Pokémon GO

If you were looking for the song, see Pokémon Go! (song).

Pokémon GO Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO logo
Basic info
Platform:	iOS, Android
Category:	Real-world adventure Location-based game
Players:	1+
Connectivity:	N/A
Developer:	Niantic, Inc.
Publisher:	Niantic, Inc.
Part of:	Generation VI miscellaneous
Ratings
CERO:	N/A
ESRB:	E
ACB:	PG
OFLC:	N/A
PEGI:	3
GRAC:	3
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	March 29, 2016 (field test) July 22, 2016 (public release)
North America:	May 25, 2016 (field test) July 6, 2016 (public release)
Australia:	April 25, 2016 (field test) July 6, 2016 (public release)
Europe:	July 13, 2016
South Korea:	January 24, 2017
Hong Kong:	July 25, 2016
Taiwan:	August 6, 2016
Websites
Japanese:	Official site (TPC) Official site (Niantic)
English:	Official site (TPCi) Official site (Niantic) Pokémon.com

Pokémon GO (Japanese: Pokémon GO) is a multiplayer, location-based, augmented reality Pokémon game for iOS and Android. The game results from a collaboration between The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, and Niantic, Inc., and is free to download with in-app purchases. It was released in most markets with access to the iOS App Store or Google Play Store on a staggered schedule starting on July 6, 2016.

The game was announced at a press conference in Japan on September 10, 2015. Field tests for Pokémon GO were held from March 29, 2016 through June 30, 2016.

The game is compatible with the Pokémon GO Plus, a Bluetooth device that allows players to enjoy elements of the game without looking at their phone. Compatibility with the Apple Watch was added in an update on December 22, 2016.

Blurb

Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu, and many other Pokémon have been discovered on planet Earth!

Now’s your chance to discover and capture the Pokémon all around you—so get your shoes on, step outside, and explore the world. You’ll join one of three teams and battle for the prestige and ownership of Gyms with your Pokémon at your side.

Pokémon are out there, and you need to find them. As you walk around a neighborhood, your smartphone will vibrate when there’s a Pokémon nearby. Take aim and throw a Poké Ball… You’ll have to stay alert, or it might get away!

Search far and wide for Pokémon and items

Certain Pokémon appear near their native environment—look for Water-type Pokémon by lakes and oceans. Visit PokéStops, found at interesting places like museums, art installations, historical markers, and monuments, to stock up on Poké Balls and helpful items.

Catching, hatching, evolving, and more

As you level up, you’ll be able to catch more-powerful Pokémon to complete your Pokédex. You can add to your collection by hatching Pokémon Eggs based on the distances you walk. Help your Pokémon evolve by catching many of the same kind.

Take on Gym battles and defend your Gym

As your Charmander evolves to Charmeleon and then Charizard, you can battle together to defeat a Gym and assign your Pokémon to defend it against all comers.

It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await!

Note: This app is free-to-play and is optimized for smartphones, not tablets.

Gameplay

Encountering a wild Rattata, with AR mode disabled (Prior to 0.55.0 version)

In the game, wild Pokémon appear on a map of the real world, with the player moving in the game by travelling in the real world. When a Pokémon is nearby, the player's phone vibrates. The player can encounter a nearby Pokémon by tapping it in the Map View. Different kinds of Pokémon will appear in different environments; for example, Water-type Pokémon are more common near water. The player is assisted by Professor Willow throughout the game. Players can login using a Pokémon Trainer Club account or a Google account.

In a wild encounter, the player attempts to capture a wild Pokémon in a Poké Ball before it runs away. Unlike in the core series games, these encounters do not involve battle. At higher levels, the player can use Razz Berries to make wild Pokémon easier to catch or use more powerful Poké Balls like Great Balls and Ultra Ball. While holding a press on a Poké Ball, a ring will appear around the Pokémon. This ring shrinks over time; once it reaches its smallest size it immediately returns to full size and the cycle repeats. If the Poké Ball is thrown while the ring is very small, the capture is more likely to be successful.

The game can be played as an augmented reality (AR) game, so that in wild encounters and Gym battles the Pokémon appear to be in the real world when looking at the smart device's screen. However, it is also possible to disable this functionality, which saves battery power and is necessary on some devices which do not support AR.

Catching and hatching Pokémon earns the player Candy, which can be spent to evolve or Power Up Pokémon. Each evolutionary family has its own type of Candy, so in order to evolve a Pokémon the player needs to catch a number of Pokémon from that same evolutionary family. If a player wants to get rid of a Pokémon, they can transfer it to Professor Willow, who will permanently keep the Pokémon but give 1 Candy in return. Catching and hatching Pokémon also earns the player Stardust, which also needs to be expended to Power Up Pokémon; unlike Candy, there is only one type of Stardust for all Pokémon.

There are two main types of locations in Pokémon GO: PokéStops and Gyms. PokéStops and Gyms exist at pre-defined real world locations, and the player must be within range of them in order to interact with them (although they can be inspected as long as they shown up in the Map View). Players can obtain items and Eggs by visiting PokéStops, whereas players fight for control of Gyms.

Players can customize their appearance, such as clothing and accessories, which can be shown to other players. Pokémon Trainers collect XP from performing various actions, such as catching Pokémon, which allows them to increase their Trainer level. Leveling up rewards the player with items, and some levels unlock features of the game. Wild Pokémon encountered by Trainers at higher levels are more likely to have higher CP. The maximum number of times an individual Pokémon can be Powered Up increases with the Trainer's level.

PokéCoins can be obtained in-game or via in-app purchases with real money. They can be traded for extra items and other enhancements.

