Niantic has a brand new project in the works and it’s the first of many to come. Nintendo and Niantic have partnered up and are developing apps based on Nintendo’s IPs while utilizing Niantic’s AR technology.
The following press release was shared on Nintendo’s Japanese site and is available in Japanese and English:
AR technology company Niantic, Inc.（HQ: San Francisco, CA USA; CEO: John Hanke ）and Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto Minami-ku; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa) are partnering together to jointly develop apps that combine Niantic’s real-world AR technology with Nintendo’s beloved characters. The first title the two companies are developing together is based on the Pikmin franchise, with gameplay activities designed to encourage walking and make the activity more enjoyable.
The app is scheduled to launch globally later in 2021, with Niantic as the publisher. The title will also be the first title created by Niantic Tokyo Studio, Niantic’s development studio established in April 2018.
“As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural next step to team up with Nintendo,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic. “We’re looking forward to shaping the future of AR together, bringing Nintendo’s beloved game characters to life for mobile game players around the world.”
“Niantic’s AR technology has made it possible for us to experience the world as if Pikmin are secretly living all around us”, said Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director, Fellow, Nintendo. “Based on the theme of making walking fun, our mission is to provide people a new experience that’s different from traditional games. We hope that the Pikmin and this app will become a partner in your life.”
According to a Bloomberg article, “Pokémon Go director Tatsuo Nomura will lead development of the app.”
A pre-registration page has been set up, allowing fans to be added to an e-mail list to be informed of future updates. At the very bottom of this page, “Mii Characters” are mentioned, but their inclusion is unknown at this point.
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Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
