"Pokémon Go" is now a billion dollar business.
That's according to analytics firm Sensor Tower, which estimates that the augmented reality smartphone game has now passed $1 billion (£790 million) in revenue. It's a huge milestone — and "Pokémon Go" has broken records, reaching this point faster than any other app. (We first saw Sensor Tower's report over on TechCrunch.)
The game was one of the hottest smartphone crazes of 2016. It lets you collect virtual pokémon in the real world and battle them, and proved wildly popular upon release in July last year — prompting flash mobs of passionate players around the world.
The game is free to play, but players can buy extra items through in-app purchases, and companies can also sponsor real-world locations that appear in the game for a fee.
In July 2016, it made an astonishing $18 million (£14 million) in a single day, according to Sensor Tower — and even though the hype has since dissipated, it still nets between $1.5-2.5 million per day.
This record-breaking growth is significantly higher than Supercell's Clash Royale, another popular smartphone. In its first seven months, it brought in an estimated $550 million (£433 million).
Since its release, Niantic, the development studio behind "Pokémon Go," has released periodic updates, including new pokémon, the ability to set a "buddy" pokémon, and timed events around real-world events like Halloween.
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