While it may not be nearly as manically popular as at launch, The Pokémon Company and Niantic announced that Pokemon GO has managed to cross 500 million downloads worldwide since first releasing in July.
Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, stated that, “The phenomenal success of Pokémon GO during the brand’s 20-year celebration is an incredible reminder of how many people around the world love Pokémon. The team at Niantic developed a unique experience that merges their expertise in cutting-edge location-based technologies with the beloved characters and classic gameplay of Pokémon. This ideal match of the right brand and the right technology has resonated with hundreds of millions of existing and new fans around the world.”
The next step for the game is integration with Apple Watch as Niantic unveiled details of the same during Apple’s reveal event for the iPhone 7. John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, said, “The globally loved Pokémon brand paired with Niantic’s platform and game design that encourages exploration, exercise and making real world social connections has inspired millions of people of all ages to go outdoors together.
“We are encouraged by the fast adoption of the game and are pleased to see so many people walk and play every day. Pokémon GO for Apple Watch will be another way people can incorporate the game into their daily lives, even more seamlessly.”
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