While society seems to have abandoned Harambe, dabbing, and other pop culture hallmarks of two years ago, it seems that at least one 2016 trend is still alive and kicking: Pokémon Go. Left for dead by some fans as recent as last year, Pokémon Go seems to have been accepted back into the Pokémon community, with download and active user numbers spiking in recent months.
Pokémon Go is an augmented-reality video game that takes users on a real-world quest to catch as many Pokémon as they can. Once downloaded onto their phones, players have to walk around outside in hopes of capturing these elusive creatures. This simple premise captivated the minds of both hardcore and casual Pokémon fans, as well as people that thought the idea of the game sounded fun, causing Pokémon Go to be a smash hit in the summer of 2016. One could see swarms of wannabe Pokémon trainers descend upon the Claremont Village in hopes of catching some of the rare Pokémon that would spawn there on the occasion. However, this simple premise became the cause of the slow decline of the game as 2016 faded into 2017 and users became tired of the repetitive nature of the game and the lack of new Pokémon to capture.
The script on Pokémon Go was not flipped until quite recently as more users, long turned off by the aforementioned repetitiveness and lack of Pokémon, returned after seeing the release of Generation 2 and Generation 3 Pokémon. This addition caused fan-favorite Pokémon to be included in the game, causing more fans to return. This influx of new and returning fans has caused a resurgence in sales, and Forbes reports that there are now 147 million active users, a 174% jump in user activity from last year. This statistic will only be magnified in the upcoming months, as the release of Generation 4 Pokémon on October 16 will surely cause another wave of interest.
Lastly, the compatibility of the upcoming Nintendo Switch titles Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee with Pokémon Go has kept users interest in the mobile game, exactly where Nintendo wants it. This integration will allow for captured Pokémon to be transferred between the two platforms, which in turn incentivizes Pokémon fans to get both titles. Even if you do not have the time or energy to go out there and “catch em’ all,” it certainly is a great time to be a Pokémon fan.