Summary
- Niantic remains committed to supporting Pokemon GO in the long term.
- In a recent interview, a senior company official described the game's recent update as just the beginning of a refresh meant to befit the game's "next decade."
- Niantic also claims that Pokemon GO is currently growing, contrary to some recent reports.
Niantic is already thinking about the next decade of Pokemon GO, a senior company official has revealed. The executive also suggested that the recent Pokemon GO updates are just the beginning of what the studio has in store for the game in the run-up to its tenth anniversary.
Niantic's seminal geolocation game quickly took the world by storm following its July 2016 release. And while its gameplay loop focused on real-world exploration may not seem inherently compatible with lockdowns, the global pandemic has actually Pokemon GO's revenue to new heights, possibly because Niantic was quick to adapt to it by providing fans with ways to continue pursuing the quest to catch 'em all without moving too much.
Is Pokemon GO Worth Playing in 2024?
As Pokemon GO approaches its eighth anniversary later this year, some players might be wondering if the mobile title is still worth playing in 2024.
Four years later, the hit mobile game is now approaching its ninth anniversary, but the California-based developer is already thinking about its second decade. That's according to Ed Wu, Niantic Senior Vice President of Pokemon GO, who said as much in a recent interview with Eurogamer. Reflecting on the current state of affairs, the executive who helped build out the game's codebase from its earliest days revealed that the recent updates aimed at revamping select aspects of Pokemon GO are just the beginning of the developer's latest efforts to solidify the game's long-term potential.
Ongoing Pokemon GO Refresh Is Meant To Befit Its 'Next Decade'
"We're putting a lot of investment into ensuring it's a great game and has really firm foundations for the next ten years," he explained. On that note, Wu revealed that Niantic is already thinking about the game's tenth anniversary and is aiming to meet it with "a refresh that's befitting that next decade." The biome background makeovers that are currently in testing are part of those modernization efforts, as is the much more polarizing revamp of the Pokemon GO avatar system.
We're putting a lot of investment into ensuring it's a great game and has really firm foundations for the next ten years.
Reports of Declining Pokemon GO Revenues Are Incomplete, Niantic Says
Going back to the game's present, Wu asserted that he "can confidently say the game is growing" right now. Some industry watchers might label this revelation as surprising, not least because of a number of recent reports suggesting that Pokemon GO's revenue has been steadily declining in the post-pandemic era. Yet Wu is saying that third-party trackers don't have the full picture, pointing to the April 2023 launch of the game's web store as one major revenue contributor that is exempt from mobile player spending reports.
When we see third-party reports on Pokémon Go [revenue] decreasing, I can say, very clearly, that they are wrong - Wu
Another thing it's exempt from is paying a 33% cut of every purchase to Google or Apple, which is why it's able to offer PokeCoins at reduced prices. Wu also pointed to the late February 2024 Sinnoh Tour event as another example of the game's strong current momentum, stating that the promo has resulted in the game's most successful week ever "by many metrics." And while the executive conceded that handling the game's technical issues is still an ongoing process, he noted how Niantic has made major strides toward making Pokemon GO more scalable in recent years, suggesting those inroads may help it avoid some types of problems moving forward.
Pokémon GO
- Released
- July 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon GO is an immersive open-world multiplayer RPG that enables you to live your own RPG adventure in augmented reality. Find and evolve all Pokémon and battle with other players in AR online in this multiplayer adventure RPG.
COMPLETE YOUR POKÉDEX AND INCREASE YOUR TRAINER LEVEL!
Catch your favourite Pokémon as you explore the open world in augmented reality, trade them with other Trainers, or get the chance to catch a Pokémon after winning a Raid. You can also collect Pokémon by hatching eggs through walking! Evolve your Pokémon in your Pokédex, gain levels to catch more powerful Pokémon and earn adventure rewards during a Raid in multiplayer or online PvP battle.
EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE IN MULTIPLAYER AND PvP!
Start your own adventure and challenge other Trainers online in PvP during epic Gym battles or in the GO Battle League. You can also enjoy multiplayer by facing off with other players in PvP battles to win rewards, or team up with other Trainers for a chance to catch Pokémon after a Raid Battle.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Customise your avatar, join one of the three teams and pick your Buddy Pokémon from your Pokédex to journey by your side in this AR adventure RPG.
SWITCH BETWEEN THE REAL WORLD AND THE VIRTUAL WORLD WITH THE AR+ MODE!
Bring the RPG to the real world and search for Pokémon in locations around you. With the AR+ mode, Pokémon appear right in front of you — Catch it with your PokéBall and add it to your Pokédex.
Catch your favourite Pokémon in AR as you explore the world and battle online with other Trainers in PvP and Raid battles.
