Opinion I Beyond the metaverse: how brands are transforming the Out-of-Home entertainment landscape

The hype that has surrounded Web 3.0 and the co-opting of the term ‘metaverse’ to describe the digital opportunities on offer has set the investment market and business world abuzz. But many of the strategies and initiatives ascribed to the metaverse are already at work today in the Out-of-Home (OOH) entertainment landscape, contends industry expert Kevin Williams of Spider Entertainment.

Location-based entertainment (LBE) and the OOH entertainment industry are the best representations of creating a physical business from digital IP and content. These physical representations of digital brands are achieved not just with characters and themed settings, but increasingly now with immersive technology that allows guests to be placed within the virtual universe of these properties.

This approach is not a new one, and is perhaps best illustrated with the move by the media content empire Walt Disney Corporation into the theme park and resort business way back in 1955. Along with the use of its film library to theme its attractions, the Corporation also undertook licensing agreements with big brands to incorporate them into the ‘story’ of its venues.

However, it’s the crossover of toys, movies and videogames into physical experiences that has seen the most far-reaching developments.

Video-game giant Nintendo has invested considerably in being one of the major multidisciplinary license platform providers in the global market, seeing its properties traverse the bounds of toys, games, licensed material and even movies.

A physical presence with venues of its own was a logical move, and Nintendo signed an agreement with Universal Studios in 2015 to develop a concept that would offer an interactive theme park extension in Universal resorts, based on Nintendo video-game characters and IPs. This would result in ‘Super Nintendo World’, which opened in Universal Studios Japan in 2020 and offered numerous attractions based on the Super Mario universe.

The latest immersive technology was applied to create compelling experiences such as ‘Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge’, which deployed Augmented Reality (AR) and Interactive Dark Ride (IDR) technology that placed the guest in the videogame. Hugely popular since opening, the theme park extension is due to be incorporated into other Universal park properties globally, with the Californian and Florida versions currently under construction.

Nintendo is now looking at its Out-of-Home entertainment landscape afresh. The company announced in its Second Quarter Financial Reports and Corporate Management Policy Briefing in November 2021 that it intended to spend some $2.7b on establishing a new stream of revenue through its investment into theme parks and new Nintendo entertainment stores – not just retail stores, but entertainment venues that will comprise immersive entertainment and scaled-down interactive attractions. The company has dabbled with retail stores in the US and Japan, but this will mark a major investment towards creating immersive entertainment spaces and has started a land-grab by other major properties keen to carve out a place in the ‘Retailtainment’ sector.

Throwing open the floodgates for others to follow, European videogame developer and publisher Ubisoft has also looked to broaden the penetration of its videogame properties. Having already seen motion pictures based on its Assassin’s Creed and Prince of Persia brands, as well as countless merchandised products and branded toys, the company’s expansion to a physical facility business seems logical.

Its first move was to establish a Location-based Entertainment Manager role within the corporation, looking at Out-of-Home entertainment opportunities. Fast forward to today, and Ubisoft is well known for its work on the successful VR amusement attraction Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride, which has seen several hundred units placed in amusement sites globally. The company also has a division (Ubisoft Escape Games) licensing unique VR escape game team-based experiences to facilities.

What’s more, the company announced in November that it would be partnering with leading theme park and attraction developers to launch its first ‘Ubisoft Entertainment Center’. Scheduled for 2025, the venue will be situated on France’s Mediterranean coast as part of the Studios Occitanie entertainment hub. Ubisoft is not stopping there; with partners Storyland Studios, it is working on its own design for a large-scale Ubisoft theme park, having looked at Nintendo’s progress in this area and wanting to share some of the opportunity. Other video-game publishers are eagerly watching the fortunes of these two companies and their massive investments in the physical space.

Movies and TV – and zombies

Movie and television/streaming entities now looking at a wider penetration for their brands and licenses have also caught the bug and are looking to dive into the crowded waters of the “metamorphosis of the digital into physical”.

The use of Out-of-Home entertainment to turn digital content and properties into physical attractions has not been lost on the big players, including streaming giant Netflix, which has an estimated audience worldwide of some 215m paid memberships.

