Pokémon Go is an augmented reality or AR mobile game released in the year 2016. It is developed and released by Niantic, an American software development company, in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Pokémon Go quickly became a global phenomenon due to its blend of gameplay with real-world exploration. The game is location-based and free-to-play, with in-app purchases and local advertisements.
Pokémon Go uses the GPS of a mobile device to enable a player to find Pokemons in real-world environments and capture the same using Poke Balls. Pokémons appear on the basis of location, time and events. AR mode enables players to see Pokémon in real world through their phone cameras. Players can train their Pokémons, engage in Pokémon battles with other players and trade Pokémons. Pokémon Go had millions of daily active users at its peak in 2016.
Status in India
Pokémon Go is not banned in India and can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The game was officially launched in India on 13th December 2016, around five months after its official global release. Pokémon Go was launched in India by Niantic in partnership with the Indian telecom operator, Reliance Jio. In a statement released by Reliance Jio, the company said that thousands of Jio Stores and partner premises would appear as ‘Poke Stops’ or ‘Gyms’ in the Pokémon Go game.
However, Pokémon Go was not released in India along with the game’s official global launch in July 2016. Even though Pokémon Go was not released in India at that point of time, millions of Indians had downloaded its unofficial versions from third-party apps and were playing the game on the streets.
Calls for Ban
Pokémon Go ran into rough weathers in India, even before it was officially launched in the country. In September 2016, a Gujarat-resident, Alay Anil Dave, filed a public interest litigation or PIL against Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go, praying for a ban. In the petition, he alleged that the game hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and Jains because the gameplay involves the appearance of virtual eggs in religious places, and egg is considered blasphemous in the worship centers of both Hindus and Jains.
The PIL also alleged that Pokémon Go could be used as a surveillance tool, thereby posing a threat to national security.
Latest Developments
In September 2023, Niantic launched the Hindi version of Pokémon Go, tailored for Indian audience. The company announced that more than 800 Pokémons had been renamed in Hindi to strike a chord with the Indian users.
