How Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-immacula...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Pokémon Go was the world’s first augmented-reality megahit.

Dropped in 2016 by the Google spinout Niantic, the AR twist on the juggernaut Pokémon franchise fast became a global phenomenon. From Chicago to Oslo to Enoshima, players hit the streets in the urgent hope of catching a Jigglypuff or a Squirtle or (with a huge amount Pokémon Go was the world’s first augmented-reality megahit. (shocking, we know)

Dropped in 2016 spinout Niantic, the AR twist on the juggernaut Pokémon franchise fast became a global phenomenon.

The Details

In short, we’re talking about a huge number of people pointing their phones at a huge number of buildings. “Five hundred million people installed that app in 60 days,” says Brian McClendon, CTO at Niantic Spatial, an AI company that Niantic spun out in May last year.

According to the video-game firm Scopely, which bought Pokémon Go from Niantic at the same time, the game still drew more than 100 million players in 2024, eight years after it shipped.

Why This Matters

This could have major implications for how we use technology going forward.

This is part of the broader shift happening across the tech industry right now.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

Is this a W or an L? You decide.