'Pokémon Go' Now Considered 'The Biggest Mobile Game in U.S. History'

One week after it launched in the United States, Pokémon Go is now the biggest mobile game in the country's history, in statistics focusing on the amount of daily active users (DAU) the app draws. Within the first 24 hours of launch, Pokémon Go beat out popular games like Slither.io and Clash Royale, but didn't have enough traction at the time to topple massive hits like Candy Crush Saga at its peak.

pokemon go numbers

According to Survey Monkey, Niantic's app has officially done just that, breaching Candy Crush Saga's peak DAU as more and more users download the app. The numbers state that Pokémon Go has just under 21 million DAU in the United States alone, which dethrones Candy Crush Saga's peak U.S. numbers of approximately 20 million DAU (on a worldwide scale, King's app was reported to have 93 million DAU in its heyday). The record-breaking statistics make the new app "the biggest mobile game in U.S. history."

Next, Survey Monkey thinks it's possible for Pokémon Go to even topple Google Maps and Snapchat, as the augmented reality game's user numbers continue to rise in the wake of positive and enthusiastic word-of-mouth. How long the game will remain in the public consciousness -- particularly in comparison to the somewhat abandoned, first-party Nintendo app Miitomo -- is the main question mark in Pokémon Go's immediate future.

Tag: Pokémon GO

Top Rated Comments

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ArtOfWarfare

44 months ago

Sad

How sad that people are spending time together, having fun, and moving around outside?

I really don't understand the people who consider playing this game to be a negative.

You're interacting with fictional creatures. So? Lots of play is based around imagination. How does making it so that everyone with the app can see what you see a bad thing?

Staring at the device is bad? Almost every game involves "keeping your eye on the ball". How is glancing back and forth between your phone and your surroundings any worse than glancing back and forth between a ball and your surroundings?

If you consider Pokemon GO bad, you must consider all sports and play to be bad. What exactly is it that you want people to do to entertain themselves?

Rating: 26 Votes

Klae17

44 months ago

They have created a whole new community. People are gathering and communicating and having fun. It's just awesome b

Rating: 13 Votes

CAO 303

44 months ago

Am I the only one surprised that Angry Birds isn't on this (albeit short) list of hugely successful mobile games? They made a freakin' MOVIE out of it. Surely it was bigger than Slither.io. Admittedly I don't follow mobile gaming religiously, so if I'm missing something obvious, let me know nicely.

Rating: 7 Votes

cliffster82

44 months ago

I don't know what a Pokemon is, and am very confused. How did I miss this as a child? Is it a game like Mario? Is Pikachu the hero? Well back to work...

Rating: 4 Votes

cableguy84

44 months ago

Sad

Rating: 4 Votes

balamw

44 months ago

Imagine if they released a 20th anniversary copy of Pokemon Red/Blue for iOS.

For those into that stuff the ROMs run fine in emulators. For others having an official supported release would let them relive some of their childhood.

B

Rating: 4 Votes

ipedro

44 months ago

Hopefully this opens Nintendo's eyes to the gold mine that they've been leaving on the table.

Properties like Super Mario and Zelda would instantly rocket to the top of the App Store if released on iOS.

Nintendo can remain a hardware company by selling remotes for improved gameplay. They've always been the leading innovator in remotes for the gaming industry. They can continue to do so as a developer for iOS where they'd have access to their largest audience yet.
One idea would be to release a WiiU type remote where you insert an iPad or iPhone for a second screen while playing the game on AppleTV for asynchronous multiplayer (ie Mario Chase) or dual screen play. tvOS now allows developers to require a remote. That's an opportunity for Nintendo.

Rating: 3 Votes

Eidorian

44 months ago

LOL! As a wee little kid I remember him on TV (during the trials).
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The number of people playing this game shocks me. I grew up in the 90s so we had to go outside to "play" - Example: playing baseball in the middle of the street --- you know, stuff parents would never let kids do today. So, I may be bias but I think this is cool. I don't have kids but this would be a great way to get out of the house and get some exercise.

I was walking down the alley where I played in as a child yesterday. We had balls, walkie talkies, biked, or just ran around. Occasionally we'd sit down inside in front of the Nintendo (NES) but it was much better outside until the parents got scared of the "scary" alley between all our houses.

Yesterday in that same alley of my youth there were kids looking for Pokemon and sometimes parents walking with them.

Rating: 3 Votes

0098386

44 months ago

Go go Pokemon! Glad to see this be such a huge success, I was worried the game would be too simple to be enjoyable but there you have it! I wonder if this has had any impact outside the game, if folk are now buying up the older, adventure games in the series?

I haven't got it yet because it's not out here. But how many generations does Pokemon Go span? Gen 2 and 3 had some of my fave designs and I'd like to get hold of them.
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Pretty easy to get the number one spot when you already have an established brand name. If this was Billy's Catch A Monster it wouldn't have made it to national news. The fact that it is Nintendo and bringing some nostalgia back with it is why it's number 1. Not exactly a bad thing but come on, it's obvious this didn't get there by just word of mouth. There's money being exchanged all over the place to hype it.

Really? Pokemon is one of the best selling game franchises ever, even the new 3DS ones has sales equivalent to the older games.
It's anecdotal for sure but I wasn't interested in this until I heard friends talking about it. Word of mouth is insanely powerful (it's what made turned my hobby game projects into a well paid career). It might be nostalgia to some but, as I say, the series still sells incredibly well and many see this as an enjoyable sidestep in that series.

Just seems a bit strange having to explain that of course it sells because it's a huge series. Apple Watches sell more than Pebbles now, Coke sells more than Barry's Red Cola, etc etc.

Rating: 3 Votes