fabric that’s stretched across the world — more than 450 million friendships forged through Pokémon GO.
With the world as their game board, Trainers have embarked on countless adventures alongside their favorite Pokémon, walking more than 49 billion kilometers in total, and become a part of a global community of explorers. And as the community has grown, so too has the game since 2016:
- 2017: Put Trainers to the test with Raid Battles
- 2017: Hosted our first-ever Pokémon GO Fest
- 2018: Rolled out Friends, Gifting, and Trading features
- 2019: Added Buddy Adventure, enabling new ways for players to interact with their favorite Pokémon
- 2019: Leveled up camera skills with the release of AR Snapshot
- 2020: Launched GO Battle League
- 2021: Pokémon GO Fest returns as a hybrid event with select city celebrations
In the last five years, you’ve inspired us by stepping out and going the extra mile to defend a Gym, hatch an egg, or walk with your Buddy. Whether you’re on team Instinct, Mystic, or Valor, we’re so grateful to the hundreds of millions of Trainers around the world for making Pokémon GO — and the friendships and outdoor activities that go along with it — a meaningful part of their lives.
So today, let’s take a moment to reflect and celebrate Pokémon GO turning five. To celebrate with our community, I encourage you to post on social media today using #PokemonGO5YearAnniversary and share your favorite memories, whether you’ve been with us for a while or joined us on this journey more recently.
Here’s to the next five years of Pokémon GO!
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