Pokemon Go marks 10 years with global events

Pokemon Go is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events around the world, including a large gathering in New York City's Times Square and smaller meetups in places such as Toronto. The mobile game launched in July 2016 and quickly became a global phenomenon by using augmented reality to place Pokemon into realworld settings. While the huge crowds from its early days are less common now, many players still use it as a way to get outside, walk together and socialize. Publisher Scopely said the game has been played by more than 800 million people in over 150 countries and regions, and that it generated more than $1 billion US in revenue in 2025. The anniversary also comes as some players continue to raise concerns about data use and the game's ownership under Saudi Arabialinked companies.