Pokémon Go will soon lure you into local businesses when you want to stock up on supplies or battle gym leaders. The game’s creator has confirmed sponsored locations are coming soon to ensure the game rakes in even more cash.
Pokémon Go is already a huge success for Niantic. In under two weeks, the game has amassed over 21 million daily active users and added billions to Nintendo’s market value. It has also become the top-grossing game in the App Store thanks to in-app purchases.
Soon it will be making even more money. John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, has confirmed that sponsored locations, which will allow businesses to pay to become PokéStops and gyms, are coming to Pokémon Go soon.
Right now, PokéStops and gyms are in all kinds of neutral locations, like in parks and near landmarks. But once sponsored locations are added, the game will lure you into businesses — such as local coffee shops. The hope is that you’ll buy something while you’re there.
Niantic offered sponsored locations in Ingress, its last popular augmented reality game. “With Pokémon Go, advertisers would be charged for every customer visiting a store, as confirmed by the app,” explains Engadget.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
