Following the success of Pokémon Go a couple of years ago, Nintendo is partnering again with Niantic to develop a new mobile AR game/app based on another of its iconic franchise: Pikmin. The app is said to feature "gameplay activities to encourage walking and make walking more delightful". More details will be revealed "in the coming months".

The announcement also suggests that more apps based on Nintendo's characters is in the works as it mentions that the Pikmin app is to "kick off the partnership" during which they will "jointly develop mobile titles". But only this specific app has been announced for now.

The Pikmin AR app is slated to release later this year and is being developed by Niantic's Tokyo Studio, and this will be its first title since it was established in April 2018. Those interested can already pre-register here.

SOURCE

 

[RyRyIV]

I get the feeling this will end up about as popular as Niantic's Harry Potter game, too.

Pokémon Go was lightning in a bottle. I get the want to keep cashing in on a working formula, but Pikmin doesn't have nearly the same wide appeal that Pokémon does that made Go a cultural phenomenon. That said, it doesn't need to take the world by storm to turn a profit. Which is really the goal here.

 

[KnightOfRoses]

I can't see it getting much traction outside the people that are already fans of the franchise. But lets see.

 

[NoNAND]

Don't care didn't read

Another crappy game ported over to mobiles i guess.

 

[banjo2]

That's a pretty big blueberry

 

[the_randomizer]

I don't like how AR is jumpy/jittery when cameras move around, it just looks so weird.

 

[Vila_]

Honestly these companies should wait for AR tech to get better before releasing these games...

 

[Edgarska]

Don't care didn't read

Another crappy game ported over to mobiles i guess.

Ported from where?

On topic, I doubt it will be even half as popular as Pokemon GO was, but it does at least make sense that of all their IPs they chose Pikmin, it already has much of the "walking around picking things up" gameplay in the console games, and they've even used real life textures in the game since the first game, so putting them in an AR game makes even more sense than Pokemon.

 

[Thejax]

Honestly these companies should wait for AR tech to get better before releasing these games...

But the more AR Games and projects are built, the more likely people will begin working on the tech. There needs to be a reason for that tech, in this space, to be formed.

 

[Deleted member 546149]

OH MY GOD A PIKMIN AR MOBILE APP SOUNDS GREAT
Reality: This game is horrible!

 

[Edgarska]

But the more AR Games and projects are built, the more likely people will begin working on the tech. There needs to be a reason for that tech, in this space, to be formed.

It's also not that bad if you have a phone made in the last 4 years, cameras and gyroscopes have come a long way since early smartphones.

 

[DuoForce]

I think a Hey You! Pikmin mobile game would be a lot better. Let's see how this ends up /:

 

[D34DL1N3R]

"Following the success of Pokémon Go a couple of years ago"

You mean nearly 5 years ago.

I don't like how AR is jumpy/jittery when cameras move around, it just looks so weird.

Stop using your potato phone.

 

[BitMasterPlus]

Interesting. Will it be successful? Only time will tell.

 

[pickinanameainteasy]

Can we stop with the mobile games?

 

[RupeeClock]

Niantic are currently leading in developing AR technology, but actually making use of it in games you want to play daily and routinely? It's not there.

As actual game designers and maintainers? Niantic are awful, they've poisoned Pokémon Go and only whales are playing it any more. Too much of the game relies on excessive egg hatching or raiding for chances of getting something you want, exploiting people's needs for rare or valuable pulls.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

looks like Nintendo remembered that pikmin exists

 

[Bladexdsl]

people walking into cars is about to SKY ROCKET

 

[LightBeam]

I'll just try, Pikmin is something that could work if the game is good, I would love to see some cute Pikmins in real life tho I don't see how they could transport the gameplay of Pikmin into an AR game. I just hope it'll be fun and not p2w

 

[DarkCoffe64]

Me bets its a Pokèmanz go reskin, lol.
Meh.