Update 7/6: Pokémon GO is now officially live in the US App Store. Click here to view the listing and download.
Update: While the game is not yet available in the US, those in Australia can download the app here. In a statement, the Pokémon Company tells US and Japanese customers to “please wait for a while” for the formal launch.
After a brief field test in May, Pokémon GO is now available on iOS. The game, which was produced in partnership with Ingress-makers Niantic Labs allows users to collect, train, and battle Pokémon characters in an augmented reality world. Initially, the game appears to be limited to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s also now available on Android.
Upon first download, users are asked to create and customize a virtual avatar that will represent them in the game. Users are then put through a tutorial that walks them through the basic mechanics of the game, like turning on the camera to capture Pokémon.
Pokémon GO is free to play, but there are a handful of in-app purchases ranging from $.99 – $99.99 to get more equipment, like a lot of iOS games nowadays.
The app will soon be available on the App Store, but it appears to be available only to users in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Those in Australia can access the app via this direct link, with the US version likely popping up shortly.
