The reach and popularity of Pokemon Go cannot be overstated. Finally, the dream of being a real-life Pokemon trainer can come true, and people are freaking out. But what does all the hype translate to in terms of money? Two analyst groups think they have the answer, and it's a hefty $1.6 million per day, and an eventual $1 billion per year.
First, some context: The game rose to the top of the iOS and Android app stores in a matter of hours, and within a few days, it had beaten out Tinder for active users. It's currently poised to overtake Twitter (if it hasn't already by the time of you reading this), and has given Nintendo's stock a boost of 25 percent. So this isn't just anecdotal evidence - there's data showing how much of an impact the game is making.
Now, back to the numbers. Think Gaming, a data analysis and prediction company focused on mobile games, estimates that the game is raking in $1.6 million per day. Since the game is free to play and developer Niantic hasn't released any numbers yet, we have to rely on estimates such as Think Gaming's. Even if it's not 100 percent accurate, it should give you a good idea of roughly how much cash is flowing.
Keep in mind this is while Pokemon Go is only available in the US, New Zealand, and Australia, with only basic features enabled. An international release and updates will only help push the game's revenue higher. App Annie, another data collection and analysis firm, told GamesRadar that it sees billions (with a "B") in Niantic's future. "I can easily envision a run-rate of over $1 billion per year with less server issues, a worldwide presence and more social and player vs. player features," a company representative said.
So all you Pokemon trainers out there, don't worry. Odds are this game isn't going anywhere soon. And for those of you sick of hearing about it, well … sorry.
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