The Pokémon Company and Niantic have announced that Pokémon GO has surpassed more than 500 million downloads worldwide, in the months since the augmented reality app’s July launch.
The game holds the App Store record for the most downloads in its first week of launch, and, at the Apple Special Event in San Francisco, Niantic announced that Pokémon GO for Apple Watch will release later this year.
“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 The Pokémon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara.
“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.”
Niantic CEO John Hanke added: “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.
“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.”
