Let‘s start with a clear answer to that question – according to recent data, Pokémon Go currently has over 5 million daily active users and around 80 million monthly active users in early 2024. So 6 years after its meteoric launch, a remarkably large player base still turns to this innovative AR mobile game for entertainment, exercise, and social connection on a regular basis.
To understand Pokémon Go‘s enduring popularity, it helps to look back at its impressive history…
Contents
- The Pokémon Franchise – Adored Around the World for 25+ Years
- Pokémon Go‘s Meteoric Launch – By the Numbers
- The Inevitable Plateau – But Impressive Sticking Power
- Pokémon Go vs. Other Top Mobile Games – Standout Staying Power
- Why Pokémon Go Stands the Test of Time
- The Road Ahead for Pokémon Go – What Can We Expect?
- Sources
The Pokémon Franchise – Adored Around the World for 25+ Years
The Pokémon franchise traces its origins to 1996 when the first Pokémon video games launched on the Nintendo Game Boy. These RPG (role playing games) allowed players to explore a colorful world while catching and training the titular Pokémon (a contraction of the Japanese "pocket monsters").
The franchise expanded into anime, movies, card games, toys, and everything in between. By the early 2000s, Pokémon became the highest-grossing entertainment media franchise in the world. Its unique concept of befriending and battling Pokémon captured hearts and minds globally.
So when Pokémon Go brought the gameplay into the real world via augmented reality on phones, it tapped into multi-generational nostalgia and passion. The app gave fans a long-awaited opportunity to live out their dreams of becoming real-world Pokémon trainers. This potent combination of nostalgia and innovative AR technology sent the game into the stratosphere.
Pokémon Go‘s Meteoric Launch – By the Numbers
Within just a week of its US launch in July 2016, Pokémon Go had over 65 million downloads on iOS and Android devices. It surpassed 100 million downloads in under a month. By the end of 2016, Pokémon Go had been downloaded over 500 million times globally.
Daily usage was unmatched at the time. At the one month mark, the game had over 28 million daily active users just in the US – greater than the stallwart Candy Crush Saga. Daily usage sessions averaged 43 minutes and 23 seconds – rivaling social media apps.
Pokémon Go became the fastest app to ever hit $100 million in revenue. Advertisers scrambled to capitalize on the craze, as signs popped up banning Pokémon Go usage everywhere from museums to cemeteries.
At its absolute peak in mid 2016, Pokémon Go drew over 45 million daily active users worldwide. Of course, these staggering numbers proved unsustainable…
The Inevitable Plateau – But Impressive Sticking Power
Given the app‘s meteoric rise, a major drop-off in downloads and usage was expected. By fall of 2016, daily active users had fallen to around 5 million globally.
But in the fast-moving world of mobile gaming, these engagement figures were still remarkable for a game months after launch.
Looking at the game‘s complete lifetime download data highlights its staying power:
| Year | Downloads |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Over 500,000,000 |
| 2017 | 147,000,000 |
| 2018 | 147,000,000 |
| 2019 | 123,000,000 |
| 2020 | 147,000,000 |
| 2021 | 52,000,000 |
| 2022 | 42,000,000 |
Though downloads gradually declined, Pokémon Go impressively generated over 100 million downloads annually through 2020. And with over 80 million monthly active users today, its current player base rivals or exceeds early heights.
Comparing Pokémon Go to other hit mobile games, its long-tail success becomes even clearer…
Pokémon Go vs. Other Top Mobile Games – Standout Staying Power
The natural mobile gaming cycle sees even the most popular titles fade over time as players move on to the hot new thing. Flappy Bird, Angry Birds, Clash of Clans, and Candy Crush all followed the predictable trend of peaking in the first year and then shedding users.
In contrast, after 6 years, Pokémon Go still delivers enviable engagement metrics:
- 5 million+ daily active users
- 80 million+ monthly active users
- Over $1 billion in lifetime revenue
For comparison:
- Angry Birds peaked at 200 million downloads in its first year before dropping. Today it has around 200,000 daily players.
- Clash of Clans peaked at just over 100 million monthly users in 2013. That has since fallen to around 15 million.
Very few mobile games have shown Pokémon Go‘s staying power. Its continued success results from a few key factors…
Why Pokémon Go Stands the Test of Time
1. Constant new content – From regular new Pokémon releases to in-game events and feature updates, Niantic maintains freshness.
2. Multiplatform expansion – Pokémon Go recently launched on Nintendo Switch, opening access to a new legions of fans.
3. Social motivation – Features like trading, battling friends, and local events make it a social experience.
4. AR technology improvements – More seamless augmented reality keeps the novelty alive.
5. Real-world activity – Collecting kilometers for eggs and going on Pokémon hunts incentivizes exercise.
6. Competitive community – Leaderboards, collectibles, and live events cultivate a thriving competitive scene.
7. High nostalgia factor – Strong generational nostalgia creates an enduring loyal fanbase.
8. Youth appeal – A young demographic of players ages 10-30 suggests a bright future.
With these dynamics working in the game‘s favor, Pokémon Go may have the juice to keep growing.
The Road Ahead for Pokémon Go – What Can We Expect?
Can Pokémon Go defy typical gaming industry cycles and continue thriving for years more? I believe key indicators point to a bright future:
- New market expansion – There‘s substantial potential for growth in China, India, and other emerging markets.
- Innovative real-world integrations – Participating brands/locations and augmented reality will get more advanced.
- Deeper social ties – Features facilitating friendship-building and community engagement can enhance retention.
- Generational hand-me downs – Today‘s youth may share Pokémon Go memories with their kids one day.
- Competitive developments – More advanced battle mechanics and esports integration could be on the horizon.
While Pokémon Go may never exceed its mid-2016 user base again, I expect it can retain 50-100 million monthly active users for years to come. With the right enhancements, I actually foresee engagement re-accelerating in the coming years. This game has all the ingredients – nostalgia, exercise incentives, competitive drive, and innovative tech – to remain a cultural staple.
For those who assumed Pokémon Go was just a fleeting fad, the numbers tell a different story. All signs point to developers continuing to “catch ‘em all” – fans, that is – for the foreseeable future. Dramatic ups and downs are common for any video game, but Pokémon Go appears primed for a long journey ahead.
Sources
- Lifetime worldwide downloads of Pokémon GO 2016-2022 | Statista
- Topic: Pokémon Go | Statista
- Most popular mobile games worldwide 2022, by monthly active users | Statista
- How long does the average user stay on Pokémon Go? | Think Gaming
- Demographics of Pokémon Go players in the United States in 2016 | Statista