Available Pokémon

Only Pokémon introduced in Generations I and II are available in the game. All obtainable Generation I and II Pokémon (including evolved Pokémon) can be found in the wild, except baby Pokémon, Pokémon that require an item to evolve into, and Legendary Pokémon. Baby Pokémon can only be hatched. Currently, only Smeargle, Delibird, Ho-Oh, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, and Mythical Pokémon are not or have not been obtainable in the game. Mewtwo was previously available for a limited time.

When the game was initially released, only Generation I Pokémon were available. The game has gradually updated to include previously unavailable Pokémon, primarily those from a later generation.

• November 23, 2016: Ditto became available, appearing disguised as Pidgey, Rattata, Zubat, or Magikarp.
• December 12, 2016: Generation II baby Pokémon became available, exclusively from Eggs (specifically, Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Togepi, Smoochum, Elekid, and Magby). Togetic also became available by consequence by evolving Togepi.
• February 16, 2017: most remaining Generation II Pokémon became available. This included allowing Generation I Pokémon that have Generation II cross-generational evolutions to evolve into those Pokémon and Togetic now appearing in the wild. Ditto also became able to appear disguised as Hoothoot, Sentret, or Yanma.
• March 22, 2017: Shiny Magikarp became available, and by consequence Shiny Gyarados became available by evolution.
• July 22, 2017: Legendary Pokémon began to become available through Raid Battles. Lugia was introduced immediately. Articuno was available from July 22 to July 31, Moltres from July 31 to August 7, and Zapdos from August 7 to August 14. From August 14 to August 31, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres were made simultaneously available.
• August 9, 2017: Shiny Pichu became hatchable, and Shiny Pikachu became available in Yokohama. By consequence Shiny Raichu became available by evolution. They were released worldwide on August 14.
• August 12, 2017 Ditto became able to appear disguised as Pikachu.
• August 14, 2017: First Raid Battle including Mewtwo occured at Pokémon GO Stadium event.
• September 1, 2017: Raikou, Entei and Suicune are now avaliable through Raid Battles.

Limited availability

Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, Tauros, and Heracross appear to be region-exclusive, currently only being found in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and Central/South America respectively. Corsola is also a region-exclusive Pokémon, appearing between latitude 26° S and 31° N. During special events, some of these Pokémon have been made available in other regions.

Some Legendary Pokémon have only been released for strictly limited periods. These include Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Once their periods are up, there is no indication if or when they will be made available again.

Special availability

The player may choose from the three Kanto starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. If the player walks away from the starter Pokémon four times, Pikachu will also appear as a possible starter Pokémon. These Pokémon may also be found in the wild later on.

While Eevee's evolution is normally random, it can be nicknamed to force it to evolve into a specific Pokémon: "Sparky" for Jolteon, "Rainer" for Vaporeon, "Pyro" for Flareon, "Sakura" for Espeon, and "Tamao" for Umbreon. These are the names of the Eevee brothers and the Kimono Girls in the Pokémon anime. Each nickname can only influence evolution once per player.

Locations

There are two main types of locations in Pokémon GO: PokéStops and Gyms. PokéStops and Gyms exist at pre-defined real world locations, and the player must be within range of them in order to interact with them (although they can be inspected as long as they shown up in the Map View).

The locations of PokéStops and Gyms are based on a selection of portals from the Niantic game Ingress. Until 2015, Ingress players could submit proposals for portals which subsequently had to be approved by Niantic.

PokéStops allow players to obtain items and Eggs by spinning the Photo Disc. At Gyms, players can battle to weaken those belonging to opposing teams or strengthen those belonging to their own team; a player can earn Stardust and PokéCoins by holding onto Gyms. PokéStops are much more common than Gyms.

Depending on where a player lives, PokéStops and Gyms may be very common or very sparse, tending to be more common in urban areas due to a higher population density resulting in more Ingress players in those areas. If there are no nearby PokéStops, the player can only obtain Poké Balls by leveling up or purchasing them with PokéCoins; if there are no nearby Gyms, the player can only obtain PokéCoins by purchasing them with real currency.

Teams

The Team Leaders, Candela, Blanche and Spark.

After the player reaches level 5, they can choose a team by tapping a Gym. There are three teams: Team Instinct (yellow) whose leader is Spark, Team Mystic (blue) whose leader is Blanche, and Team Valor (red) whose leader is Candela. A Gym can only be controlled by one team at a time. If a Gym is controlled by the player's team, they can train at it and add one of their own Pokémon to defend it. If a Gym is controlled by a rival team, the player can battle it to decrease its Prestige; when a Gym's Prestige reaches zero, any nearby player can claim it for their own team.

Pokémon Appraisal, added in version 0.35.0 (labelled version 1.5.0 on the iOS App Store), has the chosen Team's leader detail a Pokémon's stats much like a stats judge in the core series. They describe how good the Pokémon would be in a battle, which of its three stats is its highest, and how good its stats are overall. They will also note if the Pokémon's height or weight is particularly far from the average listed in the Pokédex.

Emblem	Team	Color	Legendary bird	Leader	Description
	Instinct	Yellow	Zapdos	Spark	Hey! The name's Spark — the leader of Team Instinct. Pokemon are creatures with excellent intuition. I bet the secret to their intuition is related to how they're hatched. Come and join my team! You never lose when you trust your instincts!
	Mystic	Blue	Articuno	Blanche	I am Blanche, leader of Team Mystic. The wisdom of Pokemon is immeasurably deep. I am researching why it is that they evolve. With our calm analysis of every situation, we can't lose!
	Valor	Red	Moltres	Candela	I'm Candela — Team Valor's leader! Pokemon are stronger than humans, and they're warmhearted, too! I'm researching ways to enhance Pokemon's natural power in the pursuit of true strength. There's no doubt that the Pokemon our team have trained at the strongest in battle! Are you ready?

