Pokemon Go Announced For Android/iPhone

Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Niantic (which is now independent from Google) have announced Pokemon Go, an upcoming free-to-play game for mobile devices. Niantic's work has been showcased in the last few years in the mobile game Ingress.

The game will see players able to catch, train, and battle with Pokemon in the real world via location information in their mobile devices. Junichi Masuda, who directed the Pokemon video game series from Game Freak, is also working on the game.

In addition, users will be able to play the game with an optional device called Pokemon Go Plus. Like a smartwatch, it can be worn on the wrist and used to execute in-game actions such as catching a Pokemon. The device can be connected to smartphones using Bluetooth, and will flash its LED and vibrate to notify players about nearby Pokemon.

Pokemon Go is being developed by Niantic, who is perhaps best known for developing augmented reality game Ingress. The game uses GPS technology to power its sci-fi story.

Pokemon Go will be released on the App Store and Google Play in 2016 as a free download. The game will also have in-app purchases. Check out some shots of the game and the Pokemon Go Plus device in the gallery below.