Pokémon Go, the mobile game that uses GPS and augmented reality to let players hunt virtual creatures in real-world locations, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since its 2016 launch it has become one of the biggest mobile game releases in history, and its publisher, Scopely, argues that its lasting appeal lies in bringing people together, with millions of players still logging on each day. The milestone matters as a rare example of a mobile game sustaining a large, active community a decade on, with some players even meeting their partners through it.

The app has been downloaded more than a billion times across iOS and Android, and Scopely estimates players have collectively explored over 100 billion kilometres — roughly 334 round trips between Earth and the Sun. The game has hosted major live events in more than 60 countries, averaging over 400,000 attendees a year since the first Go Fest in 2017, and marked its anniversary with a gathering in New York's Times Square where fans battled a giant Mewtwo. Enthusiasts such as Twitch streamer j0beats liken the live events to a music festival, valuing the shared energy, while the piece also touches on the game's unexpected positive effect on some players' mental health.