Ten Years After the Launch of Pokémon Go

Ten years after the launch of Pokémon Go, Mark Levengood still hunts the virtual creatures with enthusiasm, Aftonbladet reported on Sunday.

The 62-year-old currently holds thousands of figures and climbs high in the game’s level system. Reached by Radio Aftonbladet on a boat between Finland and Sweden, Levengood explained the daily commitment required to stay competitive.

“Folk går och går och går. Vill man vara en duktig spelare så måste man gå minst 50 kilometer i veckan,” Levengood told Aftonbladet.

The digital hunt has taken Levengood far beyond Swedish borders. During a trip with Unicef to Burundi, he secured a rare regional monster that drew envy from fellow players.

“Jag var i Burundi, som är ett av världens fattigaste länder, men där finns faktiskt en Pokémon och den lyckades jag fånga,” Levengood told Aftonbladet.

The catch quickly raised his status among other adult players who form alliances and compete within the mobile game. Levengood said that children rarely appear in his active gaming circles today, as dedicated adult communities dominate the current player base.

Pokémon Go originally launched in July 2016, achieving what public health authorities struggled to accomplish by pushing millions of people outdoors to walk. Levengood pointed out that serious participants often walk up to 50 kilometers every week to maintain their standing.

“Det är ett stort evenemang det som händer denna helg eftersom det är tio år sedan Pokémon Go lyckades göra det som folkhälsomyndigheter har försökt få folk att göra: promenera,” Levengood told Aftonbladet.

Despite a decade passing since the initial release, Levengood dismissed the idea that the game has lost its relevance or cultural standing. Pokémon as a franchise has existed since 1996.

“Nä, det kommer aldrig vara inne. Det är jättetöntigt, men hemskt roligt,” Levengood told Aftonbladet.