PokéCoins

A PokéCoin

Main article: PokéCoin

PokéCoins are the in-app currency used in Pokémon GO. There are two ways of obtaining PokéCoins: the Gym Defender bonus or by purchasing them with real money.

To obtain the Defender bonus, the player must assign a Pokémon to defend a Gym that currently has less than six defenders. Upon their Pokémon being knocked out, the player will receive a number of coins based on how long their Pokémon defended a Gym. No more than 50 coins can be earned every day, no matter how many defenders are stationed at Gyms.

Items

Key Items

The following items are in the player's Bag by default. They have no quantity and cannot be tossed.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Description
	Camera	カメラ Camera	When you encounter Pokémon in the wild, you can use your camera to photograph them.
	Egg Incubator ∞	ムゲンふかそうち Infinite Egg Incubator	A device that incubates an Egg as you walk until it is ready to hatch. Unlimited use!

Standard items

These items can be obtained by spinning the Photo Disc at PokéStops or Gyms, by leveling up, or by purchasing them from the shop (which methods are possible varies between items). The player also starts with several standard items in their Bag.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Unlock requirements	Description
	Potion	キズぐすり Wound Medicine	Level 5	A spray-type medicine for treating wounds. It restores the HP of one Pokémon by 20 points.
	Super Potion	いいキズぐすり Good Wound Medicine	Level 10	A spray-type medicine for treating wounds. It restores the HP of one Pokémon by 50 points.
	Hyper Potion	すごいキズぐすり Amazing Wound Medicine	Level 15	A spray-type medicine for treating wounds. It restores the HP of one Pokémon by 200 points.
	Max Potion	まんたんのくすり Tank-Filling Medicine	Level 25	A spray-type medicine for treating wounds. It will completely restore the max HP of a single Pokémon.
	Revive	げんきのかけら Vitality Fragment	Level 5	A medicine that can revive fainted Pokémon. It also restores half of a fainted Pokémon's maximum HP.
	Max Revive	げんきのかたまり Vitality Clump	Level 30	A medicine that can revive fainted Pokémon. It also fully restores a fainted Pokémon's maximum HP.
	Lucky Egg	しあわせタマゴ Lucky Egg	None	A Lucky Egg that's filled with happiness! Earns double XP for 30 minutes.
	Incense	おこう Incense	None	Incense with a mysterious fragrance that lures wild Pokémon to your location for 30 minutes.
	Poké Ball	モンスターボール Monster Ball	None	A device for caching wild Pokémon. It's thrown like a ball at a Pokémon, comfortably encapsulating its target.
	Great Ball	スーパーボール Super Ball	Level 12	A good, high-performance Poké Ball that provides a higher catch rate than a standard Poké Ball.
	Ultra Ball	ハイパーボール Hyper Ball	Level 20	An ultra-high performance Poké Ball that provides a higher catch rate than a Great Ball.
	Lure Module	ルアーモジュール Lure Module	None	A module that attracts Pokémon to a PokéStop for 30 min. The effect benefits other people nearby.
	Razz Berry	ズリのみ Zuri Fruit	Level 8	Feed this to a Pokémon, and it will be easier to catch on your next throw.
	Nanab Berry	ナナのみ Nana Fruit	Level 4*	Feed this to a Pokémon to calm it down, making it less erratic.
	Pinap Berry	パイルのみ Pairu Fruit	Level 18	Feed this to a Pokémon to recieve more Candy when you catch it.
	Dragon Scale	りゅうのウロコ Dragon Scale	Level 10	A scale that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It is very tough and inflexible.
	King's Rock	おうじゃのしるし King's Symbol	Level 10	A rock that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It looks like a crown.
	Metal Coat	メタルコート Metal Coat	Level 10	A coating that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It is a special metalic film.
	Sun Stone	たいようのいし Sun Stone	Level 10	A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It burns as red as the evening sun.
File:GO Up-Grade.png	Up-Grade	アップグレード Upgrade	Level 10	A transparent device that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It was produced by Silph Co.
	Egg Incubator	ふかそうち Incubator	None	A device that incubates an Egg as you walk until it is ready to hatch. Breaks after 3 uses.
	Raid Pass	レイドパス Raid Pass	None	Pass to join a Raid Battle. You can get a free pass at Gyms once per day if you don't already have one.
	Premium Raid Pass	プレミアムレイドパス Premium Raid Pass	None	Premium Raid Pass to join a Raid Battle. You can use this pass anytime.

Raid rewards

These items can only be obtained as rewards for defeating a Raid Boss.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Unlock requirements	Description
	Fast TM	わざマシンノーマル Normal Move Machine	Level 15	This Technical Machine teaches the Pokémon a new Fast Attack.
	Charged TM	わざマシンスペシャル Special Move Machine	Level 25	This Technical Machine teaches the Pokémon a new Charged Attack.
	Rare Candy	ふしぎなアメ Mystery Candy	Level 5	A mysterious candy. When used on a Pokémon, it turns into the Pokémon's Candy.
	Golden Razz Berry	きんのズリのみ Gold Zuri Fruit	Level 10	Feed this to Pokémon to make it easier to catch. Works better than Razz Berry.
	Premier Ball	プレミアボール Premier Ball		Premier Balls are used to catch Raid Bosses after defeating them.

Upgrades

These are upgrades that increase the storage capacity of certain aspects of the game. They can be purchased with PokéCoins.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Description
	Bag Upgrade	パックアップグレード Pack Upgrade	Increases the max number of items you can carry by 50.
	Pokémon Storage Upgrade	ポケモンボックスアップグレード Pokémon Box Upgrade	Increases the max number of Pokémon you can carry by 50.

