Hot Five
Hot Five: Niantic has a new star, Epic warns of "degradation in quality", and new games hit the market
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Company Profile
Niantic
Website
www.nianticlabs.com/
About
We are a geo-focused developer and the creator of Pokemon GO, helmed by John Hanke.
We believe we can use technology to lean into the ‘reality’ of augmented reality — encouraging everyone to get outside and connect with the world around us. It’s our responsibility to consider user privacy, responsible use, inclusive development processes, and AR’s potential impact on the world now, not after the fact.
Related People
Laura Warner
Senior Game Designer
Karla Reyes
Growth Product Manager
Karen Tong
Senior Director of Product Marketing
Kirsten Koa
Senior Software Engineer
Matt Ein
Senior Game Designer
Anne Beuttenmüller
Product Marketing Manager
Kellee Santiago
Head of Developer Relations
John Hanke
CEO
Ziah Fogel
Senior Producer
+6 more
Accolades
Articles featuring Niantic
Reigning Revenue Raisers
Top 10 highest-grossing mobile games of all time
From Candy Crush and Clash of Clans to Pokémon and Lineage M
Advertising
Niantic launches first in-game 'rewarded AR' advertising collaboration in Pokémon Go
In-game AR ads are Niantic's new hope for fresh revenue as Pokémon Go numbers slide
Sleuthing A Strategy
Niantic launching limited-time Pokémon Go event to promote Detective Pikachu Returns
Pokémon Go gets sleuthing one day ahead of the new Nintendo Switch title’s release
Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter Now set to be Niantic’s third biggest game with $14 million in first month revenue
The game is Niantic’s fourth largest launch, and consistent consumer spend could see it climb even higher
Indian Expansion
Mobile is key to Capcom’s expansion goals in India
Company COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto believes Capcom may sell more games in India than China within a decade
Rumbling Rise
Monster Hunter Now reaches five million installs in first week
Niantic and Capcom’s latest location-based game sees strong start after three million pre-installs
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including internal leaks on the future of Xbox, Brawl Stars success, the expansion of Pokémon Go and more
Unity Runtime Fee
Unity's biggest games: The big names who'll pay the biggest bucks
With an 70% of developers using Unity, it's the power behind the throne for thousands of much-loved titles including smash hits that keep some of gaming's biggest names afloat
Pokémon Go
Pokémon GO sets sights on tenfold increase in monthly active users in India
Niantic vice president of emerging markets Omar Tellez reveals big plans for the game’s expansion
Localisation
Niantic strengthens Indian market commitment with Hindi version of Pokémon Go
As part of the update The Pokémon Company has also localised the names of over 800 Pokémon
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including Final Fantasy failure, the game industry's talent hunt and something about a 'runtime fee'?…
The Hunt Is Here
Niantic and Capcom's Monster Hunter Now launches with three million pre-registrations
The game is now available globally as players get to experience its unique take on a stamina system…
Install Incentives
Monster Hunter Now reaches three million pre-installs days before launch
There are now three million hunters of monsters waiting for launch
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including the insignificance of mobile when AR meets AI and… pure… unadulterated… horror!
Supersized Sum
Pokémon Go catches them all
The mobile giant now has seven more species on board than any other Pokémon game
Plucking Pikmin
Nintendo and Niantic team up again for AR browser game Pikmin Finder
The second AR Pikmin title releases to keep gamers busy at Nintendo Live 2023
Platform Power
Niantic gives 8th Wall developers new AI tools
The Pokémon Go master's AI tech delivers new generative textures and more to devs
Gotta Catch’em All
Pokémon Go invites players to the Paldea region
Creatures from the franchises latest generation are making their Pokémon Go debut in a September promotion
Best Of 2023
The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers of 2023
The movers and the shakers of the last 12 months
Pokemon Go
Pokemon Go is the USA’s fourth most downloaded mobile game of all time
Seven years on the game remains a smash hit worldwide with 168 million downloads
Monetisation
Can Amazon Anywhere open up a new monetisation channel for mobile games?
