Meet the Pokémon GO player who has walked more than 30,000km

Ten years after its global launch, Pokémon GO continues to foster dedicated communities, with players like Owen Beck in Brisbane attributing significant positive changes to the game. Beck, who started playing at 13, has become a Pokémon GO Community Ambassador, organizing weekly meet-ups at Brisbane's South Bank. He credits the game with making his chronic migraines, which previously left him bedridden for weeks, more manageable.

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I downloaded it, started playing it, got hooked, never stopped playing

The necessity to walk for in-game rewards, such as leveling up Pokémon and hatching eggs, has led Beck to walk an average of 15 to 20 kilometers daily. Since 2016, he has accumulated over 32,500 kilometers, a distance equivalent to walking from Brisbane to Perth and back four times. He has also caught more than half a million Pokémon.

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I attribute a lot of positive stuff in my life to Pokémon GO. It's probably my biggest passion.

These Wednesday meet-ups serve as a hub for players to collaborate on "raids" for rare Pokémon, but more importantly, they offer a space for social interaction, exercise, and shared enjoyment. Karen, 59, who has played since 2016, joined local communities recently and found the people "kind and fun." She initially played for exercise and fun but admits to becoming "a little obsessed."

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I walk like 15 to 20 kilometres a day

Andrew Swan, a "day-one" player, reminisces about the game's early days as a "time of peace" focused on fun. For him and others, a "force of habit" and the friendships forged through the game have kept them engaged long after the initial craze subsided. These players demonstrate the enduring appeal of Pokémon GO as a platform for physical activity, social connection, and personal well-being.

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They're really kind and they're fun, and the people in them are interesting to talk to.