It’s no surprise to fans of Niantic that they are in support of National Walking Day, having emphasized exercise with their AR games in the past. Getting out, exploring the world, and meeting fellow players, are all major selling points for games like Pokémon GO, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom.
Niantic promoted National Walking Day in the US by releasing new stats for Pokémon GO, all of which emphasize their positive influence over players, both physically and mentally. Ever since its groundbreaking release in July 2016, the mobile game has altered the notion that all games keep their players cooped up inside. While Pokémon GO was originally criticized for posing risk and injury to absent-minded players, time proved that Pokémon GO has had a positive impact on fans.
The new stats revealed that “65% of players say the game helped them exercise more, 57% state it had improved their physical fitness and a whopping 75% have said it helped them create friendships and social connections.”
These statistics highlight how Pokémon GO is especially beneficial to players who are seeking friendship and connection. The inclusion of AR in Pokémon GO allows for community events to quite literally bring people together, forming friendships that often stand the test of time.
Niantic’s other mobile games all generally center around their AR features, with similar focus placed on exercise and human connection. Pikmin Bloom, places more of an emphasis on passive collaboration than Pokémon GO, which holds various competitive events amongst players. Another Niantic game, Peridot, has partnered with Meta and is incorporating AR glasses into the game, all in the pursuit of “real world movement” and “social good.”
While Niantic did not release statistics for their other games alongside Pokémon GO, it’s likely that their effectiveness would read similar results based on their shared motives for connection and implementation of AR features.
So, why not keep Pokémon GO and its counterparts in mind for National Walking Day? According to Niantic’s statistics, players may find new friends while getting in some important exercise.