Highlights
- A new report reveals that Pokemon GO's revenue dropped in 2023, making it the lowest earning year since 2017.
- Controversial decisions, such as an increase in the price of Remote Passes and the limitation on their use, may have contributed to the decline in player participation.
- Despite the negative image portrayed by the report, Pokemon GO continues to release new content and features to keep the gameplay interesting and maintain its active player base.
A report released by Statista revealed that Pokemon GO grossed $566.38 million in 2023, with a supposed revenue drop. Pokemon GO was released in 2016 and became a huge success by turning players into real-life trainers. Since then, Pokemon GO has undergone many changes, and even though it's not the success it once was, Niantic's game has an active player base and is a prominent name in the mobile games market.
To maintain this relevance, Niantic supports Pokemon GO with frequent updates to add new features to the game. One example is the game's Pokedex, which continues to expand, most recently adding Scarlet and Violet Pokemon. Last year, Pokemon GO received anticipated gameplay features like Shadow Raids, the Party Play that lets trainers team up with their friends, and a wave of new events. It's well known that Pokemon GO works actively to keep players engaged, but a new report suggests that Niantic's efforts may not be having the best results.
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As reported by Statista, Pokemon GO had $566.38 million in worldwide revenue last year. According to the chart released by the website, Pokemon GO saw a significant drop compared to previous years, making Niantic's game hit its lowest numbers since the $444.75 million generated in 2017. In comparison, Statista reports that Pokemon GO earned $655.24 million in 2022, while 2020 was the best year for Pokemon GO financially, with the game earning $908.94 million.
Report Suggests Decline in Pokemon GO Revenue
Pokemon GO's drop in revenue came in a year when the augmented reality game made one of its most controversial decisions with the increase in the price of Remote Passes. Another adjustment that divided the community was the limitation on the use of said passes, which supposedly resulted in a drop in participation in Remote Raids. Introduced in 2020 in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, Remote Passes allowed players to continue playing Pokemon GO from the safety of their homes. Another change made in 2023 that left Pokemon GO players frustrated was Niantic raising the price of PokeCoins without prior warning.
Changes in game profits aren't uncommon, as factors influence the numbers, like inflation and adjustments made by the devs. In the case of Niantic's game, it's something that could make players question whether it's still worth playing Pokemon GO in 2024. Despite the information released by Statista creating a negative image for the game, Pokemon GO is still going around in its eighth year with new content and features to keep its gameplay interesting.
