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Commercial message: When the mobile game Pokémon GO first appeared in 2016, it was an almost instant success, practically all over the world. Although interest in the game decreased slightly after the first year, in the last three years it has risen to prominence again and earned more than six billion dollars for its creators during its lifetime - that is, an incredible 138 billion crowns. What is the secret behind her continued success?

History of the Pokémon GO mobile game

Despite – or rather thanks to – its continuing popularity, Pokémon is nothing new in the world of pop culture. It saw the light of day already in the nineties, when it instantly rose to become one of the most popular games for gaming console Nintendo. Although the "spiritual father" of Pokémon, Satoshi Tariji, whose idea was sparked by his childhood hobby of collecting bugs, probably never imagined such success in his wildest dreams, his Pokémon world soon grew to include animated series, comics or trading cards

However, since twenty years later young Pokemon lovers were no longer attracted to card collecting, the creators decided to go for a stronger caliber. After a successful collaboration with Google Maps, Pokémon GO was created in 2016, a mobile game that offered its players a completely groundbreaking innovation - augmented reality.

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The secret of success

It was this that became the basis of unprecedented success. While playing ordinary mobile games, players barely leave the house, the new concept forced them to hit the streets of cities and nature. It was there that not only new Pokemon were hidden, but also an opportunity to meet like-minded fans of the Pokemon world. 

However, augmented reality is not the only secret ingredient to success - although a number of games with the same concept have appeared on the market, even from the popular world of Harry Potter, they have not met with nearly as much response. Whether the unprecedented popularity of Pokémon GO is due to nostalgia or its status as a pioneer of augmented reality games, it has undoubtedly become the most successful product of its kind.

New wave of interest during COVID

One of the factors that undoubtedly put the game on the cards, so to speak, was the COVID pandemic. The creators, as one of the few, were able to respond flexibly to changing conditions, namely quarantines and various movement restrictions that accompanied the pandemic. 

Although the original goal of the game was to get the player to go outside and move, in the time of covid, the creators tried to make up for the limitations as much as possible. And this, for example, by creating a special league in which players could play from the comfort of their homes without the need for personal contact. New players were lured into buying the game by various discounts on game bonuses that lured new Pokémon to the player's location or by reducing the number of steps required to obtain their eggs. And although the world is slowly returning to its old ways after the pandemic, the new possibilities will no doubt be welcomed by many players even today. 

Community around the game

Due to its unprecedented popularity, it was no surprise that a large community of players formed around the game. They meet each other not only during the actual playing, but also at various events and festivals. An example can be for example Pokemon GO Fest Berlin, which attracted players from all over the world in early July.

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And as it happens (not only) at festivals and similar fan events, the players are enjoying their interest Pokemon merch in the form of themed clothing or toys. However, especially the "analog" alternatives of the game, such as various thematic ones, are celebrating a big comeback plates, figurines or even trading cards a Pokemon Booster Boxes. Pokémon GO has thus clearly become a welcome impulse to renew interest in the world of Pokémon, both among a new generation of children and all those who spent their childhood in the nineties to the sounds of the "Catch 'em all!"

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