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‘Pokémon GO’ has been a major success for Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Niantic. After five years, the game continues to engage players in outdoor activities and has led to new friendships. Now, Niantic aims to replicate this success with a new game.
Kei Kawai, Niantic’s VP of Product Management, announced a partnership with Nintendo to create a mobile game based on the ‘Pikmin’ series. In the ‘Pikmin’ games, players guide small plantlike creatures called Pikmin as they explore a mysterious planet and repair a spaceship.
The upcoming game will focus on encouraging physical activity and making walking more enjoyable. It is set to launch later this year and will be the first title developed by Niantic’s Tokyo Studio since its establishment in April 2018.
? 1/2 We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Nintendo to develop mobile titles built on @NianticLabs real-world AR platform, bringing Nintendo’s beloved characters to life in new ways. We’re delighted to be their exclusive partner for AR apps. https://t.co/Tzz8npCANj pic.twitter.com/R2AvE00nuN
— Megan Quinn (@msquinn) March 23, 2021
Similar to ‘Pokémon GO,’ the new game will utilize augmented reality (AR) technology to bring characters into the real world. Specific details about the gameplay and the role of Pikmin in the game are not yet known, but it is expected to be charming and engaging. Nintendo is anticipated to benefit from this partnership, following the success of ‘Pokémon GO’ which generated over $1 billion in revenue from its launch to 2020, despite challenges posed by the pandemic.
