Niantic's Pokémon Go has achieved a remarkable milestone, generating $7.9 billion in lifetime gross revenue ($5.5 billion net) on the App Store and Google Play since its launch on July 6th, 2016, according to AppMagic estimates. This location-based augmented reality game has averaged close to $1 billion annually, amassing $786.4 million by the end of its first year.

These revenue figures exclude earnings from special partnership deals with companies like McDonald's, which sponsored locations within the game. The game's revenue peaked during the global pandemic in 2020, hitting $1.3 billion as Niantic introduced updates to facilitate at-home play. In 2021, Pokémon Go generated $1.24 billion, which then declined to $912.8 million in 2022. In 2023, player spending fell by 7.9% year-over-year to $841.1 million, marking the lowest annual revenue since 2017, when it earned $635.4 million

Is Revenue Really Declining?

It's important to note that Niantic launched a web shop for Pokémon Go in 2023, offering better deals for in-game purchases. Revenue from this shop isn't publicly estimated, potentially obscuring the true player spending.

For the first half of 2024, Pokémon Go's revenue from the App Store and Google Play was $361.4 million, a 7.1% drop from the same period in 2023, and the lowest since the first half of 2017, which saw $319.1 million.

Top Revenue-Generating Countries

The United States leads in lifetime revenue generation for Pokémon Go, contributing over $3 billion, or 38.6% of total player spending. Japan follows with $2.45 billion (31%), and Germany is third with $395.1 million (5%).

Despite fluctuations in annual revenue, Pokémon Go's ongoing success highlights its enduring appeal and adaptability in the mobile gaming market. Source: adapted from an article by Craig Chapple, Head of Content for PocketGamer.biz.