Niantic’s Pokemon GO Celebrates 7th Anniversary

In July 2023, Pokemon GO, developed by Niantic, marked its seventh anniversary. To analyze the game’s performance since its release, Data.ai conducted a comprehensive study.

Global Success for Pokemon GO

Pokemon GO has been downloaded over 678 million times worldwide, cementing its position as the 18th most downloaded mobile game on both Google Play and iOS platforms. The game continues to maintain its popularity on a global scale, consistently ranking among the top 20 monthly active user (MAU) charts worldwide, currently sitting at number 16.

American Love for Pokemon GO

America has shown immense love for Pokemon GO, with 164 million downloads accounting for almost a quarter of the game’s total downloads. This places Pokemon GO as the fourth most downloaded mobile game in US history, with only Subway Surfers, Candy Crush Saga, and Roblox surpassing its download numbers. In terms of MAU, Pokemon GO has remained in the third spot since 2019.

Pokemon GO’s Triumph in the UK

The United Kingdom has also embraced Pokemon GO enthusiastically, with 19 million downloads, making it the country’s 11th most downloaded game of all time. Since its release, the game has consistently appeared in the top ten games by MAU and has surged in popularity during the pandemic, currently securing the third place spot since 2022.

Decrease in In-Game Time

Although Pokemon GO continues to engage players worldwide, there has been a decline in the amount of time spent in the game, particularly on Android devices. In 2019, users spent an average of 13 hours and 30 minutes per month playing Pokemon GO worldwide. However, this time has decreased by 52% to six hours and 27 minutes in the first half of 2023.

Regional Declines in Playtime

This decline in playtime is reflected in specific territories. In the UK, the average monthly playtime diminished by 37%, dropping from eight hours and 31 minutes in 2019 to five hours and 20 minutes in the first half of 2023. Similarly, in the USA, playtime decreased by 41%, from eight hours and 55 minutes to five hours and 17 minutes during the same period.

Data.ai attributes this decline, in part, to the shifting preferences during the pandemic, where simulation games such as Roblox gained the majority of user attention. Despite this decrease, Pokemon GO remains the fourth most played game among the top ten games by MAU in the first half of 2023.

Pokemon GO Fest Comes to the UK

Due to the game’s success in the UK, the country recently hosted the Pokemon GO Fest event for the first time, with the event taking place in London.

Citations: Pocket Gamer