"Pokemon Go" New Mobile Game to be Released in 2016

The Pokémon Company held a press conference in Tokyo to announce its new business strategy on September 10. They are going to release "Pokemon GO" in 2016, which is a smartphone version of the popular game "Pikemon".

The game takes advantage of location-based service to use real world as the game's background. Players can get, trade and battle just like Pokemon game series. It will be compatible with iPhone/ Android and the exclusive App for "Pokemon GO" will be free to download. There are charged items in the game, and multiple language service is planned.

In the press conference, another new device "Pokemon GO Plus" was also introduced. "Pokemon GO Plus" will let play the game without keeping looking at your smartphone screen. This device developed for Pokemon GO with Nintendo could be attached to the arm, and it is possible that users perform the acts like throwing the Poké Ball. It vibrates to let the player know that the Pokemon is around. Price to be determined.

This project is based on the partnership with Niantic, Inc. which developed a Google's in-house project "INGRESS". They also ha Nintendo as their businsess partner for the project.