The NBA has teamed up with game developers in the past to produce some exciting basketball games. Now, they have announced that they will be teaming up with Niantic to create new game that will be similar to Pokémon Go. The game will be called All World and feature real-world augmentation that lets players explore their neighborhoods during the game.
Niantic is developing All World similar to the style of Pokémon Go where players interact with real-world items to earn rewards. For example, players can enter a basketball court to play games, or a convenience store to purchase stamina for their upcoming games. Similarly, other features will be available to players as well. In order to be successful in the game, players must manage their teams, explore the real world, customize their character, and compete against those around them. According to Marcus Matthews, Niantic’s Senior Producer for the game, All World is “The NBA lifestyle meets the real-world metaverse,”
Niantic is partnering with the NBA to use many of the features from the league in their game. Official NBA music, merchandise, footwear, and even players will be available for those who choose to play All World. Including official gear and players will promote a more realistic atmosphere for the game and help to draw in a bigger community of players.
As the NBA looks to continue their growth by adding another basketball game, Niantic will likely be the perfect partner for what each company is looking to accomplish. Niantic has a long history of working with augmented reality games such as Ingress and Pokémon Go. By utilizing their knowledge of augmented reality games, Niantic will help create excitement about the game and draw in more players. Similarly, the NBA already has a major fanbase that may choose to play and draw even more players to Niantic’s other games.