Unavailable items

These items are currently unavailable in game, although they are present in the game data.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Description
	Master Ball	マスターボール Master Ball	Type of Poké Ball that can catch a wild Pokémon without fail.
	EX Raid Pass

Experience

Main article: Experience → Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, the player earns experience (abbreviated XP), rather than the Pokémon. As the player gains experience they gain levels. Leveling up awards the player with items, and certain levels unlock particular items. After reaching level 5, the player can choose a team, which allows them to use Gyms. As the player's level increases, their Pokémon are able to achieve a higher Combat Power as the player powers them up.

Eggs

A 2 km egg in Pokémon GO (originally used for Eggs of all distances)

Main article: Pokémon Egg → Pokémon GO

The player can obtain Eggs at PokéStops. An Egg will hatch after traveling a certain distance while the Egg is in an incubator. Three Egg distances are possible: 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km. Each species has a set Egg distance and can only hatch from Eggs with this distance.

Buddy

A Buddy Pokémon

Main article: Buddy Pokémon

By assigning a Buddy Pokémon, the player can receive additional Candies for that species of Pokémon as they walk. Depending on the species, the Buddy Pokémon will find 1 Candy every 1 km, 3 km or 5 km walked. The player can only have a single Buddy Pokémon at once.

Medals

Main article: Medal → Pokémon GO

The game has challenges that award medals upon completion. Medals can be viewed from a player's profile.

Daily bonuses

Daily bonuses give the player extra rewards the first time they perform certain actions each day (local time). They were added to Pokémon GO in version 0.45.0 (labelled 1.15.0 on the iOS App Store), which was released on November 7, 2016.

The first Pokémon the player catches each day earns the player a bonus 500 XP and 600 Stardust. If the player catches a Pokémon every day for 7 days in a row, they will earn a bonus of 2500 XP and 3000 Stardust.

The first PokéStop or Gym the player searches each day earns the player a bonus 500 XP and extra items. If the player searches PokéStops or Gyms every day for 7 days in a row, they will earn a bonus of 2500 XP and even more items. The 7-day streak bonus is guaranteed to give the player an Evolution item (such as King's Rock).

Shop

Main article: PokéCoin → Shop

In the Shop, the player can make two kinds of purchases. They can purchase PokéCoins for real money or they can purchase in-game items for PokéCoins.

A number of the in-game items in the Shop can also be obtained by playing the game, but a few items are exclusive to the Shop: the Bag Upgrade, the Pokémon Storage Upgrade, and the Premium Raid Pass. The Shop also occasionally features limited-time "Box" deals (e.g., a Special Box) that include more than one kind of item.

Music

Some of the music in Pokémon GO was composed by Junichi Masuda. The music as well as the sound effects can be turned off in the settings of the app.

