Pokemon Go developer Niantic is developing a Pikmin AR game, with the augmented reality app being released in collaboration with Nintendo. The unnamed upcoming project aims to make “walking fun,” according to legendary Nintendo developer Shigeru Miyamoto.
The Pikmin AR app will be available to download and play on mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android phones, with it set to be Niantic’s next partnership with a Nintendo license. Similar to Pokemon Go, which uses AR technology to place Pokemon in the real-world via players’ mobile devices, the new Pikmin app will see the series’ titular characters being digitally placed in real locations.
“As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural next step to team up with Nintendo,” said Niantic CEO John Hanke in a press release. “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,” added Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto. “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.”
How to play the Niantic Pikmin AR game
In order to play the upcoming Pikmin AR game, players can pre-register via the game’s official site. Pre-registration will provide players with the updates they need to play the as-yet-unreleased title when it goes live on the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play Store.
The game is set to launch in 2021, though no specific release date has yet been given. Niantic has also yet to release a dedicated store page for the game on iOS or Android, so registering via the official site is currently the only way to ensure you’ll be able to play on its release day.
In other news, Fall Guys Season 4 recently launched and nearly quadrupled the game’s player count. Sony is also reportedly looking to shut down the PS3 and PS Vita stores.
