One of the most anticipated Pokémon spin-offs in recent memory is now live on the Google Play Store for Android devices. Pokémon GO has begun rolling out on iTunes for iOS in Australia and New Zealand. It is not yet currently available in North America.
Takashi Mochizuki, tech reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Tokyo, provides some vague details.
Pokémon GO launched in Australia and New Zealand. Japan and U.S. are coming shortly, the company says.
— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) July 6, 2016
For U.S. and Japanese customers, Pokémon Co. says “please wait for a while” for formal launch of its AR game Pokémon GO.
— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) July 6, 2016
And here’s a picture of what the in-app purchases will look like:
Pokemon Go monetization is poke balls as basic item and then more pic.twitter.com/rxB7mRHdcB
— David Gibson (@gibbogame) July 6, 2016
Given the popularity of the Japanese franchise and the ubiquitous user-base of smart-phones, it doesn’t take an economist to predict Pokémon GO will be a massive success for Nintendo. The real question is whether it will have any sustainability, a problem plaguing Nintendo’s first mobile outing, Miitomo. Adding new features like trading and trickling in more Pokémon should help. At launch, the app will include only the original 151 out of the current 700+.
Nintendo revealed gameplay and details during on Pokémon GO during E3. The free app uses an augmented reality camera to create Pokémon scattered around the real world. The entire game is about finding and capturing Pokémon, encouraging real-world exploration and travel. An optional hands-free bluetooth device called Pokémon GO Plus should be launching by the end of July as well.