Version history

iOS

In-game version	App Store version	Release date	Changes
0.29.0	1.0	July 6, 2016	Initial release
0.29.1	1.0.1	July 12, 2016	Trainers do not to have to enter their username and password repeatedly after a force log out Added stability to Pokémon Trainer Club account log-in process Resolved issues causing crashes Fixed Google account scope
0.29.2	1.0.2	July 13, 2016	Fixes for Pokemon Trainer Club login
0.29.3	1.0.3	July 20, 2016	Minor text fixes.
0.31.0	1.1.0	July 30, 2016	Avatars can be re-customized from the profile screen Adjusted battle damage calculation and some moves's damage values* Refined certain Gym animations Improved memory issues Removed footprints from nearby Pokémon screen Bug fixes during wild Pokémon encounters Updated Pokémon details UI Updated achievement medal art Minor text and map feature display issues fixed
0.31.1	1.1.1	August 1, 2016	Performance improvement in Pokémon details and list screens. Correct link for app upgrade.
0.33.0	1.3.0	August 8, 2016	Added dialog to remind Trainers to not play while traveling above a certain speed; Trainers must confirm they are not driving Improved the accuracy of curveball throws Fixed bug that prevented "Nice", "Great", and "Excellent" Poké Ball throws from awarding the appropriate XP bonuses Fixed achievements showing incorrect icons Enabled the ability for Trainers to change their nickname one time Resolved issues with battery saver mode and re-enabled the feature Added visuals for Team Leaders Candela, Blanche, and Spark Enabled a variation of the Nearby Pokémon feature for a subset of users to test; changes in the Nearby Pokémon UI may occur Minor text fixes
0.33.0	1.3.1	August 11, 2016	Stability improvements No text fixes
0.35.0	1.5.0	August 23, 2016	Added Pokémon Appraisal Fixed bug that kept defeated Pokémon at 1 HP instead of fainting
0.37.0	1.7.0	September 13, 2016	Implemented Buddy Pokémon Made it easier to select smaller Pokémon on the screen. Fixed an issue where Eggs would sometimes hatch without displaying the animation. Improved performance reliability when a device switches networks to no longer cause the application to hang or stop updating. Pokémon GO Plus support Minor text fixes.
0.37.1	1.7.1	September 16, 2016	Pokémon GO Plus stability improvement Added quick help when first connected to Pokémon GO Plus Minor text fixes
0.39.0	1.9.0	September 24, 2016	Capture location: The location where a Pokémon was caught will now be displayed on their information screen. Pokémon GO Plus and Incense: Trainers can attempt to capture Pokémon they encounter from using Incense with the Pokémon GO Plus accessory. Fixed a bug that caused some users to get stuck on the loading screen, even after restarting the app. Fixed a bug where the camera sometimes moved at slow speeds during battle. Minor bug fixes
0.41.2	1.11.2	October 12, 2016	Catch Bonus: Trainers can earn a catch bonus for a Pokémon type as they catch more of a specific type. Updated Gym Training: Trainers can now bring six Pokémon to battle at friendly Gyms. The CP of the Pokémon you are battling may be temporarily adjusted lower for your training session. Egg & Incubator Screens: These will periodically update the distance walked without the Trainer needing to close and reopen the screen. Fixed several audio issues. Decreased the evolution animation time. Minor fixes
0.41.4	1.11.4	October 14, 2016	Minor fixes
0.43.3	1.13.3	October 24, 2016	Professor Willow discovered that Eggs have different patterns depending on the distance required to hatch them. Pokémon type icons have been added to the information screen for each Pokémon. Low battery indicator added for the Pokémon GO Plus. Minor text fixes
0.43.4	1.13.4	October 26, 2016	Minor bug fixes
0.45.0	1.15.0	November 7, 2016	You’ll earn bonuses for the first Pokémon catch and PokéStop visit each day. You’ll receive a larger bonus when you do this seven days in a row. When you defeat the Gym Leader at a rival Gym, there will be a brief period of time where only you will be able to place a Pokémon in the open Gym. The amount of Prestige a rival Gym loses when you defeat a regular Gym member has increased. The amount of Prestige gained by training at a friendly Gym has been lowered. Minor text fixes
0.47.1	1.17.0	November 19, 2016	Fixed an issue where the Egg-hatching cutscene animation would sometimes be briefly visible from the map view. Minor text fixes
0.49.1	1.19.1	December 8, 2016	Trainers will be able to transfer multiple Pokémon at a time to Professor Willow. To use this function, press and hold on a Pokémon. Pokémon type icons have been added to the Gym battle approach and Gym battle screen. The total Candy count for your Buddy Pokémon has been added to the buddy information screen. The total kilometers a buddy has walked has been added to the information screen of each Pokémon that has ever been your buddy. Minor text fixes.
0.51.0	1.21.0	December 20, 2016	The bug that caused incorrect vibration notifications has been fixed. Day and night modes have changed to more accurately reflect the Trainer’s current time of day. Minor text fixes.
0.51.2	1.21.2	December 22, 2016	Pokémon GO for Apple Watch Minor text fixes
0.53.1	1.23.1	January 18, 2017	Updated Apple Watch to display Eggs obtained from PokéStops Changed distance tracking to better account for GPS drift Minor text fixes.
0.53.2	1.23.2	January 23, 2017	Added Korean language support
0.55.0	1.25.0	January 28, 2017	Integrated iOS wheelchair support for use with Apple Watch. Minor text fixes.
0.57.2	1.27.2	February 16, 2017	Over 80 additional Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region can be caught. Gender-specific variations of select Pokémon can be caught. Added new encounter mechanics. Added Poké Ball and Berry selection carousels to the encounter screen. Added two new Berries. Added new avatar outfit and accessory options. Added new night-mode map and encounter music. Added bonus Candies for catching evolved Pokémon. Implemented Apple Watch connection stability improvement. Various bug fixes. Minor text fixes.
0.57.3	1.27.3	February 27, 2017	Performance fixes.
0.57.4	1.27.4	March 5, 2017	Minor text fixes.
0.59.1	1.29.1	March 22, 2017	The 7-day ‘First PokéStop of the Day’ streak will now award a random Evolution item. Minor text fixes.
0.61.0	1.31.0	April 6, 2017	Added Traditional Chinese language support. Updated the Pokémon collection screen scroll bar. Various bug fixes. Minor text fixes.
0.63.1	1.33.1	May 9, 2017	Added Brazilian Portuguese language support. Tapping on a medal will now show your progress toward the next medal tier.
0.63.4	1.33.4	June 6, 2017	Implement bug fixes.
0.67.1	1.37.1	June 20, 2017	Gym features significantly updated to add the all-new motivation system. Added new Gym Badge feature. Added in-app and push notification system for Gyms. Added Raid Battles, a new cooperative gameplay experience. Added four new items available only by completing Raid Battles. Added Raids tab to Nearby screen. Added search functionality to Pokémon collection screen. Added visual indicator to unvisited PokéStops.
0.67.2	1.37.2	June 30, 2017	Implement bug fixes.
0.69.0	1.39.0	July 18, 2017	Added icons to the Pokémon information screen to indicate how the Pokémon was caught. Added the ability for Trainers to spin the Photo Disc at a Gym after completing a Raid Battle. Added the ability for Trainers to send Berries to their Pokémon defending Gyms through the Pokémon info screen when they are not nearby. Motivation regained will be less effective through this method. Added the ability for Trainers to give Berries to Pokémon defending Gyms if their motivation meter is full. Improved Pokémon Collection screen search functionality. Fixed an issue where Trainers were unable to complete Raid Battles started before time expired on the map view. Fixed an issue where Pokémon are not properly returned to their Trainer after defending a Gym. Various bug fixes.
0.69.1	1.39.1	July 28, 2017	Spark has returned to appraise Pokémon for Team Instinct Trainers. Resolved a motivation decay bug impacting Pokémon with less than 3000 CP. Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after consuming potions too quickly. Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after all 6 Pokémon faint during a Raid Battle. Resolved an issue causing iPhone 6 devices to crash.
0.73.1	1.43.1	August 30, 2017	Added the ability for Trainers to spin the Photo Disc at a Gym using the Pokémon GO Plus accessory. Added the ability to view the number of Trainers entered, and preparing, for a Raid Battle before using a Raid Pass. Improved Pokémon Collection screen search functionality by allowing Trainers to search through their Pokémon’s moves using the @ character. Resolved a bug which caused the Raid Boss to always break free from the last Premier Ball. Resolved a bug that prevented Trainers from seeing they’d received double XP from Raid Battles when using a Lucky Egg. Various bug fixes.

