Niantic Partner With Nintendo On New Augmented Reality ‘Pikmin’ Game

reators of  Pokémon Go, Niantic have announced that they are partnering with Nintendo to co-develop a new augmented reality game based on the company’s Pikmin franchise. The app will be developed in Niantic’s Tokyo office and according to Niantic will launch later this year. Currently Niantic is allowing people to sign up to receive information about the game.

Nintendo’s Pikmin franchise features a series of strategy and puzzle games where players control plant-like creatures called Pikmin to fight enemies, destroy obstacles and avoid hazards all while exploring an Earth style planet.

To date there are only a few details released about the Pikmin augmented reality game at this time, however Niantic confirm that users will be allowed to explore the world alongside Pikmin friends, with a focus on gameplay activities that will "make walking more delightful." The company states that the game will utilise their augmented reality platform to integrate the real world into the app’s experiences. 

In a recent statement, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto commented that Niantic's augmented reality technology will make it possible to experience the world as if we're living with Pikmin all around us.

“Niantic's AR technology has made it possible for us to experience the world as if Pikmin are secretly living all around us. 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.”

Niantic are well known for their hit game Pokémon Go, the augmented reality game where players are tasked with catching Pokémon while out and about. While the game has fallen out of the headlines, Pokémon Go has continued to deliver massive sums to the San Francisco gaming company, eclipsing $1 billion in revenue in 2020. 

In recent years, Nintendo has built its presence in the mobile gaming world, creating a number of games, however none have reached Pokémon Go’s level of success. To date, Niantic has raised nearly $500 million in capital, most recently raising at a $4 billion valuation. Like Pokémon Go and other Niantic games, the upcoming Pikmin game will be a mobile title that will presumably be available on iOS and Android devices.