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. The Pokémon Company Nintendo
Publisher:	Niantic, Inc.
Part of:	Generation VI miscellaneous
Ratings
CERO:	N/A
ESRB:	E10+
ACB:	PG
OFLC:	N/A
PEGI:	3
GRAC:	N/A
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	March 29, 2016 (field test) 2016 (public release)
North America:	May 25, 2016 (field test) July 6, 2016 (United States, public release)
Australia:	April 25, 2016 (field test) July 6, 2016 (public release)
Europe:	2016
South Korea:	N/A
Hong Kong:	N/A
Taiwan:	N/A
Websites
Japanese:	Pokémon.co.jp
English:	Official site (TPCi) Official site (Niantic) Pokémon.com

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Articles relating to Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO (Japanese: Pokémon GO) is a multiplayer, location-based, augmented reality Pokémon game for iOS and Android. The game is a collaboration between The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, and Niantic, Inc., and is free to download with in-app purchases. It was released in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6, 2016, and is scheduled to be released in Japan,^[1] Latin America^[2] and South America,^[3] Canada,^[3] and Europe^[3] soon.

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.

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

In the game, wild Pokémon appear depending on the player's real-world location, such as some Water-type Pokémon, which can only be found near water, in their native environment. When encountering a Pokémon, the player's phone vibrates, and the player can catch them in Poké Balls before the Pokémon runs away. Pokémon can be evolved by catching multiple Pokémon of the same species. At least 100 species are available in the game. If a player catches multiple Pokémon of the same species, the player can obtain Candy which can allow one of them to evolve. Like in the core series, players may obtain Eggs that will hatch after traveling a certain distance. Eggs, Poké Balls, and other items can be obtained at PokéStops (Japanese: ポケストップ). PokéStops are located at real-world locations such as museums, monuments, and historical markers. The player is assisted by Professor Willow.

Players can customize their appearance, such as clothing and accessories, which can be shown to other players. Players have a Pokémon Trainer level that, when raised by catching many Pokémon, allows them to find more kinds of Pokémon to complete the Pokédex. Upon leveling up, players may join one of three teams. These teams control Gyms which are located at real-world locations. Each player on a team that controls a Gym can deposit a single Pokémon each in the Gym. A player can also deposit a Pokémon in an unclaimed, empty Gym to claim it for their team. Players from the other two teams can challenge the Pokémon in a Gym to a battle, and potentially gain control of the Gym. In a battle, a Trainer's Pokémon can use two attacks on the defending Pokémon. Winning against an opposing Gym lowers its Prestige, while losing against one raises it. Once a Gym's Prestige reaches zero, the defending team gives up control of that Gym. A Gym's Prestige and level can be raised by training its Pokémon.

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

Some items and features can be obtained as in-app purchases, including PokéCoins, which can be traded for power-ups, extra items, and other enhancements.

Available Pokémon

Only Pokémon introduced in Generation I are currently available in the game. Pokémon from other regions may be made available in the future.^[4] The player can choose from the three Kanto starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle.

PokéCoins

PokéCoins are the in-app currency used in Pokémon GO. PokéCoins can be acquired by defending a Gym. After beating the previous Gym Leader and depositing a Pokémon, open the Pokéball menu and click the shield icon. PokéCoins may be redeemed once every 20 hours. They can also be purchased in exchange for real money at the following prices:

Items

PokéCoins can be exchanged for in-game items at the following rates:

Image	English name	Japanese name	Purchase	Cost	Effect
	Poké Ball	モンスターボール Monster Ball	20 Poké Balls	100 PokéCoins	Allows the player to catch Pokémon.
			100 Poké Balls	460 PokéCoins
			200 Poké Balls	800 PokéCoins
	Incense	おこう Incense	1 Incense	80 PokéCoins	Attracts Pokémon to the player's location for 30 minutes.
			8 Incense	500 PokéCoins
			25 Incense	1250 PokéCoins
	Lucky Egg	しあわせタマゴ Lucky Egg	1 Lucky Egg	80 PokéCoins	Increase the XP earned by the player for 30 minutes.
			8 Lucky Eggs	500 PokéCoins
			25 Lucky Eggs	1250 PokéCoins
	Lure Module	ルアーモジュール Lure Module	1 Lure Module	100 PokéCoins	Attracts Pokémon to a PokéSpot for 30 minutes.
			8 Lure Modules	680 PokéCoins
File:GO Incubator.png	Egg Incubator	ふかそうち Incubator	1 Egg Incubator	150 PokéCoins	Stores a Pokémon Egg prior to hatching.
	Bag Upgrade	パックアップグレード Pack Upgrade	1 Bag Upgrade	200 PokéCoins	Increases Bag capacity by 50.
	Pokémon Storage Upgrade	ポケモンボックスアップグレード Pokémon Box Upgrade	1 Pokémon Storage Upgrade	200 PokéCoins	Increases Pokémon Storage capacity by 50.

Pokémon GO Plus

Pokémon GO Plus is a peripheral associated with the game, developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It will be released in late July 2016 for US$34.99/€39.99. It notifies the player about in-game events, such as the appearance of wild Pokémon, via multicolor LED and vibration. It communicates with the player's phone via Bluetooth. It is possible to catch wild Pokémon and carry out other actions by using the button on the device.

Pokémon GO Plus can be worn either by clipping it to clothing, or on a wristband.

• 

  Pokémon GO Plus logo

• 

  Pokémon GO Plus accessory

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  Pokémon GO Plus wrist strap

Music

Some of the music in Pokémon GO was composed by Junichi Masuda.

Version history

Compatibility

Pokémon GO requires an internet connection and GPS/location services. According to the official support site, the game can be played on:^[5]

• Android devices: Android 4.4 to Android 6.0.1, excluding devices with Intel CPUs
• iOS devices: iPhone 5 and newer, iOS 8 and newer, excluding jailbroken devices

Junichi Masuda is looking at ways for the game to connect with the next entry in the core series Pokémon games.

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.^[6] However, no beta testing occurred during 2015.^[7][8]

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^[9][10]
• Australia and New Zealand: held from April 25 to June 30, 2016, announced on April 7, 2016^[11]
• United States: held from May 25 to June 30, 2016, announced on May 16, 2016^[12]

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.^[13]

Gallery

• 

  In-game screenshot on an iPhone

• 

  Zoomed-in map

• 

  A Squirtle appearing

• 

  Encountering a Squirtle

• 

  Icon

Trivia

• This is the only Pokémon game to have the word "Pokémon" spelled in Latin letters in its Japanese name.

In other languages

Language Title Japanese Pokémon GO French Pokémon GO German Pokémon GO Italian Pokémon GO Spanish Pokémon GO

See also

• Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge

External links

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

References

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