A decade after transforming the way people play mobile games, Pokémon Go continues to attract millions of players worldwide, with its developers crediting the game's lasting success to the communities it has built.
Launched on 6 July 2016, the augmented reality mobile game allows players to use GPS technology and their smartphone cameras to find and catch virtual Pokémon in real-world locations.
Since its release, the game has been downloaded more than one billion times across iOS and Android devices, with millions of players still logging in every day.
The game builds on the Pokémon franchise, which first debuted in 1996 on Nintendo's Game Boy and has since become one of the world's most successful entertainment brands.
Michael Steranka, Vice President of Product at Pokémon Go publisher Scopely, said the game's greatest achievement has been its ability to bring people together.
He said community has always been at the heart of Pokémon Go and noted that the company regularly hears stories of friendships and even marriages that began through the game.
"We often receive wedding invitations from players who met through Pokémon Go because it became such an important part of their relationship," Steranka said.
To celebrate the game's 10th anniversary, hundreds of fans gathered in New York's Times Square for a special event featuring a battle against the legendary Pokémon Mewtwo, recreating a scene inspired by the game's original launch trailer.
When Pokémon Go was released, it became one of the biggest mobile gaming launches in history, sparking a global phenomenon as players flocked to parks, shopping centres, waterfronts and public spaces in search of Pokémon.
The game's use of augmented reality technology, which overlays digital creatures onto real-world environments through a smartphone camera, introduced many players to a new style of interactive gaming.
Matthew Reynolds, editor of Pokémon news website One More Catch, said Pokémon Go fulfilled the long-held dream of many fans by allowing them to experience life as a Pokémon Trainer in the real world.
Despite the rapidly changing mobile gaming landscape, Pokémon Go has maintained a loyal global player base.
Since launching its first Pokémon Go Fest in 2017, the game has hosted major live events in more than 60 countries, attracting an average of over 400,000 attendees annually.
Ten years on, Pokémon Go remains one of the world's most successful location-based mobile games, continuing to combine gaming, technology and real-world exploration while fostering communities across the globe.