For a company streaming TV and movie content and investing vast sums in production, having a physical vehicle that can promote its properties seems obvious. Many industry insiders had speculated that Netflix was looking for its own chain of cinemas, but the implosion that has struck the theatre business seems to have lessened this interest. There is, however, one area of facility investment that has interested the corporation.

With the successful launch of the Netflix movie property Army of the Dead, a new marketing and promotional concept was rolled out by the company – marking an investment in a physical presence for its properties and employing the latest immersive technology. ‘Army of the Dead: Viva Vengeance’, an immersive pop-up attraction, was launched at selected Westfield mall locations, most recently (until the end of December 2021, after a run in Los Angeles) at the space vacated by Debenham’s department store in London’s Westfield Shepherd’s Bush mall. Not just dependent on live actors, the whole experience represented an interactive virtual reality (VR) attraction, which had guests blasting hordes of the undead as they traversed through the infested badlands.

This is not the only example of streamed or movie properties turned into VR experiences and deployed in location-based entertainment (LBE) venues. Movie production houses such as Lionsgate and Sony Pictures have ongoing projects that will see specialist attractions and venues based on their properties. Likewise, IP licenses are being acquired by entertainment venues to be incorporated into the mix of existing spaces. The food and entertainment chain Dave & Buster’s, for example, has had a strong affiliation with licensed IP to attract its target audience, having commissioned virtual reality attractions based on blockbuster film properties such as Jurassic World, Star Trek, Men In Black, among others, from location-based entertainment company VRstudios.

The ability to create an entertainment offering that can be injected into the available retail space has led to an explosion in Retailtainment. The ‘Retail Apocalypse’ that had hit the shopping mall landscape was obviously exacerbated by the global lockdown, but in re-emerging, the owners of these retail spaces have turned to entertainment to fill the gaps left by closed department store chains.

New operator Spider Entertainment has been created to provide landlords, developers and investors with a turnkey solution to run profitable pop-up and permanent attractions for their retail destinations, employing the latest brands, along with the latest immersive entertainment attractions, to help reinvent the retail experience. Physical spaces that include this level of brand immersion offer a unique new revenue stream beyond the original video-game and movie properties, and a level of customer engagement that is new and compelling.

What’s clear is that marketing and licensing executives keen to connect with their customer base will now have to include Out-of-Home entertainment as a new weapon in their armoury – a weapon that offers great opportunities and could in fact change the whole landscape of consumption.

Entertainment and technology specialist Kevin Williams is a regular presenter at international conferences, speaking at the Foundations Entertainment University (FEU) and Amusement360 events, as well as at bootcamps for LBE and FEC investors. He is one of the senior judges of the VR Awards.

Kevin’s consultancy KWP Ltd specialises in helping international clients develop immersive and interactive entertainment. Kevin has recently become Co-Owner and Technology Director for OOH entertainment specialist Spider Entertainment and is the publisher of the Stinger Report, a-must-read for those working or investing in the amusement, attractions and entertainment industry.

Kevin can be reached at kwp@thestingerreport.com.

 

London’s iconic Hamleys makes major play for video gaming market with new department launch

The iconic London toy store and toy retail brand, Hamleys is making a major new play for the video gaming market with the opening of a new state-of-the-art console, PC and gaming accessories department in its Regent Street location.

The new 1,326 square foot gaming space is situated within the Lower Ground Floor of the seven floor London flagship store and features leading consoles, from PS4 and PS5 to Xbox One and XS, Nintendo Switch, and a wide range of PC games and accessories.

As well as signifying a dramatic shift in audience for the London retailer, the department also now becomes the largest gaming retail site on London’s Soho area and features the latest top ranked games and best-sellers across the gaming platforms, spanning titles from publishers including EA, Capcom, and Activision, as well as Nintendo, Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, and Bandai Namco.

Accessories brands in the new gaming offer include XRocker, Turtle Beach, Anda Seat, Power A, Nacon and Hori and feature everything from keyboards and mouse pads to a wide range of gaming chairs, controllers, arcade sticks and headsets.

