Would-be Pokémon trainers can rejoice, as the real-world-based "Pokémon Go" title is slowly becoming a reality.
Niantic, the development studio behind the upcoming title under the "Pokémon" franchise, announced in a statement that at least three conglomerates have pooled in their resources and managed to raise at least $30 million in funds for Niantic, Inc.
The funds have been raised coming in from Google, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company. The funds have been divided into two segments, with $20 million readily available for Niantic to develop the game, and an additional $10 million to be added to the pool once Niantic has managed to achieve certain goals. Although the statement did not touch on what the specific goals are, some fans may expect that this will involve making sure that "Pokémon GO" meets its goals time-wise and expectations-wise.
Speaking about the pooling of funds, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, said that "Pokémon's strategic investment in Niantic paves the way for a social mobile experience the world has never seen before. The Pokémon Company is committed to partnering with companies like Niantic that share the same spirit of community and innovation."
Meanwhile, Don Harrison, vice president of corporate development of Google, stressed Niantic's expertise in developing the upcoming game. "Niantic has shown the great potential of mixing geolocation technology, dynamic storytelling, and innovative game design, and we're excited to continue supporting the team on their journey." Google was the parent company of Niantic before it became an indie developer earlier this year.
"Pokémon Go" is an upcoming mobile game which combines augmented reality and Pokémon gameplay. Using mobile devices and the upcoming Pokémon Go Plus wearable, players take on the role of Pokémon trainers, catching wild Pokémon in real-world areas. "Pokémon Go" is expected to be released by next year.
