Exploring the Future of Augmented Reality with Niantic CEO John Hanke and SVP of Pokemon GO Ed Wu

Niantic CEO John Hanke Discusses the Future of AR Technology at Pokémon Go Event in Taiwan

As Pokémon Go approaches its tenth anniversary, Niantic CEO John Hanke visited Taiwan for a physical event and shared his insights on the future of augmented reality (AR) technology. Hanke believes that while the current market discussions about the metaverse mostly focus on indoor settings, the success of Pokémon Go suggests that the biggest market opportunity for AR in the future might be outdoors.

Niantic collaborated with Nintendo to develop Pokémon Go with the goal of encouraging people to venture outdoors, interact with others through the game, and explore their surrounding environments. Hanke emphasized that for Niantic, the metaverse is much more than just lying on the couch.

In the past, Niantic partnered with Qualcomm to unveil concept AR glasses featuring the Snapdragon AR2 Gen 1 chip, specifically designed for outdoor use. The company’s Lightship VPS (Visual Positioning System) is compatible with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform, allowing digital objects and creations to exist in real-world locations.

This technology enables augmented reality experiences in the digital world to be as realistic as real-world social interactions, a key component in Niantic’s efforts to develop AR glasses. Hanke revealed that AR glasses will be a significant device for multiple Niantic games in the future, expanding the company’s vision for the future of AR beyond game development.

The launch of Apple’s Vision Pro in 2023 was a significant boost to the metaverse market and ecosystem, stimulating the development and maturation of AR/MR products and related technologies. Hanke anticipates 2024 to be a groundbreaking year for AR glasses, with the introduction of more headset devices.

While Apple recommends Vision Pro for use in controlled indoor environments, Hanke believes that the larger market opportunity for AR lies in outdoor use. He emphasized that products or user experiences designed for prolonged outdoor use represent the primary market opportunity, despite the current focus on indoor devices.

Niantic, previously Google’s AR business unit, became an independent company in 2015 after a reorganization. In Niantic’s Series A financing, Google, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company invested around US$30 million. Pokémon Go, launched in 2016, became one of the most successful mobile games ever.

At the recent “Pokémon GO City Safari” physical event in Tainan, Niantic CEO John Hanke and SVP of Pokémon GO Ed Wu were present, attracting over 100,000 visitors. Hanke’s visit to Taiwan highlighted Niantic’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of AR technology and creating immersive outdoor experiences for users worldwide.