“We are delighted to unveil this exciting new development in our Regent Street store, where we will deliver the very best range of products and the first-class expertise and service our customers have come to expect. This is a natural fit for Hamleys and in time, we would like to see gaming roll out across our wider global retail estate,” said Hamleys of London CEO Sumeet Yadav.

Top games available on Playstation 4 range from LEGO Marvel Collection and Batman Arkham Knight from Warner Bros to Asterix & Obelix – XXL Collection from Maximum Games and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End from Sony Interactive and Call of Duty Black Ops III from Activision. On PS5 they include Marvel Spider Man Miles Morales Ultimate Edition, Ghost of Tushima and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart from Sony Interactive.

On Nintendo Switch games include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword from Nintendo, while on PC lead games include Minecraft from Mojang Studios to Diablo III from Blizzard.

On Xbox One, games range from Star Wars Squadrons and UFC4 from EA Sports to Snowrunner from THq1 Nordic and Call of Duty Black Ops III and WWII. On Xbox X/S they include Overcooked All You Can Eat and Fortnite: The Last Laugh Bundle from Warner Bros.

 The new Hamleys Gaming Department opened on 23 July 2021. The Regent Street store is open from 10am on weekdays and Saturdays and 12 noon on Sundays.

Nintendo, Sonic, and Disney Princess help Jakks Pacific to “an excellent” Q1 2021

An “excellent beginning” to 2021 has seen net sales at the international toy maker, Jakks Pacific increase 26 per cent for the first quarter of the year, to $83.8 million compared to the $66.6 million of the same period last year.

The results, the company has been quick to point out, mark the highest year over year first quarter sales growth since Q1 2015, with “significant improvement in sales, gross margin, adjusted net income, and adjusted EBITDA.”

The results, stated Jakks Pacific’s chairman and CEO, Stephen Berman, are reflective of the efforts that the company has made to “broaden its product line, reduce its operating costs, and cut interest expense.”

“During the quarter, we drove double-digit sales increases in all of our toy divisions: Boys, Girls and Seasonal. We saw strong sales of products tied to video games, including Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog and Apex: Legends, a near doubling of sales in Disney Princess, solid initial sales of Raya and the Last Dragon, and continued strength in Black & Decker,” said Berman.

“We also registered strong sales of our own brands such as Perfectly Cute and Redo Skateboards. These sales gains easily offset the expected sales decreases we saw in Frozen, Frozen 2, and Fly Wheels.

“We are especially pleased by our continued success in reducing our operating costs, as reflected by our strong increase in gross margin and lower SG&A costs. Looking toward the balance of the year, we expect to continue to benefit from lean retail inventories and lower operating costs.

“Our retail POS trends remain positive, and we have a well-balanced line of new and continuing products planned for the holiday season. As we have for our 27-year history, we will focus on proven play patterns and our partnerships with world-class license partners and highly recognizable brands.

“As 2021 unfolds, we expect to see a return to more normal patterns of shopping, gift-giving and celebrating Halloween. We believe we are set up very well for a year of increased sales, improved EBITDA and a strengthened financial position, which we expect to generate strong momentum and can position us well for 2022 and beyond.”

Net sales for the first quarter 2021 were $83.8 million, up 26 per cent versus $66.6 million last year. The increase was driven primarily by higher sales of products across the firm’s Toys/Consumer Products segment which were up 28 per cent globally.

Net sales of Disguise costumes were essentially flat compared to last year.

Jakks Pacific recently detailed an extension of its partnership with SEGA of America to expand on its already popular toy line based on the hit video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog. The firm also recently picked up the North America toy and dress-up rights to the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Movie, across both Jakks Pacific and its costume division, Disguise.

LEGO expands its Nintendo partnership to bring Luigi into the LEGO Super Mario universe

Super Mario’s often-forgotten brother, Luigi, is stepping out of the shadows and into the LEGO Super Mario universe as the toymaker extends its partnership with Nintendo to unveil the LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course.

Featuring an interactive LEGO Luigi figure, this is the latest extension of the popular LEGO Super Mario product line that tipped best-seller lists last year. Based on a traditional LEGO brick product, the LEGO Super Mario play experience allows kids to freely build Super Mario courses and bring their Mario and Luigi figures to life.

