Pokémon GO Catches $5 Billion in Lifetime Revenue in Five Years

Smash hit Geolocation AR title Pokémon GO from Niantic has surpassed $5 billion from player spending as the title celebrates its five-year anniversary since its launch back in 2016, Sensor Tower Store Intelligence data shows.

The latest milestone means the title has generated $1 billion on average each year. It remains the clear leader in the Geolocation AR category globally, picking up $641.6 million in the first half of 2021. That puts it above titles such as Dragon Quest Walk from Square Enix, which has accumulated $261 million so far this year, and Jurassic World Alive from Ludia. H1 2021 also represents Pokémon GO’s best ever start to a year, with revenue up 34 percent from H1 2020 and up 130 percent from H1 2017.

Pokémon GO generated record revenue from player spending in 2020, picking up $1.3 billion globally, a rise of 41 percent year-over-year. As we head into the second half of 2021, the title has accumulated approximately half of its total 2020 revenue.

Critical Hit

The United States is the No. 1 revenue generating country for Pokémon GO to date, with the title accumulating $1.9 billion, or 36.6 percent of its lifetime player spending in the country. Japan ranks No. 2 with 32 percent, while Germany ranks No. 3 with 5.4 percent.

Google Play accounts for the majority of player spending, accumulating $2.7 billion, or 52.8 percent, while the App Store has picked up $2.4 billion, or 47.2 percent.

To date, Pokémon GO has picked up approximately 632 million downloads. The U.S. ranks No. 1 for installs, generating 115.5 million downloads, or 18.3 percent of the total. Brazil ranks No. 2 for installs, while India rounds out the top three.

Google Play has taken the lion’s share of downloads, racking up approximately 487 million installs, or around 77 percent. The App Store, meanwhile, has generated 144.8 million downloads, or approximately 23 percent of the total.

Mega Evolution

Pokémon GO continues to be a powerhouse in the global mobile games market, kept relevant by a string of key updates and the consistent addition of new Pokémon to collect. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns could have represented a huge challenge for a title focused on players being outside, but the addition of more stay-at-home functionality to keep users playing has paid off, with 2020 revenue hitting record highs. That impressive performance has continued, with 2021 already representing a stellar year for the hit title.