Smash hit mobile game Pokémon Go celebrates its fifth anniversary today. Yes, it really has been that long.
The game is celebrating with a new event featuring a flying Pikachu held aloft by birthday balloons, a new Collection Challenge, the return of the Mythical Shiny Meltan and more.
Since its huge pop culture moment in the summer of 2016, Pokémon Go has accumulated $5bn in player spending. Five years on, the app is still setting new records.
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Sensor Tower data shows Pokémon Go raked in $1.3bn in player spending in 2020, a 41 percent rise year-on-year, as parts of the game were adapted to make it easier to play from home. (Remote raid passes, I choose you!)
That spending boost has continued into 2021, too. App store data from January to June shows Pokémon Go is having its best first-half of a year ever.
So, what’s next? Pokémon Go celebrates the summer with its annual Go Fest event later in July – and as with last year, it’s a global event. After that, the game will begin rolling back many of its pandemic-era bonuses in some countries, which has sparked criticism from some players.