With 5 mn loyal players worldwide, Pokemon Go is still going strong
Pushing people to go outdoors to complete the game has led to lifestyle changes and health benefits
Augmented reality game Pokémon Go has been downloaded more than 800 million times, making it one of the most successful examples of location-based media to date. Although its popularity peaked and then plummeted in 2016, it’s still being played by roughly 5 million people all over the world on a daily basis – and our research shows it’s making a real difference to their lives. The game blends physical space with digital information, turning players’ smartphone screens into a portal through which they can find and capture Pokémon, train them at gyms and visit PokéStops – all within their everyday environment.
Older forms of location-based media, such as the 2004 game Mogi (where GPS tracking enabled players to collect virtual objects scattered around the streets) failed to withstand the test of time. But Pokémon Go is different. Its visually stimulating and innovative interface gives players a more immersive experience – and this kept them coming back.We wanted to understand how the game continues to affect these players lives: in particular, we wanted to know whether playing
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