LEGO Luigi will boast the character’s recognisable personality, unique voice, and in one LEGO plate taller than LEGO Mario, staying true to Luigi’s look and traits.

Similar to the Adventures with Mario Starter Course, this new set is an additional entry point to the world of LEGO Super Mario and is compatible with the Mario Starter Course, all Expansion Sets, collectible Character Packs and Power-Up Packs. Built with the same technology as his brother, LEGO Luigi comes with a colour sensor, LCD screen to display many different reactions to movement, and a speaker that plays iconic sounds and music from the Super Mario video game series.

When moving LEGO Luigi from the Start Pipe to the Goal Pole, players can earn digital coins in real-life level-play by helping LEGO Luigi complete a spinning seesaw challenge, interacting with the new Pink Yoshi and defeating Boom Boom and a Bone Goomba.

The 71387 Adventures with Luigi Starter Course includes brown-colored bricks signifying the Tower biome that will trigger a new sound from LEGO Luigi and a ? Block designed to offer exciting extra rewards. The LEGO Super Mario product line offers a unique play experience in which players will get instant feedback for creative ways to build and play.

“We are very pleased to add Mario’s twin brother, Luigi, to the LEGO Super Mario family with the new LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course,” said Takashi Tezuka, executive officer and game producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

“Please welcome him as a companion on your adventures in the world of LEGO Super Mario. The addition of Luigi and Mario together creates new kinds of fun play. I look forward to see what exciting journeys kids will take with these two characters.”

Julia Goldin, chief product and marketing officer, the LEGO Group, added: “LEGO play lets children unleash their imaginations, and we’re so excited Luigi has arrived to help them create even more LEGO Super Mario adventures.

“Everybody loves Luigi! With his unique personality, green cap and distinctive moustache, he has been highly requested by fans all over the world, and we are thrilled to welcome him to this interactive playset that is really changing the way people engage with Super Mario and LEGO play.”

The 280-piece Adventures with Luigi Starter Course can be built, rebuilt and combined with all other LEGO Super Mario sets in many fun ways to create new LEGO Super Mario worlds. The free LEGO Super Mario app, developed by the LEGO Group, is compatible with all LEGO Super Mario products and keeps track of scores to encourage continuous rebuilding.

LEGO expands its Nintendo partnership to bring Luigi into the LEGO Super Mario universe

Super Mario’s often-forgotten brother, Luigi, is stepping out of the shadows and into the LEGO Super Mario universe as the toymaker extends its partnership with Nintendo to unveil the LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course.

Featuring an interactive LEGO Luigi figure, this is the latest extension of the popular LEGO Super Mario product line that tipped best-seller lists last year. Based on a traditional LEGO brick product, the LEGO Super Mario play experience allows kids to freely build Super Mario courses and bring their Mario and Luigi figures to life.

LEGO Luigi will boast the character’s recognisable personality, unique voice, and in one LEGO plate taller than LEGO Mario, staying true to Luigi’s look and traits.

Similar to the Adventures with Mario Starter Course, this new set is an additional entry point to the world of LEGO Super Mario and is compatible with the Mario Starter Course, all Expansion Sets, collectible Character Packs and Power-Up Packs. Built with the same technology as his brother, LEGO Luigi comes with a colour sensor, LCD screen to display many different reactions to movement, and a speaker that plays iconic sounds and music from the Super Mario video game series.

When moving LEGO Luigi from the Start Pipe to the Goal Pole, players can earn digital coins in real-life level-play by helping LEGO Luigi complete a spinning seesaw challenge, interacting with the new Pink Yoshi and defeating Boom Boom and a Bone Goomba.

The 71387 Adventures with Luigi Starter Course includes brown-colored bricks signifying the Tower biome that will trigger a new sound from LEGO Luigi and a ? Block designed to offer exciting extra rewards. The LEGO Super Mario product line offers a unique play experience in which players will get instant feedback for creative ways to build and play.