Android

Version	Release date	Changes
0.29.0	July 6, 2016	Initial release
0.29.2	July 13, 2016	Support added for Intel CPUs Works on devices running Android N (7.0) Trainers do not to have to enter their username and password repeatedly after a force log out Increased server stability Resolved many issues causing crashes Pokémon Trainer Club login issues resolved
0.29.3	July 20, 2016	Minor text fixes.
0.31.0	July 30, 2016	Avatars can now be re-customized from the Trainer profile screen Adjusted battle move damage values for some Pokémon* Refined certain Gym animations Improved memory issues Removed footprints of nearby Pokémon Modified battle damage calculation Various bug fixes during wild Pokémon encounter Updated Pokémon details screen Updated achievement medal images Fixed issues with displaying certain map features Minor text fixes
0.33.0	August 8, 2016	Added notice to remind Trainers to not play while traveling above a certain speed; Trainers have to indicate they aren't the driver Fixed bug that prevented "Nice", "Great", and "Excellent" Poké Ball throws from awarding the appropriate XP bonuses Enabled ability for Trainers to change nickname one time Quick Start removed from settings Other fixes
0.35.0	August 23, 2016	Added Pokémon Appraisal Fixed bug that kept defeated Pokémon at 1 HP instead of fainting Minor bot fixes
0.37.0	September 13, 2016	Implemented Buddy Pokémon Made it easier to select smaller Pokémon on the screen. Fixed an issue where Eggs would sometimes hatch without displaying the animation. Improved performance reliability when a device switches networks to no longer cause the application to hang or stop updating. Pokémon GO Plus support Minor text fixes.
0.37.1	September 16, 2016	Pokémon GO Plus stability improvement Added quick help when first connected to Pokémon GO Plus Minor text fixes
0.39.0	September 24, 2016	Capture location: The location where a Pokémon was caught will now be displayed on their information screen. Pokémon GO Plus and Incense: Trainers can attempt to capture Pokémon they encounter from using Incense with the Pokémon GO Plus accessory. Fixed a bug that caused some users to get stuck on the loading screen, even after restarting the app. Fixed a bug where the camera sometimes moved at slow speeds during battle. Minor bug fixes
0.39.1	September 27, 2016	Minor text fixes
0.41.3	October 12, 2016	Catch Bonus: Trainers can earn a catch bonus for a Pokémon type as they catch more of a specific type. Updated Gym Training: Trainers can now bring six Pokémon to battle at friendly Gyms. The CP of the Pokémon you are battling may be temporarily adjusted lower for your training session. Egg & Incubator Screens: These will periodically update the distance walked without the Trainer needing to close and reopen the screen. Audio fixes Decreased the evolution animation time Minor fixes
0.41.4	October 12, 2016	Minor fixes
0.43.3	October 24, 2016	Professor Willow discovered that Eggs have different patterns depending on the distance required to hatch them. Pokémon type icons have been added to the information screen for each Pokémon. Low battery indicator added for the Pokémon GO Plus. Minor text fixes
0.43.4	October 25, 2016	Minor bug fixes
0.45.0	November 7, 2016	You’ll earn bonuses for the first Pokémon catch and PokéStop visit each day. You’ll receive a larger bonus when you do this seven days in a row. When you defeat the Gym Leader at a rival Gym, there will be a brief period of time where only you will be able to place a Pokémon in the open Gym. The amount of Prestige a rival Gym loses when you defeat a regular Gym member has increased. The amount of Prestige gained by training at a friendly Gym has been lowered. Minor text fixes
0.47.1	November 19, 2016	Fixed an issue where the Egg-hatching cutscene animation would sometimes be briefly visible from the map view. Minor text fixes
0.49.1	December 8, 2016	Trainers will be able to transfer multiple Pokémon at a time to Professor Willow. To use this function, press and hold on a Pokémon. Pokémon type icons have been added to the Gym battle approach and Gym battle screen. The total Candy count for your Buddy Pokémon has been added to the buddy information screen. The total kilometers a buddy has walked has been added to the information screen of each Pokémon that has ever been your buddy. Minor text fixes.
0.51.0	December 20, 2016	The bug that caused incorrect vibration notifications has been fixed. Day and night modes have changed to more accurately reflect the Trainer’s current time of day. Minor text fixes.
0.53.1	January 18, 2017	Updated Apple Watch to display Eggs obtained from PokéStops Changed distance tracking to better account for GPS drift Minor text fixes.
0.53.2	January 23, 2017	Added Korean language support
0.55.0	January 28, 2017	Reduced the starting load time on Android devices. Resolved Android connectivity issues for the Pokémon GO Plus accessory. Minor text fixes.
0.57.2	February 16, 2017	Over 80 additional Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region can be caught. Gender-specific variations of select Pokémon can be caught. Added new encounter mechanics. Added Poké Ball and Berry selection carousels to the encounter screen. Added two new Berries. Added new avatar outfit and accessory options. Added new night-mode map and encounter music. Added bonus Candies for catching Evolved Pokémon. Implemented Apple Watch connection stability improvement. Various bug fixes. Minor text fixes.
0.57.3	February 27, 2017	Performance improvements.
0.57.4	March 5, 2017	Minor text fixes.
0.59.1	March 22, 2017	The 7-day ‘First PokéStop of the Day’ streak will now award a random Evolution item. Minor text fixes.
0.59.2	March 30, 2017	Minor bug fixes.
0.61.0	April 6, 2017	Added Traditional Chinese language support. Updated the Pokémon collection screen scroll bar. Various bug fixes. Minor text fixes.
0.63.1	May 9, 2017	Added Brazilian Portuguese language support. Tapping on a medal will now show your progress toward the next medal tier.
0.63.4	June 6, 2017	Implement bug fixes.
0.67.1	June 20, 2017	Gym features significantly updated to add the all-new motivation system. Added new Gym Badge feature. Added in-app and push notification system for Gyms. Added Raid Battles, a new cooperative gameplay experience. Added four new items available only by completing Raid Battles. Added Raids tab to Nearby screen. Added search functionality to Pokémon collection screen. Added visual indicator to unvisited PokéStops.
0.67.2	June 30, 2017	Implement bug fixes.
0.69.0	July 18, 2017	Added icons to the Pokémon information screen to indicate how the Pokémon was caught. Added the ability for Trainers to spin the Photo Disc at a Gym after completing a Raid Battle. Added the ability for Trainers to send Berries to their Pokémon defending Gyms through the Pokémon info screen when they are not nearby. Motivation regained will be less effective through this method. Added the ability for Trainers to give Berries to Pokémon defending Gyms if their motivation meter is full. Improved Pokémon Collection screen search functionality. Fixed an issue where Trainers were unable to complete Raid Battles started before time expired on the map view. Fixed an issue where Pokémon are not properly returned to their Trainer after defending a Gym. Various bug fixes.
0.69.1	July 28, 2017	Spark has returned to appraise Pokémon for Team Instinct Trainers. Resolved a motivation decay bug impacting Pokémon with less than 3000 CP. Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after consuming potions too quickly. Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after all 6 Pokémon faint during a Raid Battle.
0.73.1	August 30, 2017	Added the ability for Trainers to spin the Photo Disc at a Gym using the Pokémon GO Plus accessory. Added the ability to view the number of Trainers entered, and preparing, for a Raid Battle before using a Raid Pass. Improved Pokémon Collection screen search functionality by allowing Trainers to search through their Pokémon’s moves using the @ character. Resolved a bug which caused the Raid Boss to always break free from the last Premier Ball. Resolved a bug that prevented Trainers from seeing they’d received double XP from Raid Battles when using a Lucky Egg. Various bug fixes.

