Pokémon Go at 10 and the millions still trying to catch ’em all

Over the years the game has sometimes fallen victim to its own hype and global appeal.

Police and security groups once warned players not to get lost or endanger themselves by getting too caught up in catching the next Psyduck.

Reynolds said the game’s immense popularity meant that sometimes “servers came under pressure”, meaning connection issues had been “common for some time”.

While the pandemic was seen as a boon to many in the video game industry, Steranka says the initial strict quarantines “impacted Pokémon Go probably more than any other game on the market.”

Gaming then picked up again as restrictions eased and people looked for reasons to get out once again.

Then in 2025, some fans questioned how the future of the game might change when Scopely, itself owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, acquired developer Niantic for $3.5bn (later £2.7bn).

“My hope is that over time we prove to players that this is absolutely a good thing for the game and the community,” Steranka says.

Looking ahead, Steranka says the focus of the game is on community, memories and creating experiences that families can share.

“No matter where I am and what stage of my life I’m in, Pokémon Go has always been there for me,” he says.

“It meets people where they are, no matter what stage of life they are at.”