Tech in 2016: The Pokémon GO hype is behind us, but the game has a bright future

When Pokémon GO launched, Niantic was working with Google Engineers to make sure that the servers were up to the task. The virality of the game was so unprecedented, that the resulting traffic was ten times the volume of the worst case scenario anticipated by the team. The game combined augmented reality, a popular franchise and real world locations to do something only Niantic had done before with Ingress — to get gamers to go out. There were safety concerns, so much so that news channels started saying playing the game was a deathwish, and the police had to encourage trainers to be safe. However, the gamers themselves were pretty sensible about it, taking their time to stop and play instead of walking while catching. The community organised events themselves, something that Niantic had to do for Ingress. By the time the game released in India, the interest seemed to have fizzled out. The initial hype happens with many games though. There are a surge of players, and then everyone seems to bail. That is a massive audience base though, and there are a number of dedicated players who continue to play the game. A number of players come out of the rafters every time there is a new update. People started playing Ingress after the launch of Pokémon GO, so another round of interest can be expected the next time Niantic comes out with a game. Ingress has been maintained for years, with content updates and events even now, and the same can be expected for Pokémon GO. For now, here is a look back at the good times.

Here is our Pokémon GO coverage over the year.   Pokémon virality explained

• Google reveals what it took to keep Pokémon Go up and running
• Pokémon Go popularity starts to fade in the US: App Trackers
• Young Brazilians are more excited for Pokémon Go than the Olympics
• Pokémon Go in numbers: Game crosses 100 million installs, Niantic makes $10 million daily
• Pokémon Go’s unprecedented virality is explained by app trackers

• Super Mario Run: Despite initial success, investors still wary of Nintendo stock
• Inspired by Pokémon Go, Sony gears up to launch 5 mobile games by 2018
• Pokémon Go is becoming a part of the course curriculum in colleges around the world
• Pokémon GO is now the fastest mobile game to make $500 million
• Playing Pokemon Go has health benefits too
• Pokémon GO results in 101 percent growth of smartphone battery packs
• As Pokémon’s aura fades, short sellers flock to Nintendo
• Syrian children hold up Pokémon photos, in hopes of the world finding and rescuing them
• Fatwa renewed against Pokémon by top Saudi clerical body
• Pokémon Go is particularly dangerous in India
• Apple to make billions from Pokémon GO
• Pokémon Go: How not to go about being a Pokémon Master
• ‘Pokémon Trainer’ detained while hunting for Pokémon in Indonesian military base
• Pokémon Go made Nintendo more valuable than Sony
• Nintendo strikes while the iron is hot, announces NES Classic Edition
• Pokémon Go takes you go on a multi-faith pilgrimage to holy places
• Nintendo lucked out with Pokémon Go

 Pokémon trainers in trouble

• Kaspersky Labs finds Pokemon Go malware that has been downloaded over 500,000 times
• Senior Norwegian politician draws criticism for playing Pokémon Go during Defence policy hearing
• After Vietnam and Thailand, Philippines bans Pokémon GO in government offices
• Pedestrian killed by Japanese Truck driver playing Pokémon Go
• No-go zones being planned in Thailand for Pokémon GO players
• Safety is more important than games, Venezuela Pokémon Trainers warned
• Thai authorities warn Pokémon GO players against entering polling stations
• Are augmented reality games like Pokémon go enticing people to trespass?
• Indian Pokémon Go players are using VPNs to hunt Pokémon all around the world
• Pokémon Go players exchange fire with armed robber
• This Mr Bean playing Pokémon Go video is almost perfect
• New Hampshire police using Pokemon Go in an innovative way to lure fugitives
• Pokémon Go blamed for crimes but also aids embattled US police
• Pokémon Go concerns? Security firms give conflicting opinions
• The PokéGone Chrome extension makes all the Pokémon Go content disappear

• Pokémon GO: Riding high on a wave of nostalgia, Pokémon obsession and technology  
• Pokemon Go is now available on Apple Watch
• Pokémon GO channel now live on Jio Chat; to help trainers organise Pokewalks
• Jio Brings Pokémon GO to India: here is everything you need to know to get started
• **Pokémon Go gets new second-gen Pokémon from today**
• Pokemon Go to get over 100 new Pokemon and Trading system in December update
• Pokémon Go: Here’s why I want to hate it, but can’t