Pokémon Go has finally been officially released in the UK, for both iOS and Android. No longer must you jump through sideloading hoops to catch 'em all.
As of July 14, Pokémon Go is available in the UK, US, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. There are still sporadic server issues, especially during peak US hours, but hopefully developer Niantic has sorted most of that out for the UK launch. Interest in the game has been stratospheric, picking up tens of millions of users in under a week.
If you're in another territory where Pokémon Go still hasn't officially launched, you can use the instructions below to download the game on both iOS and Android.
How to download Pokémon Go if it hasn't launched in your country yet
Just follow the necessary steps for your Android or iOS device.
Android
Android is the slightly easier option. First head along to APK Mirror and download the Pokémon Go APK. This is the official version of the game from the Play Store, but uploaded to another repository that isn't geolocked.
To install Pokémon Go, you need to tell your phone to accept APKs from third-party sources (such as APK Mirror). This is usually found within Settings, then Security, and then scroll down until you see a checkbox for "Unknown sources."
Once that's done, open up the Pokémon Go APK that you downloaded; it should install without a problem. Afterwards, you can go ahead and uncheck "Unknown sources."
iOS
Installing Pokémon Go on iOS is either very easy, or rather difficult, depending on your perspective. Basically, you need to change your iTunes Store/Apple ID location to New Zealand or the US, where Pokémon Go is officially available.
The simplest route is to create a brand new Apple ID on your iPhone. Open Settings, tap iCloud, and then scroll down and press Sign Out. Next, click "Create a new Apple ID," and follow the prompts to make an account in New Zealand. When it gets to payment details, select None; for the billing address, any Kiwi address will do (a bank, a government building, etc.)
The other method is to change your location on your existing Apple ID. This is a little more invasive; you won't lose any apps that you've installed, but it will prevent you from updating apps that you purchased in the other country. Go to Settings, iTunes & Apple Store, tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen, and then View Apple ID. Tap Country/Region and then Change Country/Region. Again, you don't need to provide payment details, but you'll need an address.
It's worth noting that you only have to do this process sporadically: once to install Pokémon Go, and then again whenever you need to update the app.
What is Pokémon Go?
Developed by Ingress creator Niantic Labs—which was previously part of Google—Pokémon Go is a free-to-play augmented reality game (ARG) where players are tasked with capturing Pokémon hidden out in the real world. It uses a device's GPS and camera to display Pokémon on a map, and players must then explore their local area to capture different breeds. There are in-app purchases ranging from £0.79 to £79.99, which get you coins that can be used to buy various helper items. The helper items can be earned through simply playing the game, too.
Notably, some Pokémon will be exclusive to certain parts of the country, meaning that players will have to trade or travel to where that Pokémon is located. For instance, Water-type Pokémon will only be visible by lakes and oceans, while PokéStops that let you stock up on Poké Balls (necessary to capture Pokémon) are found around museums and monuments. Poké Balls can be bought for hard cash, too.
A small wrist-worn device called Pokémon Go Plus will also be released alongside the game. This wearable allows players to know when a Pokémon appears without players having to take their phones out. Unfortunately, the device is not yet on sale to coincide with the game's release.
I've been playing a pre-release version of the game for the last week or so and can confirm that London is already populated with plenty of Pokémon. Outside my house, I caught a Charmander... which, as we all know, is the greatest of all starter Pokémon. (No, it's not Froakie, you're all wrong.)
This story has been updated with the official UK launch of Pokémon Go.
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