The poster child for the power of mobile augmented reality was Niantic. The company hasn't been able to regain that glory since then. The Pandemic has made it hard for people to get outside and gather in groups. Making it easier for its existing players to communicate with each other is one way that Niantic could double down on its lead.
Today, the company has begun rolling out Campfire, a social app that will allow users to chat with their friends, join groups of like-minded mobile wanderers, and arrange major events likePokémon Go's raids. Until now, Poké-addicts have used messaging apps to organize their gatherings. Niantic has developed its own social platform that will be accessible across all of its titles.
It's about more than just messaging. It gives players a better idea of what the company has to offer. It can show you that there is a Venusaur hanging out on the other side of town, a far wider view than you would normally get in the main app. You can light a flare if you want to alert other local players that you want to help tackle the event. It is expected that Campfire will make it easier to coordinate your friends and take on Snorlax.
You will still see some benefits even if you don't have Campfire. The expanded map view will be included in the game. If you sign up for Campfire, you can see what you can access.
According to Ivan Zhou, the head of product, the company is focused on bringing people together in the real world instead of using Campfire to power remote events. The Communities feature will allow users to create groups around any topic. Zhou was surprised by the groups that popped up for local topics. It is possible for Campfire to grow as a location-first social network, rather than using location as an unimportant factor.
The company says that users in the U.S. will be able to access Campfire over the next few days. The company says it will announce future updates on its social channels.
This article was first published on Engadget.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