Compatibility

Pokémon GO requires an internet connection (Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G) and GPS/location services. According to the official support site, the game can be played on:

• Android devices: Android 4.4+ (rooted devices are not supported), preferred resolution of 720×1280 pixels (not optimized for tablet)
• iOS devices: iPhone 5 and newer, iOS 8 and newer (jailbroken devices are not supported)
  • Apple Watch will be supported late 2016, with the Apple Watch's fitness tracking functions integrated into the game.

However, the game is also playable on some iOS and Android devices that are not officially supported.

Connectivity

Pokémon GO currently has no connectivity with other Pokémon games. However, Junichi Masuda has stated that the developers plan to add connectivity with the next entry in the core series Pokémon games.

Partnerships

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Partnerships in Japan, Big Heritage partnership

Due to the popularity of Pokémon GO, the game has partnered with several other companies to offer special promotions. These partnerships often involve sponsored locations, wherein stores affiliated with the partner company become PokéStops and Gyms; sponsored locations do not appear in the game for players under the age of 13.

Pokémon GO partnered with Starbucks in the United States. Starting December 8, 2016, 7,800 company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States have been made into PokéStops and Gyms. Additionally, Starbucks is selling a special-edition Pokémon GO Frappuccino as part of this partnership; the Pokémon GO Frappuccino starts with a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino blended beverage and raspberry syrup blended with freeze-dried whole blackberries and topped with whipped cream.

Pokémon GO partnered with Sprint in the United States. Starting December 7, 2016, 10,500 Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Sprint at Radioshack stores in the United States are becoming PokéStops and Gyms. Sprint locations also feature in-store charging stations to allow Pokémon GO players to charge their devices.

Pokémon GO partnered with Reliance Jio Infocomm (which operates under the name Jio) in India. Starting December 13, 2016, nearly 3,000 Jio stores (thousands of Reliance Digital stores according to Jio's press release) and select partner premises in India will become PokéStops or Gyms in the Pokémon GO, as well as offering charging stations for players. On Jio's social messaging app, JioChat, Pokémon players have access to an exclusive Pokémon GO channel to allow them to collaborate and be part of a community of players with daily tips, contests, clues, and special events. During Jio's "Happy New Year" offer, Jio SIM customers will be able to download and play Pokémon GO without incurring data charges, like any other apps and content, until March 31, 2017.

Pokémon GO partnered with Unibail-Rodamco shopping malls across Europe. Starting on February 18, 2017 new PokéStops and Gyms across 58 shopping and destination centers in ten European countries were added. An average of a dozen new PokéStops and Gyms were added to public spaces, social hubs, and public art at each of the destination centers.

Development

The game was conceived by John Hanke after the development of Niantic's Ingress. It was decided that a game based on Pokémon would be a good choice, due to its focus on collecting the titular creatures. Hanke brought the idea to the Pokémon Company and talked with Mr. Isihara. Development began. Junichi Masuda worked with Niantic on the game's development.

An Ingress Report released on September 10, 2015, the day of the game's announcement, stated that a closed beta would occur during Northern Hemisphere winter 2015 and that the game would be released in early 2016. However, no beta testing occurred during 2015.

Field tests were held in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States prior to the game's public release. Selected applicants were given the opportunity to test the game.