“We are very pleased to add Mario’s twin brother, Luigi, to the LEGO Super Mario family with the new LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course,” said Takashi Tezuka, executive officer and game producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

“Please welcome him as a companion on your adventures in the world of LEGO Super Mario. The addition of Luigi and Mario together creates new kinds of fun play. I look forward to see what exciting journeys kids will take with these two characters.”

Julia Goldin, chief product and marketing officer, the LEGO Group, added: “LEGO play lets children unleash their imaginations, and we’re so excited Luigi has arrived to help them create even more LEGO Super Mario adventures.

“Everybody loves Luigi! With his unique personality, green cap and distinctive moustache, he has been highly requested by fans all over the world, and we are thrilled to welcome him to this interactive playset that is really changing the way people engage with Super Mario and LEGO play.”

The 280-piece Adventures with Luigi Starter Course can be built, rebuilt and combined with all other LEGO Super Mario sets in many fun ways to create new LEGO Super Mario worlds. The free LEGO Super Mario app, developed by the LEGO Group, is compatible with all LEGO Super Mario products and keeps track of scores to encourage continuous rebuilding.

Moonpig details plans to become ‘the Home of Gaming’ for birthdays as it bolsters its brand portfolio

The online greeting card and gifting platform, Moonpig has detailed its plans to become ‘the Home of Gaming’ for birthdays thanks to a new partnership with not only Nintendo but a wealth of gaming brands.

The new range is built on licensing partnerships with flagship brands such as Nintendo, Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA, Warhammer, and Marvel Gameverse to name but a few. Moonpig has stated that it is still ‘actively recruiting gaming brands to fulfill their vision of being the ultimate gifting companion.’

“Gaming represents a huge opportunity for us at Moonpig and with incredible household brands – like Nintendo – on board, we’ve only just begun the journey to become the ultimate destination for birthday presents for every gaming fan,” said David Rimmer, commercial director at Moonpig.

“Our ambition is to have a brilliant range of cards that fans can’t find anywhere else and offer matching gifts for the perfect bundle.”

Victoria Connor, licensing executive at Moonpig, added: “We know how passionate people are about gaming and we’re looking forward to extending the licensed range  for cards as well as gifting with more gaming favourite brands.”

The first elements of the gaming range launched in September with a licensed partnership with Nintendo. The bespoke cards were designed by Moonpig’s in-house team, creating a diverse, personalisable range that is not available anywhere else, featuring Super Mario, Animal Crossing and Zelda among others.

Nelson Calvinho, head of marketing for Nintendo UK, said: “Nintendo prides itself on bringing people together through its games and putting smiles on people’s faces. We hope that this new range of cards from Moonpig, featuring many familiar characters from the world of Nintendo, will put a smile on the face of anyone receiving them.”

The next stage of the gaming campaign launched in April this year, featuring bespoke site looks as well as a number of competitions and giveaways on social media, giving participants the opportunity to win prizes, including a number of personalised Nintendo Switch Lite consoles and even a personalised Xbox Series S in partnership with gaming sensation Ali A.

Moonpig details plans to become ‘the Home of Gaming’ for birthdays as it bolsters its brand portfolio

The online greeting card and gifting platform, Moonpig has detailed its plans to become ‘the Home of Gaming’ for birthdays thanks to a new partnership with not only Nintendo but a wealth of gaming brands.

The new range is built on licensing partnerships with flagship brands such as Nintendo, Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA, Warhammer, and Marvel Gameverse to name but a few. Moonpig has stated that it is still ‘actively recruiting gaming brands to fulfill their vision of being the ultimate gifting companion.’

“Gaming represents a huge opportunity for us at Moonpig and with incredible household brands – like Nintendo – on board, we’ve only just begun the journey to become the ultimate destination for birthday presents for every gaming fan,” said David Rimmer, commercial director at Moonpig.

“Our ambition is to have a brilliant range of cards that fans can’t find anywhere else and offer matching gifts for the perfect bundle.”

Victoria Connor, licensing executive at Moonpig, added: “We know how passionate people are about gaming and we’re looking forward to extending the licensed range  for cards as well as gifting with more gaming favourite brands.”

