Pokémon Go Creator John Hanke Has Plans to Give the Game an AR Makeover

Back in the days, Pokemon Go changed mobile gaming by making players move to the real world for a change. With the power of AR, Niantic got millions of players to get off the couch and walk around finding their AR monsters. The game showed extreme success upon launch but lately has fallen off in terms of the number of players.

Although the initial hype for Pokemon Go is now gone, the app still has millions of daily users. While the game makes its way into its 7th year, the game creator John Hanke still has big plans for the game.

John Hanke’s new ideas for Pokemon Go

John Hanke and the BBC Newsbeat crew conducted a Pokémon hunting session in a central London Park. During this session, the creator discussed some of his plans for the game. Despite the dissatisfaction of many players with the game’s direction in the past couple of years, Hanke expressed his belief that the game is still running strong.

Since this response was expected from the developer, it’s worth noting that Pokémon Go isn’t their first venture into creating successful software. John Hanke, renowned for his contributions to Google Maps, derived the concept of Pokémon Go from that platform. While John expressed his admiration for the technological progress in the realm of mobile phones, he asserted that these devices still pose distractions.

Hanke remains excited about using new technology to enhance user experiences. He mentions smart glasses, headsets, and connected watches as potential devices for future development. His main interest lies in mixed reality devices, such as the Meta Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro. While speaking about the new devices in the market, he said, “Those are the kinds of devices that we’re leaning into.” He continued, “Because they’re devices you can use when you’re out for a walk and with your friends, and they don’t get in your way.”

AI the future of Pokemon Go?

Hanke predicts that augmented reality will significantly advance in 2024. He mentions that Niantic is also actively exploring methods to integrate AI into Pokémon Go. With a combination of AR and AI, Niantic is working on taking Pokemon Go to the next level.

Read More – Pokémon Go Harvest Festival Event Gives Higher Grass Pokemon Encounters and Introduces Smoliv

In 2024, the studio is preparing for a major year. Hanke said that Pokémon Go will receive numerous new features in the upcoming year to reengage the original users and boost player engagement. One of these features is the Party Play option, which allows players to team up with their friends. Now, players can form groups of four and explore the world of Pokémon together.

With John’s faith in Pokemon Go, fans can expect to see some significant changes being made to Pokemon Go. With everything that’s in store for players, will this be enough to bring back the player numbers near its initial peak?

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