Has Pokémon Go Run Its Course?

Image courtesy of Eduardo Woo

And just like that, the uber-popular Pokémon Go game has begun to fizzle out. Or at least, that’s the takeaway from a new report that found usage of the app has dropped by tens of millions of users. 

Bloomberg, citing an analysis from Axiom Capital Management, reports that daily users and engagement has dropped from a peak of 45 million users shortly after launching in July to just about 30 million daily users last week.

The analysis, based on data from Sensor Tower, SurveyMonkey, and Apptopia, shows that the game is now on a downward trend, Senior Analyst Victor Anthony says.

If usage continues to decrease, Anthony tells Bloomberg, it could put the viability and popularity of Pokémon Go — and its creator Niantic into question.

The change in daily usage — while not as reliable as looking at monthly users — should be enough to settle concerns from other social media apps like Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter that users were distracted from using their products.

Still, the decreased use of the game isn’t exactly a sign the Pokémon Go is on the way out. It is still the number one free game on the Google Play store and the number two in Apple’s App Store.

Additionally, the game is still enjoying great fanfare in other parts of the world, where it has launched more recently.

Mashable reports that a vide from Taipei, Taiwan, appears to show a group of Pokémon Go players rushing to catch a Snorlax, creating a stampede while crossing the street.

These Charts Show That Pokemon Go Is Already in Decline [Bloomberg]
This ‘Pokémon Go’ stampede in Taiwan is terrifying [Mashable]

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