Pokémon GO to Expand its AR and AI Features in 2024

Some gamers may have dismissed Pokémon GO as a 2016 fad, however in July 2023, a third-party report from BusinessOfApps shows that the game still pulls an impressive 79.2 million active players globally. And Niantic, the game’s developer, is betting big on burgeoning technology, announcing major updates for 2024 that combine the game’s existing Augmented Reality (AR) with the adaptive capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Pokémon GO’s use of AR in 2016 was touted by many as revolutionary for its time, and today, creator John Hanke says the game is pushing the envelope forward by using AI to allow Pokémon in users’ surroundings to react realistically to their environment.

Let’s say it’s raining in your city, or there are tons of people where you are playing Pokémon GO. With AI boosting the AR visuals, the Pokémon you’re interacting with may now naturally react to the rain or try to evade others in your area, creating an overall more true-to-life and impressive experience. Perhaps this improvement will be why more players come back to enjoy the game, prompting more to be exposed to the (perhaps unintended) health benefits the game offers.

Health issues related to Pokémon GO

When Pokémon GO was launched, researchers found that the geolocation-based game encouraged players to visit various places outdoors. However, a recent study found that players with high levels of problematic Pokémon GO usage also reported more severe vision and musculoskeletal problems.

In terms of vision, increased playing hours mean increased screen time, making the eyes vulnerable to UV and blue-violet light from both the sun and artificial light sources. That’s why it’s essential to wear blue light glasses as a protective measure: they shield your eyes whether you’re spending time outside or relaxing indoors organizing your Pokémon collection. The Derek Cardigan comes in various colors to help you match with your favorite Pokémon, with integrated nose pads for all-day wear and protection while gaming. These glasses reduce oxidative stress on retinal tissue, which can help preserve retinal health over the long term.

The above study also found that focused and engaged Pokémon GO might walk with their back hunched over, wrists bent, and neck positioned uncomfortably downwards, resulting in arm pain from flexed hands or even hand deformation. PNKY™ is a revolutionary ergonomic phone grip that’s designed to redistribute the weight of your smartphone off your pinky. By plugging into your device’s charging port and wrapping around the pinky finger, the accessory changes how you grip your smartphone and increases control without overstressing the hand. This enhanced dynamic range of use is perfect for players swiping and tapping quickly to capture Pokémon on the go.

Maximizing Pokémon GO for better health

In a previous post, we talked about the way Pokémon GO encourages “gamification,” or turning something into a game to make it fun, which helps motivation by offering rewards or experience points. It also encourages players to visit local parks or even the countryside, as rarer creatures are often found in less population-dense and, thus, more natural environments. Once you’ve scoured the usual hiding spots for Pokémon in your city, you can set up longer-distance adventures that will give you more fresh air, walking time, and a healthy dose of sunshine. Introverts can organize group Pokémon GO sessions to integrate more human interaction into their schedule, providing a balance between alone time and socialization.

As Pokémon GO players anticipate the new ways AI will change the AR game, practicing better gaming habits in the meantime can help them soar to new heights, both as avid Pokémon collectors in-game and as healthy gamers in real life – truly embodying the spirit of a dedicated Pokémon Gym Leader who will, one day, catch ’em all.