Niantic Overhauls AR Games to Support Indoor Play During Pandemic
Niantic is fundamentally changing how Pokémon GO and other AR titles operate by prioritizing at-home gaming and indoor step tracking. These adjustments aim to keep players engaged and connected while maintaining revenue streams disrupted by global lockdowns.
Niantic is adapting its popular augmented reality mobile games, including Pokémon GO and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, to support at-home gaming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, these games encourage outdoor exploration and real-world social interaction, but global lockdowns make that original design unsafe. The company now prioritizes updating its AR titles so players can safely enjoy the experience inside and around their own homes.
To facilitate this shift, Niantic is updating its Adventure Sync feature to track indoor movements like running on a treadmill or cleaning. The developer is also enhancing virtual social features so friends can stay connected and soon battle together remotely. Additionally, the games now encourage virtual visits to real-world locations instead of discouraging inside play, and the company plans to reimagine its summer live events as at-home experiences.
These strategic updates serve as a necessary mechanism to keep Niantic operating during the pandemic and beyond. Real-world events traditionally drive significant tourism revenue for host cities and generate massive player spending, with Pokémon GO earning nearly $900 million in 2019 alone. By shifting to accessible indoor gameplay and introducing features like the new at-home GO Battle League, Niantic aims to sustain its lucrative business model while supporting players through the global crisis.