Nintendo and former Google startup Niantic has finally launched augmented reality game Pokémon Go on Android and iOS as a free download this month, almost a year since its September announcement.
For months, the game was only accessible to a select group of beta testers in a number of countries worldwide. The free mobile AR game app is already available via Google Play Store and App Store. Pokemon Go first went live in New Zealand and Australia before it was launched in the US. Japan users, on the other hand, are advised to "please wait for a while." No official dates were given for the game's release in other markets, The Verge reported.
For those unfamiliar with the AR game's development, Pokemon Go utilizes your smartphone's camera and sensors to search, detect, and catch Pokemon in the real world. With the app's location-based algorithms, you can travel around your city's notable landmarks to catch and train them. Also, you can arrange Pokemon battles at gyms with other users.
The game bears strong resemblance to another AR game called Ingress- a joint project between Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Although the app can be downloaded free of charge, the game contains microtransactions ranging from $0.99 to $99.99. In addition, a wearable Bluetooth device called Pokémon Go Plus can also be purchased for $35 which will be available later this month, Tech Crunch reported. This wrist-worn accessory allows you to catch a nearby Pokemon without having to unlock your smartphone.
Meanwhile, Fortune Magazine reported that consumers are increasingly leaning toward mobile games reflecting an ongoing shift away from traditional gaming platforms. Mobile games are expected to overtake console-based games. In 2015, analysts predicted that the mobile games sector would generate an estimated $30.3 billion in revenue compared to console games' $26.4 billion. Overall, the entire gaming market was expected to take in around $91.95 billion in sales in that same year.
