Pokémon GO's 10‑Year Anniversary Generates $8 B Revenue, Raises Tax Questions

The augmented‑reality game Pokémon GO celebrated its 10th anniversary on July 9 2026 with an invitation‑only event in Times Square, New York. About 2,000 attendees, including community ambassadors, media and content creators, took part in a massive raid that captured a special‑edition Mewtwo with perfect stats. Some participants have attempted to sell the rare Pokémon online for thousands of dollars, a practice that violates the game’s terms of service and may trigger capital‑gains tax liability in the United States.

Financially, Pokémon GO continues to be a major mobile success. Lifetime player spending has surpassed $8 billion, with 2024 in‑app purchase revenue reaching $544 million. In the most recent 30‑day period the game earned $98.1 million, driven primarily by the United States (37% of revenue) and Japan (27%). These figures underline the game’s sustained global popularity and its significant economic impact.

Players who sell their special Mewtwo within a year of acquisition would face short‑term capital‑gain rates, while sales after a year would be taxed at the lower long‑term rate, potentially exempting them from self‑employment taxes.