Pokémon GO celebrates its 10-year anniversary by transforming Times Square into an immersive real-world adventure
Pokémon GO marks its 10-year anniversary this week, reflecting on a decade of mobile gaming history. Since its 2016 debut, the game has changed how players interact with their environment by turning real-world locations into spaces for exploration and play. The game continues to maintain a significant presence in the mobile market, generating over $1 billion in revenue during 2025 and sustaining a consistent user base of millions.
To observe the milestone, organizers held a surprise event in Times Square yesterday. This activation replicated the vision of the game's initial 2015 trailer, featuring a large-scale live raid battle against Mega Mewtwo Y. More than 1,000 players gathered in person to participate in the raid, supported by a live musical performance by Loud Luxury.
Over the last ten years, the game has driven over 800 million players to walk more than 100 billion kilometers. The development team credits this growth to the consistency of their community-focused mission. Local events and meetups have appeared in over 60 cities across 25 countries, creating a network of players who spend an average of 45 minutes in the app daily.
The celebrations proceed this weekend with the Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global event. Running from July 11 to July 12, the event is open to all players for free. Participants will have access to exclusive research tasks and encounters with the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora, along with increased rates for finding Shiny Pokémon. The event series also includes regional pop-up celebrations across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America.
Management remains focused on the future of the game as a tool for local connection. Leaders from the team stated that their objective is to keep turning everyday spaces into environments for discovery. By expanding live events and community-led activities, they intend to keep the player base active and engaged throughout the coming years.