According to new data estimates, Pokémon GO is enjoying its most successful year yet with more than $1 billion being made in player spending in the first ten months of 2020.
The data comes from Sensor Tower, which reports that player spending is already 11% up on last year with two months still left to go. The report notes that after a fantastic start to life in 2016, spending within the app dropped in 2017, before going on to rise year-on-year ever since. To date, Pokémon GO has generated $4.2 billion in player spending.
You can get an easy-to-understand look at this data in the chart below.
Sensor Tower says that the United States accounts for the largest chunk of spending in total, with revenue hitting $1.5 billion. Japan is second with $1.3 billion, while Germany ranks third with $238.6 million.
The report claims that the app's boosted success this year may well be thanks to a download and revenue increase seen across the mobile games market due to the global pandemic and the lockdowns that have been brought about as a result. Of course, Pokémon GO introduced a number of features this year to help players continue to enjoy the app from home – for a while, at least.
The next time someone says 'Pokémon GO's a dead game, who even still plays that lol', you might want to show them this... It looks like the game will be around for a good long while yet!
[source sensortower.com]
Comments 39
I can't help but wonder how much of this game's profits actually went to improving Sword/Shield's quality. Not enough if you ask me.
Either way I never spent a single dime on this game and while I was tempted for a little while, I'm glad I held off and now I don't even play it anymore.
Who needs good Pokémon games when you’re making a billion from Go. Dear lord.
The microtransactions have been getting increasingly aggressive in Pokémon Go as of late, leading me to believe that they're capitalising more on "whales" than they ever used to.
Especially with Pokémon eggs and raid battles, the remote raid pass feature ended up being a huge boon for them.
I find it hard to stomach the game these days, especially when I'm not leaving the house on a routine basis like I used to.
@Yosher They're made by different companies.
They have a highly trained meowth in their office spitting those gold coins out. Thats how they make so much money lol.
I think the game has significantly increased in quality since inception.
Though with profits like those, it’s not like they can’t afford to keep doing more.
What is the cut Nintendo get from it? Anybody know?
@Noid You can't tell me they cannot pump even a single cent of PoGo's profit into main game development.
I know lots of people who used to play this. I don't know a single person who still does.
And that's a game originally revolving around outside activities.
That groan you just heard was the cinema industry.
@Yosher There's not much reason for them to invest too much in the main series games considering they can release the biggest load of garbage and everyone still buys it.
I'm pretty opposed to microtransactions, and would rather use the slow accumulation of free coins. But I do admit to spending more than I should this year. Its those damned remote raid passes. Or at the very least, its my dammed nephews halfway across country with their low level trash Pokémon inviting me to raids. But what good is having a nerdy uncle with awesome pokemon if he won't use them to help you out, y'know?
Couldn't find anything about number of active player accounts in the Sensortower article, just money spent and installs.
it's the most popular pokemon property by far
I play daily but they haven't gotten a dime from me in years. Really not needed unless you really do a lot of raids or live in a very rural area with no stops and/or gyms.
My guess is that a big chunk of the money is from remote raid passes during the pandemic lock downs.
I enjoy Go, and I play SWSH all the time. Imperfect but wonderful games nonetheless.
@Noid I think Nintendo has a 30 percent stake in Pokémon and makes something like 10 percent from Go?
Turns out it's 30 percent or so....https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/507021-pokemon-go-sales-nintendo
I find it crazy that a game where you go out an about, likely in crowded places at some points, made the most money during 2020. The year with a worldwide pandemic, where people are encouraged to avoid going places as much as possible and avoid others as much as possible.
Aha! So its Pokémon Go players that are spreading Covid 19 everywhere! Thanks a lot!
Disclaimer - I shouldn't have to say that last comment was sarcasm, but...that last comment was sarcasm.
Wow, Niantic can afford to buy 100,000 Gen 1 Bicycles!
@Yosher They have to at least be indirectly pumping money back to Game Freak through license royalties or something, yes?
Who needs a good, well crafted game with DLC when you have minecraft earth pokemon skin pack?
Subtitle is fire 🔥🔥 😂😂😂
I still play & love this game!
@nessisonett they are making around 10% directly and around 10% from their ownership of the Pokémon company
@Tantani 10% is a hundred million dollars. That’s an absolute metric f*** ton of money.
~$1.2 billion should be the final 2020 revenue tally once Nov and Dec are accounted for.
I think its a fun game to kind of just check back in on every once in a while, i'd never spend money on it tho
Everyone at my house still plays this. During quarantine and after due to being home more and more we played this because it allowed us to extend our reach more. Since they removed those perks we've all played far less.
Stop spending money on free to play mobile games, people
It’s the remote passes.
The pokeballs are straight up gambling if you're buying the|. I refuse to spend any money on this nonsense.
@TDCinFL the game gives out so many pokeballs that I honestly have to throw them away every now and then.
Recently I have seen a new generation of kids going Pokémon hunting together.
It is nice that the kids do stuff "live" together outdoors, despite Covid restrictions.
@nessisonett the money is being split a minimum of 4 ways. I imagine the lion’s share goes to the developers who built and maintain the engine.
I play every day so I don’t mind the occasional charge. I’d have to really think about a subscription though since I’m already paying for Nintendo Switch Online, Pokemon Bank and Home.
I think it’s always worth remembering I know people who spend hundreds a year so they can stand in the cold and rain watching some sports thing for 3 hours. Gotta keep it in perspective.
@benchan LMAO.... that is the perfect explanation
I spent hours and HOURS playing this...in 2016.
I can feel just a big dumb smirk on the writers face when he passive aggressively wrote "Lol who still plays this"
@Yosher "I can't help but wonder how much of this game's profits actually went to improving Sword/Shield's quality. Not enough if you ask me." You say that as if they put any money in improving it at all lol
@sketchturner Same here. Not a single person.
Tap here to load 39 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...