• Japan: held from March 29 to June 30, 2016, announced on March 3, 2016
• Australia and New Zealand: held from April 25 to June 30, 2016, announced on April 7, 2016
• United States: held from May 25 to June 30, 2016, announced on May 16, 2016

A session at the Game Developers Conference featuring the game was intended to be held by Niantic CEO John Hanke on March 14, 2016, but was later cancelled due to Niantic preparing the game for beta testing and launch.

Release

Unlike previous Pokémon games for mobile devices, Pokémon GO was released on a staggered schedule, releasing initially to only to a few select countries. After its initial release on July 6, 2016, additional releases were put on hold due to server issues, but resumed on July 13, 2016, with the app's release in Germany. France was supposed to receive the app alongside other European countries, but the official release in the country was postponed due to the 2016 Nice attack.

So far, Pokémon GO has been released in all countries with access to the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, except for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, mainland China, Tunisia, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Congo, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

Date	Locations
July 6, 2016	Australia, New Zealand
	United States
July 13, 2016	Germany
July 14, 2016	United Kingdom
July 15, 2016	Italy, Portugal, Spain
July 16, 2016	Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland
July 17, 2016	Canada
July 19, 2016	Puerto Rico
July 22, 2016	Japan
July 24, 2016	France
July 25, 2016	Hong Kong
August 3, 2016	Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
August 5, 2016 August 6, 2016	Aruba, Brunei, Cambodia, Curaçao, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, Vietnam
September 30, 2016	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macau, Macedonia, Serbia
October 1, 2016	Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
October 4, 2016 October 5, 2016	Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia
November 18, 2016	Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
December 14, 2016	Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
January 24, 2017	South Korea
TBA*	Russia

Gallery

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  Load Screen Original

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  Load Screen Halloween 2016

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  Load Screen Christmas 2016

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  Load Screen New Year 2017

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  Load Screen April 2017

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  Load Screen June 2017

Trivia

• This is the only Pokémon game to have the word "Pokémon" spelled in Latin letters in its Japanese name.
• Pokémon GO has been banned in Iran and Mainland China due to security concerns. However, some Iranians are still playing the game publicly regardless.

In other languages

Language Title Japanese Pokémon GO Chinese Cantonese Pokémon GO Mandarin Pokémon GO French Pokémon GO German Pokémon GO Italian Pokémon GO Korean Pokémon GO Brazilian Portuguese Pokémon GO Spanish Pokémon GO

See also

• List of moves in Pokémon GO
• List of Pokémon by base stats (Pokémon GO)
• Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge
• Pokémon GO Player's Guide

External links

• Offical website
• Offical Facebook page
• Offical Twitter account
• Offical Instagram account
• Offical YouTube channel
• Offical Google+ page

• Official teaser
• Official trailer
• Pokémon GO announcement press conference

References

Other spin-off Pokémon games Nintendo DS: Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure Pokémon Conquest • PokéPark: Fishing Rally DS Nintendo 3DS: Pokédex 3D (Pro) • HarmoKnight • Pokémon Art Academy The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon • Pokémon Shuffle Nintendo Badge Arcade Wii U: Pokkén Tournament Nintendo Switch: Pokkén Tournament DX • Pokémon Quest • Pokémon Café ReMix • Pokémon UNITE • Pokémon TV PC: Pokémon Project Studio Red and Blue • PokéROMs • Pokémon the Movie 2000 Adventure Pokémon Masters Arena • Pokémon PC Master • Pokémon Team Turbo Pokémon Team Rocket Blast Off • Pokémon Poké Ball Launcher • Pokémon Seek & Find Pokémon Garden • Pokémon Medallion Battle • Pokémon Tower Battle Pokémon Scoop Disc (2004 Winter, 2004 Summer, 2006 Spring) Mobile: Pokémate • Pokémon Say Tap? • Pokédex for iOS • Pokémon TV • Camp Pokémon • Pokémon Jukebox Learn Real English Through Pokémon: XY Translation Scope • Pokémon Shuffle Mobile Dancing? Pokémon Band • Pokémon Photo Booth • Pokémon GO • Pokémon Duel Pokémon: Magikarp Jump • Pokémon Playhouse • Pokémon Quest • Pokémon Pass • Pokémon Masters EX Pokémon Wave Hello • Pokémon Smile • Pokémon Café ReMix • Pokémon UNITE • Pokémon Sleep Smart speakers: Pikachu Talk Arcade: Print Club Pokémon B • Dance! Pikachu • Pikachu's Great Surfing Adventure • Pokémon: Crayon Kids Pokémon: Wobbuffet Fell Down! • Pokémon Get Round and Round Pokémon Tug of War Tournament: Absolutely Get Medal! • Pokémon Medal World Pokémon Card Game Gacha • Pokémon: Battle Nine • Pokkén Tournament • Pokémon Corogarena Sega Pico: Pokémon: Catch the Numbers! Pokémon Advanced Generation: I've Begun Hiragana and Katakana! Pokémon Advanced Generation: Pico for Everyone Pokémon Loud Battle! CoCoPad: Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Pokémon Super Drill Let's Learn Numbers from 1 to 20!! Advanced Pico Beena: Pokémon Advanced Generation: Pokémon Number Battle! Intellectual Training Drill Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Letter and Number Intelligence Game Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Search for Pokémon! Adventure in the Maze! Pokémon Best Wishes: Intelligence Training Pokémon Big Sports Meet! Tech demos: Pikachu: DS Tech Demo Self-contained: Pokémon Pikachu • Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS • Pokémon Poké Ball • Cyber Poké Ball Cyber Pokédex • Cyclone 2 • Digital Poké Ball D & P • Electronic Hand-Held Yahtzee Eevee × Tamagotchi Pokémon game templates Core series • Side series • Spin-off series • Pokémon mini • Individual spin-offs • Betas • Demos

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.