Video Games · True or False?
The answer is True.
It began as an April Fools' Day prank made by Google in 2014: a fake "Pokémon Challenge" video and interactive map integration inviting users to catch 150 Pokémon hidden across Google Maps. The enthusiastic public reaction inspired Niantic Labs, a startup incubated within Google, to develop the idea into a real augmented reality game. The project was later spun out as an independent company, securing investment from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to launch the global phenomenon in 2016.