Layer co-founder Rachit Moti explores Amazon Anywhere's moves to monetise your game with physical purchases
Routes Arrive
Niantic flies the AR flag with new features in Pokémon Go
Routes in Pokémon Go is a new feature being rolled out ahead of eagerly anticipated Niantic/Capcom collab, Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter
Monster Hunter Now opens for pre-registration ahead of September 14 release
The game will bring the hit franchise to mobile for the first time
New Release
What is Pokémon Sleep? The latest craze explained
The game brings the world of sleep tracking apps to one of the world’s most beloved franchises
Job News
July's Mobile Movers and Shakers: Roblox appoints new chief partnership officer and Playtika sees a hiring spree
July has seen some significant moves by some of the industry's biggest company's - here's just a few
Pokemon Permeates
Pokémon Go is seven years old today… And I'm playing it for the first time…
In time for Pokémon Go’s seventh anniversary I finally give it a try and discover a game that prioritises mobile gaming perfectly
Pokemon Power
More than 600 billion Pokémon caught as Pokémon Go approaches seventh anniversary
Celebration details revealed for upcoming anniversary
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including EA's big break up, new looks, new opportunities and new challenges…
Redundancies
Niantic lays off 230 employees and cancels Marvel AR game
Shock news. The augmented reality gaming giant shutters a studio and games
Sprouting Seeds
Pikmin Bloom introduces crossover content promoting first mainline game in ten years
Nintendo and Niantic promote new Switch game Pikmin 4 with special costume in Bloom
Ranking
AppLovin takes downloads top spot for US companies worldwide
Data.ai's latest shows mobile-first beating the big names to take pole position
New Features
Niantic adds Campfire to Pokemon Go in social gaming push
The new feature aims to draw players of their biggest game into their social ecosystem
Documentation
Zynga, Playrix and Niantic were all potential entries on Microsoft’s shopping list
News comes as part of the revelation Microsoft considered buying Sega
Here For A Hoot
Niantic reveals new tools and launches mixed reality Wol with 8th Wall
Wol the owl is AI-enabled, guiding users through a redwood forest
Releases
Niantic's next big game gamble Peridot officially launches
The new title from the Pokémon Go hitmakers takes a twist on their established AR formula
Stocks
Monster Hunter Now boosts Capcom share prices
The AR title is set to be released by Niantic
Pokemon Partnership
Niantic partner with Kung Fu Tea to keep Pokémon Go players refreshed
More than 350 bubble tea shops to collaborate with Pokémon Go
Releases
Niantic & Capcom team up for Monster Hunter Now
The game is set to release in September 2023
Gotta Dunk 'em All
Is basketball bigger than Pokemon? Niantic has to hope so
The augmented reality pioneer brings the world's biggest NBA stars to your neighbourhood
Fairy Tales
Pokémon Go announces Twinkling Fantasy Event
The event will highlight the game’s roster of fairy and dragon types
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – July's Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. It's time for July
Green Gaming
Niantic planted 301 thousand trees throughout 2022
The company has released a new post showcasing its social impact throughout the year
Release Dates
Niantic's NBA All-World to launch in 2023 with more glimpses of gameplay given
Niantic’s new collaborative game produced with the NBA is set to go live in January of next year
Making It In Ar Mobile
Pokémon Go to Minecraft Earth: the successes and failures of AR mobile games
Can anyone compete with Pokémon Go’s success in the AR genre?
Sprouting Seedlings
Can a push from Nintendo help Pikmin Bloom recapture the magic of Pokémon Go?
Pikmin Bloom’s first anniversary features a Nintendo Switch crossover event
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of staggering statistics and feisty financials
PokÉmon Go Fest Live
Pokémon Go Live Events contributed $300 million to local cities in 2022
Players spent an average of $650 during the events, with many expressing a desire to return to the host cities
Interview
Niantic’s director of production on the AR leader’s history and development
Kellee Santiago discusses the company’s mission to help players explore the world together
New Studio
Ex Niantic staff Alexia Mandeville and Bo Boghosian form new indie studio Bodeville Games
Bodeville is fully self-funded and currently working on multiple narrative-driven games.