The "Pokémon GO!" release date has been confirmed.
Last week, The Pokémon Company announced that their next game will be coming to iOS as well as Android smartphones and tablets. The "Pokémon GO!" release date will be in 2016.
It is being developed by The Pokémon Company as well as Niantic Labs, who worked on location-based social game "Ingress." The game will use actual map data and is designed to get players out in the real world.
VG247 reported that the partnership came about since The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara was impressed by "Ingress." It has been in development for two years.
A trailer for the game has been released as well. It featured players finding and catching Pokémon in real life locations. Based on the footage, it seems like the game aims to be a family affair.
Players can now catch, trade and battle with others using real world arenas. The upcoming "Pokémon GO!" release could revolutionize how Pokémon games are played.
"For the first time, Pokémon will roam free in the real world," Niantic founder John Hanke said. "'Pokémon GO' will allow players to capture Pokémon who inhabit parks, shopping areas, sidewalks and the countryside all around the world."
"Imagine discovering a Squirtle hiding along the waterfront in San Francisco, a Bulbasaur at Shinjuku Station or a Pikachu beneath the Eiffel Tower."
Exciting as it may be, the "Pokémon GO!" release date could be bad news for fans that are waiting for "Pokémon Z."
It seems like The Pokémon Company is creating all sorts of games in the series instead of the highly-anticipated sequel to "Pokémon XY." All hopes were dashed for a 2015 "Pokémon Z" release date with the confirmation of "Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon" for this year.
The rogue-like game will feature dungeons and will have 720 Pokémon. It is slated for release on Sep. 17 for Japan. The 3DS game will be available in North America on Nov. 20 and early 2016 in Europe.