The first elements of the gaming range launched in September with a licensed partnership with Nintendo. The bespoke cards were designed by Moonpig’s in-house team, creating a diverse, personalisable range that is not available anywhere else, featuring Super Mario, Animal Crossing and Zelda among others.

Nelson Calvinho, head of marketing for Nintendo UK, said: “Nintendo prides itself on bringing people together through its games and putting smiles on people’s faces. We hope that this new range of cards from Moonpig, featuring many familiar characters from the world of Nintendo, will put a smile on the face of anyone receiving them.”

The next stage of the gaming campaign launched in April this year, featuring bespoke site looks as well as a number of competitions and giveaways on social media, giving participants the opportunity to win prizes, including a number of personalised Nintendo Switch Lite consoles and even a personalised Xbox Series S in partnership with gaming sensation Ali A.

Nintendo partners with Sanrio to launch character residents and items to Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo’s hit video game title, Animal Crossing: New Horizon has welcomed a cast of Sanrio residents and themed items through the launch of the Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack.

Launched to sell out success last week, the pack includes all six amiibo cards from the unique Sanrio Collaboration Series, all of which are compatible with Animal Crossing: New Horizons and arriving with a different theme inspired by various Sanrio characters.

After updating the game to the latest version, players will be able to tap the Sanrio amiibo cards to their Nintendo Switch to unlock exclusive posters to order in-game, along with furniture and  fashion items inspired by the Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, Cinnamonroll, My Melody, Little Twin Stars and Kerokerokeroppi series.

Players can use these items to dress up and decorate their island to the theme of their favourite Sanrio characters. Six exclusive residents matching these various themes can be invited to the player’s campsite and can move to the player’s island. These residents can also be invited to Harvey’s island for a photo shoot session. 

Sanrio is also bringing back the friendship, kindness and cuteness of its characters to the Animal  Crossing: Pocket Camp mobile game. Beginning 26th March through to 10th May, the Sanrio Characters Collection 2021 in-game event will bring Sanrio character themed items to players’ campsites.

From 26th March through the end of the in-game event, Sanrio additions will include a free Sanrio Characters clock in the game by tapping the gift icon. One new Sanrio themed fortune cookie will be available for purchase at the Fortune Cookie Shop, with each cookie providing players one of ten different Sanrio items.

Players will also be able to craft Sanrio gifts to send to their friends, which randomly reward friends with one of several special Sanrio character-themed uchiwa fans. There are a variety  of fans to collect featuring popular Sanrio characters, including Cinnamoroll, Hello Kitty,  Pompompurin and more. 

Nintendo and AR game developer Niantic partner again on a Pikmin mobile game

Nintendo and Niantic, the creators of hugely popular mobile game Pokémon Go, are partnering to produce a mobile game featuring another Nintendo IP, Pikmin.

This is the just the first of a series of apps the two companies intend to create, and will take advantage of Niantic’s real-world AR technology. The game will feature gameplay activities designed to encourage walking and make the activity more enjoyable – similar to Niantic’s previous title, Pokémon Go.

The app is scheduled to release worldwide later this year, with Niantic as the publisher. Additionally, the game will be the first title created by Niantic Tokyo Studio, which was established in April 2018.

“As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural next step to team up with  Nintendo,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic. “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,” said Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director, Fellow, Nintendo. “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.”

Nintendo and AR game developer Niantic partner again on a Pikmin mobile game

Nintendo and Niantic, the creators of hugely popular mobile game Pokémon Go, are partnering to produce a mobile game featuring another Nintendo IP, Pikmin.

This is the just the first of a series of apps the two companies intend to create, and will take advantage of Niantic’s real-world AR technology. The game will feature gameplay activities designed to encourage walking and make the activity more enjoyable – similar to Niantic’s previous title, Pokémon Go.

The app is scheduled to release worldwide later this year, with Niantic as the publisher. Additionally, the game will be the first title created by Niantic Tokyo Studio, which was established in April 2018.

“As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural next step to team up with  Nintendo,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic. “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,” said Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director, Fellow, Nintendo. “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.”